Dogara, Achuba, others disown Babachir over statement that Northern Christians endorse Obi
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as well as other members of a northern Christian group, which has persistently kicked against a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, yesterday disowned an ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, over his endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.
In a statement jointly signed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and seven others, titled: “Dogara, Babachir Lawal-led Northern APC Members Dump Tinubu, Declare Support For Peter Obi,” the group stressed that no such decision had been taken.
Other signatories to the statement were: Simon Achuba, Albert Atiwurcha, Prof Doknan Sheni, Mela Nunge (SAN), Gen. Ishaya Bauka (rtd), Prof Ibrahim Haruna and Mrs Leah Olusiyi.
“We want to draw the attention of the general public to the recent position canvassed by our Chairman, B.D Lawal as the position of our group.
“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,” the group stated.
Consequently, it explained that the decision to endorse a particular candidate and the statement credited to Babachir were solely his (Babachir’s), pointing out that although he is absolutely entitled to it, it wasn’t the view of the group as a whole.
“We hope this statement clears all the queries most of us have been inundated with on this all-important subject matter,” the statement concluded.
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has stated that the northern Christians are in support of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Lawal, who was speaking at an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today said Obi had more chances of winning the election than the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.
Asked why he chose to endorse the LP presidential candidate, the APC chieftain said a government by the duo of Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed would give Nigeria its desired peace.
“We are politicians and realists. We want to support a political party that has the potential to win and rule; then address all the other dynamics in society, like marginalisation, insecurity, and inclusiveness.
“So, if you look at it, there are only four political parties that are worth our discussion, and we discussed them. Kwankwaso is good material for the president, for example. We discussed it with him, but we look at his tendency and chances of winning the election based on our parameters, and it is very small.
“We looked at Labour Party and we think the chances are very big. A government run by Peter Obi and Datti will give Nigeria the desired peace. In fact, it will wean us from this oligarch.
“We don’t need commitment (Peter Obi). The issue is very simple; if you go to every single Christian village in Nigeria, they will tell you, there might be no other candidate for the other political parties, they’ll tell you we are doing (sic) Peter Obi. If you go to church, everybody is doing (sic) Peter Obi.
“There are still some Christians who are hanging around the APC, of course; whatever their reason, we don’t begrudge them. Some are in the PDP. Average Christian rank and file in the north, they are Labour Party.”
According to Lawal, chances were that the election would go to a run-off, rather than a first-ballot win.
He further stated that the APC was not on the ballot, owing primarily to its Muslim-Muslim ticket, which, he said, had antagonised the Christians, adding that ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar would clear northern votes.
“My thinking is that Bola (Tinubu) will not get 25% in Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Yobe, maybe Borno 25%, maybe. No Hausa-Fulani state, it goes nowhere. Now he has antagonised the Christians, so he loses. He will get the South-West because of affinity and ‘it’s our turn’ syndrome. Atiku will clear most of the northern states,” Lawal said.
