Apro-Buhari group, Re-Elect Buhari Movement, has said that the recent endorsement of the former vice president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the 2019 presidential election will not affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls.
The group described Obasanjo’s endorsement of Atiku as meaningless and of no effect.
The RBM in a statement signed by its Convener, Emmanuel Umohinyang, said that the decision as to who would emerge the country’s next president resides with the electorate.
The group also condemned the alleged involvement of some Christian and Muslim leaders in Atiku’s endorsement by Obasanjo, noting that, “The endorsement will count for nothing in the next general elections.”
The statement read in part, “If endorsement wins votes, former President Goodluck Jonathan would have won the 2015 general elections because under that era, we saw how humongous resources were expended to buy endorsement. Today, Nigerians are not only wiser, they are properly informed on the right they have on the day of election. So, the endorsement of Atiku is neither here nor there, and nobody should take Obasanjo seriously on it.
“Ex-President Obasanjo is one man who plays to the gallery. He speaks from both sides of his mouth as he has shown again. In one breath, Atiku is a thief, and God will not forgive him if he supports Atiku. I do not think Nigerians should take the ex–president seriously. He is also one man who likes to control any government in power.
“Ever since he left government, he has tried to bring in people and control them. When he endorsed this President (Buhari) before the 2015 election, some of us didn’t take it as anything because what electoral value does he have? Has he ever won his local government for any presidential candidate? So, Atiku’s endorsement does not have any substance.
“What Nigerians are voting for now is performance. But the baba has forgotten that time has changed, the Kabiyesi’s kind of election has gone.”
The group further said that the people would assess the performance of the administration and cast their votes for it.
According to Umohinyang, the group’s only concern is about people masquerading as clergy men, using their religious position to deceive people.