Muslim, Christian groups endorse Atiku

A multi religious group, Muslim and Christian Initiative for Good Leadership (MCIGL), yesterday endorsed candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for Saturday’s presidential election.
The group in a communiqué read to journalists after a stakeholders’ meeting at Monrovia Street, Wuse 2, Abuja headquarters yesterday, said the choice of Atiku was made after painstaking deliberations and consideration of all variables, stating that the unity of Nigeria and the overall wellbeing of the country, especially the need to revamp the economy and create jobs for young people were the deciding factors.
According to the communiqué which was jointly signed by the group’s national chairman Alhaji Adamu Teku and national secretary, Finbar Aruwuonye, Nigeria was currently at the crossroads with its unity at breaking point, hence, the need therefore to make a positive deviation from the status quo and save the nation became inevitable.
The communiqué reads: “The decision to endorse former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was taken after all variables were placed on the table before the National Executive Council, state coordinators and other stakeholders present at the meeting today. After the debate, it was unanimously agreed by all members that the unity of Nigeria should be the first consideration, followed by security of lives and property of the people as well as economy and job creation, among many others.”
“After consideration of all the indices, members voted overwhelmingly that Nigeria is currently on the crossroad and that its unity is at the brinks. Members agreed that the current administration cannot unite Nigeria because the body language of top members of the administration and the sponsoring political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) do not at all seem to be sensitive to the high level of disunity and acrimony in the body polity.
“Today, many sections of the country are not happy. There are several allegations of marginalization on the basis of ethnicity, religion and other areas, yet the government seems not be bothered. There have been several outcries by people complaining of appointments by nepotistic considerations as well as economy isolation. Yet nobody seems to listen or cares to address the issues.”