From Yahaya Audu, Bauchi
Northern Initiative for Good Governance (NIGG), a pro-democracy group has expressed regret that the Northeast geo-political zone of the country has been deprived of the presidential slot since the demise of the nation’s first Prime Minister, Late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in 1966.
The NIGG in a statement Sunday signed by its secretary, Adamu Hassan recalled that the North East since the advent of the nation’s nascent democracy in 1999 been advocating for the slot to be zoned to it through various political party divides but to no avail.
Alhaji Adamu Hassan therefore appealed that the North East sub-region must under any political party platform be justifiably opportune to produce the next president in the 2019 general elections
To this end, the group opined that the Adamawa born politician and Nigeria’s former vice president, Atiku Abubakar be encouraged to be the nest president comes 2019 elections, saying the move will heighten political inspirations of the people in the Northeast whose beloved son, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was pre-mutually assassinated in 1966.
It explained that former vice president, Atiku Abubakar has all it takes to be next president of this country, and described him as the most prepared and organized presidential contender in Nigeria’s political history.
Hassan said that Atiku Abubakar is being identified by his relevance in the socio-political scenery of Nigeria, judging from his understanding contributions to unfolding developments in the country.
He expressed optimism that former vice president Atiku Abubakar will contest the presidency in 2019 polls, be it of the platform of APC, PDP or any other political platform.
Already, the PDP as its founding member, has for sometimes now been canvassing for the return of Atiku Abubakar to its fold ahead of the 2019 elections, the statement concluded.
