Presidential Election: Christian coalition rejects Buhari, endorses Atiku

- The Coalition of Christian Groups for Good Governance in Nigeria and Diaspora (COCGGDN) has endorsed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the 2019 presidential election

- The group said the decision became necessary following its observation of the dismal performance of the Muhammadu Buhari administration

- The COCGGDN listed the government's faults, including the systematic persecution of Christians, lack of political will to tackle the Fulani militia and the inability to bring back the missing Chibok and Dapchi school girls

- According to the coalition, in light of the ills of the Buhari administration, it had resolved to practice to restore Nigeria

The candidacy of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has been endorsed by the Coalition of Christian Groups for Good Governance in Nigeria and Diaspora (COCGGDN), ahead of the Saturday, February 16 presidential election.

The development was made public by the group's president, Engr Daniel Kadzai on Thursday, February 14, while reading the coalition's communique at the end of its meeting in Abuja, the nation's capital, Tribune reports.

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Legit.ng gathers that the group said the decision became necessary following its observation of the dismal performance of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. It urged Christians to vote for Atiku.

The COCGGDN further listed nepotism, premature retirement of Christians, unfulfilled promise of ending Boko Haram in four years and a lack of will power to resolve the killings by Fulani militia, as some of the ills of the Buhari government.

The group listed the government's faults as follows: "The presidency is indeed surrounded by the president’s kinsmen as well as his appointment of key functionaries suspected to be having one form of relationship or the other to the president.

“The premature retirement of Christians and other qualified Nigerians as well as the one-sided and half-hearted prosecution of the war against corruption.

“The unfulfilled promises to decimate Boko Haram more than four years after taking the oath of office and the non-release of Leah Sharibu as well as the remaining Dapchi and Chibok girls. We wish to ask Mr President; where are Leah Sharibu and the other abducted girls?

“The lack of will and resolve to restrain or put to order the Fulani militia and other criminal elements. The general level of poverty and unemployment as a result of non-performance in the economic sector.

“The total neglect, non-inclusion and systematic persecution of Christians. Policies that led to exclusiveness and resulting into divisiveness across the regional and religious line as never before in Nigeria."

In light of the afore-listed ills, the group, therefore, endorsed Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate and rejected the candidacy of Buhari.

It stated: “Fellow Nigerians, with recourse of the sliding of Nigeria to economic decline, further insecurity with the prevalent increase of Fulani militia, kidnap and armed robbery, the divisiveness of government, lack of adherence to rule of law and social justice, we have resolved to practice to restore Nigeria.

“While complimenting the role and efforts of the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum, the Middle Belt Forum, the Afenifere elders and the Coalition of South-South Leadership, we hereby state our position unequivocally clear and without inhibition today, Thursday 14th February 2019, two days to the presidential election.

“On behalf of our networking partners and leaders who are also signatories to this communiqué, we have resolved to support and endorse the election of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Dr Peter Obi as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), endorsed the candidacy of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 presidential election.

In a statement signed its spokesperson, Mudoch Agbinibo, the group rejected the purported plan to endorse President Muhammadu Buhari by some ex-militant leaders.

It said Nigeria should be prepared for a perpetual recession if the election is rigged in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

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Source: Legit.ng