It’s Time For Northeast Presidency And Atiku Is The Man – Abba-Gana

BY GRACE ANYANWU, ABUJA – Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Muhammed Abba-Gana has urged voters from all parts of the country to overwhelmingly elect the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar tomorrow as a fitting reward for the people of the Northeast geo-political for their patience and support for presidents from other zones for nearly six decades.

In a statement in Abuja, Abba-Gana, who is a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), said the people of the Northeast geopolitical zone where Atiku Abubakar comes from have waited for more than nearly 60 years for this opportunity to produce a Nigerian President from the zone.

The Borno-born politician pointed out that the Northeast zone occupies about one third of the total land area of Nigeria and includes substantial parts of the Lake Chad, the second largest fresh water lake in Africa.

He also said that the zone is crisscrossed by many rivers like the Benue, Gongola, Jamare, Yobe and Yatsaram in addition to hosting the popular Mambila Plateau with over 3,000 megawatts of hydroelectric project and enormous agricultural and livestock potentials.

While appealing to the electorates in the Northeast states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe to lead the way by taking Atiku as their own, he cautioned: “If we lose this God-given opportunity on February 16, 2019, I do not know for how long we will wait in the Northeast to get another formidable candidate like Atiku Abubakar, who has proven ability, demonstrable capacity, national network and personal resources to emerge and become elected as President of Nigeria.”

Abba-Gana reminded the people of the six Northeast states that opportunity knocks once at everybody’s door, adding that; “I sincerely and honestly believe that the year 2019 is the year in which God the Almighty, All-Knowing Creator and Sustainer has chosen for the people of the Northeast zone of Nigeria to produce a Nigerian President… In 1979 late Waziri Ibrahim (GNPP) and late Adamu Ciroma (NPN) tried but could not make it.

“In 1983 late Waziri Ibrahim (GNPP) and late Hassan Yusuf (PRP) all from the present Northeast zone again contested for the position of President but could not make it. Also in 1993 late Adamu Ciroma and Bamanga Tukur (NRC), Babagana Kingibe and Atiku Abubakar (SDP) all from the present Northeast zone tried hard but the tickets went to late Moshood Abiola (SDP) from Ogun State and Bashir Tofa (NRC) from Kano State.

“I believe it is time for all the peoples of the six states of the Northeast geopolitical zone to make well informed and beneficial judgment backed by history and common sense and what is seen on the ground and felt by all the people living within the Northeast zone particularly in terms of the still pervading insecurity and complete absence of real economic opportunities and activities within the Northeast zone. So we must put aside recent relationships and friendships and massively vote our own son of the soil Atiku Abubakar.”

He said Atiku as a former Vice President for eight years is able and capable with proven democratic credentials and track records in office.

The former FCT minister described Atiku as a politician with immense networks and relationships all over the country and the rest of the world, adding that the Northeast zone cannot have a better candidate.

Abba-Gana advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to do his best to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.

He urged Yakubu to stand firmly for truth and neutrality and refused to be used to sabotage the chances of the PDP presidential candidate who is a fellow indigene of Northeast.

He drew his attention to the fact that the Northeast is the only zone in the country that is yet to produce a Head of State or President since independence in 1960.

“No matter who wins between Buhari and Atiku, you cannot escape blame. Your most difficult task but not impossible task is to by all means ensure transparently free, fair, credible and peaceful election. Once this is achieved, the Almighty and All-Knowing God, our Creator and Sustainer will take care of the rest of the matters,” Abba-Gana counseled.