Benue must resist imposition of candidates – Hagher
From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Contrary to claims by Governor Samuel Ortom that Mr Peter Obi has more capacity to lead the country than his other counterparts, Senator Representing Benue South Senatorial District, Senator Abba Moro, has stated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is most qualified among all.
According to him, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governors who are not supporting the candidate have their lifelines at stake.
Governor Ortom had, at a town hall meeting in Makurdi, last week, openly declared his support for Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, (LP) describing him as the most competent candidate to lead the country.
Speaking at a town hall meeting organized by Professionals For Atiku Abubakar, PFA, on Monday, Moro maintained that all the other candidates do not have the experience and capacity to lead the country as Atiku does.
Moro who noted that the G-5 is already divided on who to support cautioned Benue people to be careful in picking their choice saying “we do not have the clout or a large voting population and if we mismanage the little we have, then we will be in problem.”
He said that at a time when the country is bedevilled by a myriad of crimes, Nigeria needs a mature mind to rescue, stabilize and move her to greater heights.
Moro, who preached against the politics of sentiments especially on Atiku being a Fulani, said: “Most of the Presidential candidates are hoodwinking Nigerians and not even proffering solutions to our problems.
“Infrastructural deficit has remained an eye sour in the state and other parts of Nigeria particularly roads. The alarming level of insecurity and educational system collapse, in fact, all aspects of our socio-economic life are begging for a solution.
“We need someone with structure and experience to take Nigeria out of the woods; a presidential candidate who does not have structures, your journey has not started. The same person has a high level of inconsistency by saying that PDP has failed even as he was part of it. There are certain things that have been structured by God in human life. We must be able to define things and know that there are certain things we cannot do.
“Political parties and politicians are not ideology-driven and that is why you see people moving from one party to another. The youths easily compromise on issues that are germane. The country is begging for solutions to her problems. Nigeria is in dire need of healing. In spite of our prevailing situation, Nigerians are still not careful.
“We should take a critical assessment of the antecedents of the candidates. Atiku has the ability to address institutional educational decay, public-private partnership development and also, unify Nigeria. He is a bridge builder,” he added
Also speaking, former Nigerian Ambassador to Greece, Iyorwuese Hagher urged the Benue people to resist attempts to impose a candidate on the people for the elections.
He said in a democracy, the people must be allowed the right to make their own choices and stand by them.
Hagher who recalled that he warned Nigerians against electing President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 because he is a religious fanatic and an ethnic bigot said “again, I am begging you not to vote Obi as president because a vote for Obi is a vote for Tinubu and that means you are voting a Muslim Muslim ticket.”
President of PFA Mr Timothy Vihimga appreciated participants at the meeting and urged them to dust their PVCs for Saturday’s election.