By Adeleye Kunle
Dr. SKC Ogbonnia, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 presidential election, has announced his intention to abandon his political party affiliation and its 2023 presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, in order to support Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP.
Ogbonnia stated that he endorsed Obi because the LP presidential candidate is a “democratic revolution whose time has come,” adding that “with every sense of patriotism, he was joining the Nigerian masses in endorsing Obi as Nigeria’s next president.”
“While I remain a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, I cannot support Tinubu, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.” It was not an easy decision to support the candidate of an opposing party. But, as Ogbonnia stated, there comes a time when “enough is enough.”
Ogbonnia stated in a statement made available to journalists yesterday that his first disdain for Tinubu stems from the fact that neither fellow party members nor ordinary Nigerians can claim to know who Ahmed Tinubu truly is.
“Everything about the man is shady—his name, state of origin, the schools he attended, the certificates he received; his record in America to his true source of income, let alone any genuine intention of running for president, aside from an arrogant claim that it is his turn to rule Nigeria.”
“Aside from his shady background, a series of events demonstrate that Tinubu lacks a strong sense of equity, justice, fairness, and patriotism, virtues he claims to promote.”
The truth is that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is even less concerned about Nigeria and its problems than President Muhammadu Buhari. It is common knowledge that the APC National Leader lacks the physical fitness to run for the presidency of Nigeria, but it has also become clear that he lacks the mental capacity,” Ogbonnia claimed.
I see intelligence, character, competence, and capacity; I see humility and integrity. I see patriotism as well as dynamism. I see an enviable and verifiable track record; I see attainable visions; I see hope for the Nigeria of our founding dreams; and I see the dawn of a democratic revolution. This action is consistent with my political beliefs. I never allow ethnicity, religion, or political party affiliation to cloud my judgment. I crossed party lines as a member of the National Republican Convention (NRC) to campaign for MKO Abiola, the Social Democratic Party’s flagbearer (SDP). I thought Abiola was a better candidate than my party’s candidate, Bashir Tofa.
“I was a card-carrying member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu, its most populous state.” However, following the fraudulent general elections in 2007, in which the ruling PDP dictated who won and who lost, I changed my mind. I vowed to join any movement that could depose the PDP. I would join the APC as a founding member and help Buhari win. I am still proud that we dethroned the PDP, a virally corrupt ruling party that had planned to rule for 60 years in a row. We demonstrated the ramifications of bad behavior.
“Unfortunately, with Asiwaju Tinubu as its National Leader, the APC appears to have no ideological, moral, or ethical differences with the discredited PDP.” Today, my party has shamelessly become a haven for corrupt kingpins who were indicted while serving in the PDP. To make matters worse, the APC and PDP presidential candidates, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, are two of the most heinous poster boys for Nigeria’s corrupt oligarchy. In short, neither Atiku nor Tinubu can campaign against corruption in good conscience.
“It is worth noting that no Nigerian leader, military or civilian, has ever assumed the country’s governance with the degree of mercenary influence and notoriety commonly associated with Atiku and Tinubu.” I have a moral compass. I have chosen my country over my political party. For the greater good of Nigeria, I have become OBI-dient!! “I implore other true progressives to do the same,” Ogbonnia charged.
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