2019: Atiku wins Afenifere over with restructuring

Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has thrown its weight behind former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, describing him as the greatest champion of restructuring from the North.

Afenifere, led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, pledged their support when it hosted Atiku in Lagos on Sunday.

Speaking at the event, Atiku, who is a frontline presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disclosed that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo queried him for backing restructuring while in office.

The former vice president, who said the query was the punishment he suffered for supporting restructuring of the country, insisted that his commitment to restructuring was absolute.

Read also: APGA BoT, NWC divided over zoning of President to the North

He said: “In my entire political career, I have not seen Nigeria in a state of danger that may affect its existence as a country as at today. This is because – just like a house- if you get a faulty foundation that building is not likely to last. This is where we find ourselves.

“As a Vice President, I came to Lagos then to discuss why we should restructure this country so that we can survive and provide leadership for West Africa, Africa and the rest of the world.

“That lecture earned me a query from my boss then. I can assure you that I will restructure Nigeria within six months of my administration.”

Chief Adebanjo, who spoke earlier, declared that the group supports Atiku for the 2019 presidential election, stressing that he would ensure Nigeria is restructured.

Adebanjo said: “You (Atiku) have been writing about restructuring over a decade ago. You gave me your commitment to restructure Nigeria within six months in one of our meetings several years ago.

“When people talk about good governance and promise good road, agricultural development and all that, we just laugh. There must be a country first before any development. Nigeria can not have peace and stability without restructuring.

“We know that there is no greater champion of restructuring from the North than Atiku.”

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews….

 

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