Former Minister of Education and The presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, opened up on how she intends to win next February’s presidential election with a blistering attack at President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, describing them as agents of failure and disappointment who have nothing new to offer Nigerians.
During the speech, titled “To those who say we cannot win: Unveiling the Oby Ezekwesili Roadmap to 2019”, the former Minister of Education said there is no lesser evil between Buhari and Atiku.
She further warned Nigerians that deciding to choose between the two is like choosing between death by poison or death by gunshot. She urged Nigerians to reject their stranglehold on the nation and look towards the future with a better-qualified candidate like her. She said:
“Buhari and Atiku are conjoined from head to toe as #BuTiku. There is no lesser evil in #BuTiku. #BuTiku are members of the same party.
“Attempting to choose between these two is like asking one to choose between death by poison or death by gunshot. God forbid. We cannot reject one oppressor and hand over to another oppressor. We do not love bondage. We do not enjoy suffering. God in heaven forbid.
“I just laugh when I hear some people say our citizens movement will split opposition votes.
“But the PDP is not in opposition to the APC. The candidate of the PDP has over the past 14 years gone from PDP to AC, AC to PDP, PDP to APC and now back to PDP.
“These people are brothers and sisters of iniquity and impoverishment, merchants of failure and disappointment. Don’ t believe that 419! They are both part of a political ruling class that has held us bound, manipulated and diminished us for decades.
“Now they are auditioning to extend their streak of failure for another four years? God really forbid! The real opponent that the Nigerian people have in 2019 is this old political order that takes and takes and takes, and never replenishes anything.
With the 2019 presidential election widely believed to be a straight contest between Buhari and Atiku, Ezekwesili warned Nigerians to not feel trapped by the narrative that only one of the two candidates can realistically win.
She said she was inspired to join the race because she realized Nigeria is in dire need of qualified candidates, a responsibility she felt compelled to accept.
She said her wealth of experience littered with credible achievements in public service, as well as untainted integrity sets her apart from the two candidates who are considered the frontrunners. She said:
“I decided to join this race because I wanted you, and me, to have no excuse. We have in this race a candidate who has excelled in Corporate Nigeria, excelled in national government, excelled in private enterprise, excelled in international development, and then dedicated her life to fighting for every Nigerian from Chibok to Jos, from Abia to Ikot Ekpene.
“I am in the race to disrupt the cycle of bad leadership and give hope to Nigerians. I am the candidate of the people, I know the job and have records of achievements.
“I have excelled in corporate Nigeria, I have excelled in private enterprise and in international development, and in all I have done, there has never been an allegation of corruption against me, let alone having a case.
“I am the choice of a better Nigeria, I am the candidate of the people. I will serve the people, I will move the country forward.”
The presidential candidate urged Nigerians to wake up to their responsibilities and elect credible leaders into important positions so as to salvage the nation’s future. She also called on everyone to donate towards her campaign and volunteer to work for its success.