2019: Ezekwesili a better choice than Buhari, Atiku- Tunde Bakare

Presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has been described as the best alternative to all presidential candidates for the 2019 general elections.

The serving Overseer of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, made the assertion in his state of the nation address delivered on Sunday during service in his church in Lagos.

According to the clergy, Mrs Ezekwesili’s brilliance, experience, sacrificial service to the nation among others, placed her above other candidates including those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar respectively.

Bakare, who spoke on a message entitled “The prophetic portrait of Nigeria in her latter days,” regretted that things were so bad in the country.

Noting that the decay in Nigeria had got to a level no one, including soldiers, would be willing to lay down their lives for the country, the cleric argued that it was possible the situation explains why the military was having a hard time in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents, aside being poorly equipped for the fight.

On who is best presidential candidate for the country, Bakare took time to analyse the frontline contenders.

On Buhari he said, “We have heard the incumbent insist that Nigeria’s current problems were created within the 16 years of the previous administrations and that, little by little, they are working to rewrite the narrative.”

He said of Atiku, “On the other hand, we have heard the ‘Atikulated’ side of the contest argue that the 16 years argument is now stale news. We have seen former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi, of the PDP downplay the achievements of the current government.

“We have read the so-called ‘Atiku Plan,’ spanning a competitive and open economic system, public institution reform, reduction of infrastructure deficit, economic diversification, and human capital development. We have also heard Atiku Abubakar’s promise to restructure the polity with a focus on devolution of powers.

“We have seen a new generation challenging the old order and insisting that Nigerians do not have to choose between six and half a dozen.

Taking on other frontline candidates one after the other he said:

“We have seen Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party project his experience in economic management at national and international levels as he promises better economic management and a geo -economic restructuring of Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria has eloquently promised a new Nigeria where the cost of living is reduced, power, security and health care are guaranteed, jobs are created, and law and order are maintained.

“We have seen the likes of Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress criss-cross the nation, mobilising the young, especially students, in his drive to take our country back.

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“However, of the new breed seeking to disrupt the political space, none gives me as much hope for the near future as does my sister, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria.”

He listed reason for the choice of Ezekwesili to include “her brilliance, experience, sacrificial service to our nation, antecedents at championing and executing pro-people and pro-good governance reforms, compassionate yet dogged belief in the Nigerian potential, and her faith in the God-ordained plan for Nigeria.”

He went further to say, “I salute her for jumping into the fray despite her seemingly limited chances and as I have said to her in times past, come what may, one day, and that day will come soon, we will fix this nation. One thing is very clear in my mind: with her candidacy, no Nigerian can reasonably say after the election that there was no credible alternative to the status quo in 2019.”

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