Atiku Abubakar
By Jon Egie
Nigerians have been charged to reject Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the PDP for the 2023 presidential election.
The charge was given by a Facebook User, Idiabi Harry while reacting to a media statement credited to Miyetti Allah purporting to discourage Fulani people in Nigeria from voting for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.
The statement which was attributed to Saleh Ahassan, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah in an interview granted PUNCH newspaper and published today, Sunday, August 14, said the herder’s group, Miyetti Allah has instructed every Fulani in the country not to vote for the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi who they claimed is a tribal bigot that represents the Biafran interest, which would ultimately not favour the Fulani nation in Nigeria.
Miyetti Allah added that as far as they, herders were concerned, “Obi was out of the options of persons to be voted for in the 2023 presidential election warning that any Fulani who votes for Obi will be sanctioned since “We know those we cannot vote for and those who cannot be President of Nigeria”.
In a swift reaction, Spokesman of Peter Obi Support Network, Mr Jones Omwuasoanya countered the claim of Miyetti Allah saying Peter Obi was a Nationalist whose interest was only with Nigeria.
It was in line of counter of the statement that Idiabi Harry in a supportive argument said members of Miyetti Allah are Fulani who would definitely vote for their kinsman, Atiku Abubakar to continue with the mayhem unleashed on the country since the beginning of the two term administration of Muhammadu Buhari, a Fulani and patron of Miyetti Allah.
“For kidnapping and terrorism to stop in Nigeria, Nigerians must as a matter of urgency reject Atiku Abubakar at the polls. A vote for Atiku is a vote for continuation of criminality and other social vices in the country” he said adding that affliction should not be allowed to rise a second time.
In various comments by other Facebook Users, GC Ozorjiri said the position of Miyetti Allah is an indication that the herder group, known for its terrorist acts since 2015 till date, was afraid of an imminent ObiDatti presidency which will usher in positive change that will no longer favour individuals and groups that are massively benefitting from the present insecurity and poor economic situation in Nigeria.
“They want someone that will continue their agenda because Obi will spoil their plan” Uchenna Francis added. And in the words of Jessy Prince, “The rejection of Peter Obi by Miyetti Allah, a terrorist organization is an indication that Obi is the one Nigeria needs now.”
But for clarification, another user, George Kalu Orji attempted to clear the haze from the view of Miyetti Allah and correct their perspectives about the 2023 presidential election saying: “It is not ObiDatti that is contesting, it is the millions of Nigeria youths who have been neglected by the government that is contesting through ObiDatti.
“It is the spirits of those kidnapped and murdered by Boko Haram that are contesting through ObiDatti
“It is the spirits of those innocent youths killed at Lekki Tollgate during the #EndSARS that are contesting through ObiDatti.
“It is the spirit of Deborah that was burnt alive that is contesting, it is the spirits of those innocent worshippers murdered at Owo Church that are contesting through ObiDatti.”
Nigeria population based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data (August 10, 2022) is 216, 867,575 that is two hundred and sixteen million, eight hundred and sixty-seven thousand, five hundred and seventy-five thousand.
The demographics of the various major ethnic groups in percentage is as follows:
Hausa (30) implying 65 million, Yoruba (15.5) implying 34 million, Igbo (15.2) implying 33 million and Fulani (6) implying 13 million.
Peter Obi’s running mate, Dr Yusufu Datti Ahmed is from Zaria in Kaduna State and enjoys support of majority of Hausas and youths across the north and south of Nigeria.
About Author
