FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
A political pressure group, Nigerian Professionals for Atiku/Okowa 2023, has appointed coordinators for the 176,846 polling units across the nation’s 36 States to canvass for votes for the Atiku /Okowa presidential campaign with a view to mobilising five million votes for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
The National Coordinator of Nigerian Professionals for Atiku/Okowa 2023, Dr. Folus Ejele disclosed this while delivering a speech on behalf of the group during a courtesy visit by the group to the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Abuja on Monday, 28 November.
While throwing it’s weight behind Atiku Abubakar’s programme to restructure the nation, Ejele said the group is interested in who becomes Nigerian president in 2023 given the hostile business environment in the last fews adding they’ve decided to contribute their quota to make Nigeria great again.
According to him, “As professionals and businessmen we have witnessed, in the last decade, the most hostile and excruciating business environment. If we are to make Nigeria great again, we must contribute our quota to the election of a president who will rescue Nigeria. It was Edmund Burke who said that ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing’. We have resolved not to sit idle and do nothing.
“We have painstakingly investigated and evaluated all presidential candidates and come to the conclusion that Your Excellency Atiku Abubakar is the man to rescue Nigeria.
“You are experienced in wealth creation as shown by your numerous business establishments across Nigeria and beyond. You are the only presidential candidate with a plan prepared long before election season unlike others who hurriedly put one together to fulfill all campaign righteousness. A cardinal program of your agenda is restructuring, recognizing that Nigeria cannot work as presently designed. Given the factors of age, good health, national outlook and socialization, experience in national governance and presidential personality, Your Excellency towers higher than anyone else”.
While commending the choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as the PDP presidential running mate, Ejele pointed out that the group has put structures in place to prove its seriousness in the Atiku/Okowa presidential election project.
“We wish to add that the choice of His Excellency Dr Ifeanyi Okowa as vice presidential candidate cannot be faulted. We believe he will bring a combination of talents and skills to the job that augments the Mr President’s ability to lead as well as to govern. In terms of balancing the ticket and partnership with Mr President for leadership and good governance, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is a goal.
“Having decided not to sit idle and allow evil to prevail, we have decided to mobilize 5 million votes for Atiku/Okowa come 2023. In order to actualize this objective, we have designed the political structure for operations.
“In terms of progress made in the installation of the structures above we have constituted a 14 member National Executive Council, 6 zonal coordinators, 36 state coordinators 678 local government coordinators out of 774. Also we have appointed coordinators in 6780 wards out of 8,813 and 80,000 unit coordinators out of 176,846 units across the country.
“Our focus is on the 176,846 polling units across the country because the polling unit is the center of voting activity”, Ejele assured.