Coalition asks Atiku to shelve presidential ambition, respect zoning formula

A coalition of concerned groups on power shift to South and the need for younger candidate to emerge come 2023 has called on former vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his ambition to contest for the office of the  President for the umpteenth time

The group is made up of some leaders of organisations for.Atiku such as National Condinator Turaki Arewa Vanguard, National President MiddleBelt Network for Atiku, Southwest for Atiku 2023 leader/convener and National Cordinator North4North support Group for Atiku
They said they have supported Atiku over the years adding that this time around he should do the most honorable thing by listening to the voices of reason.
The leader/convener Femi Osabinu who addressed a press conference at the NUJ press Center in Abuja on Thursday called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to give a second thought to his desire to contest for the office of president in the elections again in 2023. 

“While Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has served the nation with distinction, as evidenced in the fact that we have been his supporters for years, it is also undeniable that at 77years of age going into this race, it will be a mismatch of national priorities to support his quest, taking into consideration the unique interplay of circumstances currently confronting our country. 

“Nigeria needs a young and more energetic unifier, who will be able to handle the rigors of being physically present in crises spots to make the physical and psychological statement of government being in charge and committed to finding lasting solutions to our national challenges.

“In 2007 when former president olusegun Obasanjo moved for third term, it was the same Atiku Abubakar that stood up and said there was a gentleman agreement that power must go back to the North After Obasanjo’s tenure. 

“Same thing when we lost President Yaradua when Jonathan Wanted to contest, he stood and said it is our tenure we have to complete our tenure. “That was why he lost the 2015 election. Now that we brought our President Muhammadu Buhari who is serving out his second term now, at the end of his tenure we also want power to go back to the south for the sake of equity and equal opportunity. 

“Nigeria belongs to all of us everybody should shelve his personal ambition for national interest

” Having been around for decades and served at different levels, up to the highest levels of government as a very influential vice President, we believe he has done his tour of duty in the front row of national affairs. 

“It is now time for him to take a back seat and play the role of elder statesman, the billings of which he had been living up to

“His role going forward should be of providing guidance to the younger ones across ethnic, religious  and partisan divisions to help build a consensus of what Nigeria should be and how she ought to go about becoming all she can be in the comity of nations.