2019 Polls: Galadima, Keyamo Bicker As Middle Belt Disown Atiku’s Endorsement
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Less than 24 hours after its leaders’ widely-publicized endorsement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the February 16 election, Atiku Abubakar, crisis may be brewing within the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) over the development.
This is as spokespersons of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition PDP continue their bickering over the electoral popularity and chances of the parties’ candidates in the presidential poll that is about 12 days away.
Distancing itself from the endorsement purportedly Okayed by the MBF’s leaders, spokesman of the Forum, Gowon Egbunu insisted that; “There was no time when we came together as a people to endorse Atiku Abubakar as our candidate in the 4th coming elections.”
According to him; “Atiku Abubakar is not our candidate and will never be.”
Egbunu, who is Forum’s Director of Media and Publications further said; “Beloved Middle Beltans, take that as fake news and go about your normal business. If there’s a need to endorse any candidate, you will be communicated accordingly.
“This is to clear the air and put the records straight, that Middle Belt people are honest and highly principled people, who will not sell their conscience for a loaf of bread.
“I watched and listened with regret, one Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the Chairman of Chibok Community in Abuja, on Channels Television a while ago, claiming to be speaking for the Middle Belt Forum”.
Reports broke out on Sunday claiming that Atiku Abubakar has received the endorsement of some regional groups, including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Middle Belt Forum (MBF).
Atiku’s camp described the endorsement as “a loud statement that there is hope for our country as we go to the polls in a few days”.
“Today, we put aside all our prejudices to elect a President with religion and ethnicity playing no role in our elections.
“I profusely thank our leaders across the country who have created this wonderful moment for us to come to the table of brotherhood. Once again, and in the words of our old National Anthem, we can proudly sing: ‘Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we stand”.
But reacting to the development, Director of Strategy and Communication of Buhari’s presidential campaign, Barrister Festus Keyamo described the whole politics of endorsement as ‘Voodoo’, maintaining that those who endorsed Atiku are persons whom the masses do not listen to anymore.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Keyamo dismissed the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar by the leaders of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum, Pan-Niger Delta forum, the Middle Belt Forum, and a faction of Afenifere, as inconsequential.
“There is nothing that is as fraudulent as known PDP members and sympathisers putting on the apparel of social-political groups and endorsing their own political party”.
He said; “President Buhari is an unusual leader. He has managed to navigate his way through these middlemen and he has reached the people directly in this country”.
The Buhari Campaign spokesman challenged the socio-political groups to a popularity contest in states where President Buhari is yet to hold his presidential campaign.
“I want to challenge the so-called groups now. We are still on our campaign rally. Let them call a rally the same day we arrive their region, I am challenging them openly, I am challenging the faction of Afenifere: we have not gone to Lagos, we have not gone to Ekiti, the day we are arriving Lagos, I am challenging Afenifere to call a rally of Yoruba people at another venue in Lagos and let us see the turn out”.
The challenge was also thrown to the other socio-political groups, including the Middle Belt Forum.
“I am challenging the Middle Belt Forum (MBF). We have not gone to Benue, we have not gone to other places; to know how connected you are with your people, I challenge you to call a rally the same day we are arriving the middle belt and let us see the turnout at your rally and our rally”, Keyamo said.
The Senior Advocate argued that the leaders of these regions do not have the ears of the people again.
“The people don’t listen to them again. These are people who have over time represented their own interest and of course they are in tune with the philosophy of Atiku Abubakar who says that he will enrich his own friends. So like bees are attracted to honey, these people are attracted to Atiku Abubakar who wants to enrich his friends”.
However, speaking on the same Channel TV programme, Buba Galadima, a spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign organisation, said the party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar will floor President Buhari with a margin of 60 to 40 percent across the entire north.
He said with Atiku’s promise of aggressive job creation, the PDP will didvide the votes 50 to 50 with Buhari even in his home state of Katsina.
According to him, “Atiku will defeat Buhari 60 to 45 on the minimum. The only place it would be 50-50 is Katsina.
“In the south west, I want to say with certainty, the Yoruba people respect their leaders, they will not vote with sentiments”, adding that President Buhari refused to sign the electoral act because he is afraid of defeat.
“Why did the president refuse to sign the electoral act? Because they are afraid; don’t forgot that the more you vote for Buhari, the more you make enemies.
“This government we have today is a government of exclusion, nepotism, bedeviled by corruption, and has no single achievement in Nigeria”, Galadima fumed – Channels TV
