- The race for the 2019 presidential election is gaining momentum as the days go by
- One of the notable aspirants in the race is the former governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa
- Various groups continue to put pressure on the former Sokoto chief executive to run for the highest office in the land
A group of northerners in the 17 southern states under the aegis of Arewa Initiatives for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria on Sunday, May 13, called on the former governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa to come out and declare for presidency.
Members and leadership of the group converged at a press conference in Lagos to plead with Bafarawa to seek the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Briefing journalists on behalf of the group, the Lagos state coordinator, Alhaji Kabir Ali Dinar described Bafarawa as the “ray of hope” that would breathe new life into the nation’s politics.
The group also stated that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians, saying there is widespread poverty, insecurity all over the land.
Ali said: “This is an association registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and we want to use this medium to call on Dr. Attahiru Bafarawa to come out and declare for presidential election.”
The southwest chairman of the group, Alhaji Danlami Abubakar said the call on Bafarawa to contest for election was not driven by sectional or religious sentiments.
Also speaking, another founding member of the group, Alhaji Shehu Usman dismissed insinuation that Buhari is the only popular candidate in the north, saying Bafarawa would win a pan-Nigerian mandate if given the chance to contest under the PDP.
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Meanwhile, the national financial secretary of the PDP, Abdullahi MaiBasira has expressed optimism that his party will have a successful outing in the 2019 general elections. He stated this during an interactive session with select journalists in his office in Abuja.
The immediate past national youth leader of the party, used the opportunity to advise whoever emerges the PDP's presidential candidate in 2019 to hit the ground running immediately.
PDP's Magnificent 7 for 2019 on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng