By TechnocratMedia
Members of the Northern Christians Group have distanced themselves from the endorsement of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2023 general election.
Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG) who is one of the leaders of the group, announced the endorsement of Peter Obi on Thursday while appearing on a live TV programme “Politics Today” on Channels TV.
He said the group has agreed to endorse the former Anambra state governor.
The group is led by the former SGF and Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Members of the group who are of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had disagreed with the presidential candidate of the party following his choice of running mate which produced a Muslim–Muslim ticket and told the leadership of the APC that the group would adopt another.
Speaking on the decision to support Peter Obi of the LP, Mr Lawal said the group considered justice, equity, and harmonious co-existence of all Nigerians.
He said the choice of Mr Obi represents justice, equity and peace for the country.
“This is justice; this is equity; this is political engineering at its best and one that engineers peace and harmonious co-existence of the various socio-political and religious classes of our nation,” he said.
But in a reaction to the development, eight members of the group said the former SGF spoke for himself, adding that a collective decision would be announced soon.
“We want to draw the attention of the general public to the recent position canvassed by our Chairman, Engr B D Lawal, as the position of our Group,” the statement reads.
“We wish to state that necessary consultations have been concluded, and based on manifestly unassailable empirical data, the group is poised to adopt a position which will be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon.
“Suffice to say that no one in the group including the Chairman has been mandated to speak to the public about our position at this material time.
“Based on our modus operandi, our position was meant to be presented to the general public at the event above referred to. That has not changed.
“Consequently, the decision to endorse a particular candidate and the statement credited to the chairman are solely the decision and views of the Chairman which he is absolutely entitled to but not that of the group.
“We hope this statement clears all the queries most of us have been inundated with on this all-important subject matter.”
Signatories to the statement include Yakubu Dogara; Simon Achuba, former Kogi deputy governor; Albert Atiwurcha; Doknan Sheni; Mela A. Nunge, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Ishaya Bauka, a retired general; Ibrahim Haruna; and Leah Olusiyi.
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