Politics: Bello Dumps Atiku/Obi, Says It’s A Sin To Remain In PDP

Clement Paul

Leader of the Coalition of Aggrieved Support Groups, Bello Osaretin has dumped the presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the 2019 election, stating that it’s a sin to remain in the People Democratic Party.

A couple of weeks ago, the groups numbering over 145 formally withdrew support Atiku and pledged their support and solidarity to president Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), for the 2019 presidential election.

In an exclusive interview granted the Nation’s Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowakan recently, Mr. Bello stated that their decision to dump Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the People Democratic Party (PDP) was informed by “the total neglect and disregards for the sanctity of support groups existence, acknowledgement and recognition of groups contributions coupled with nepotic development in favor of some selected support groups with ethnic affinity, administrative recklessness in management of support groups goodwill, rebarbative use of derogatory terms”.

“They say they have changed and are now true democrats, but the issues of imposition and impunity have not been addressed. Coupled with the symptoms of the use and dump syndrome that has vastly infested the party. Sadly too, the party lacks a reward management system for true members to be fully integrated into party activities”, Bello revealed.

Bello who avouched that the chances of Buhari winning the 2019 presidential election are very high given his achievements, insinuated that Atiku will not win the election, that the People Democratic Party (PDP) is not serious about returning to power in 2019.

“It is quite obvious that the leaders and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has not learn their lessons. It is now very clear that the party is not serious about returning to power in 2019. How do you expect a party that betrayed itself in 2015 to still win election come 2019 with the same set of characters that were at the saddle of command when APC defeated the party four years ago.”

He said President Buhari has done extremely well, that He has brought integrity into the governance system of Nigeria.

“There is no match to Buhari in 2019. It is integrity versus corruption. Nigerians are still remembering the past and comparing it with the current situation. Buhari has won the next election for the APC across the country with his performance.

“Like I told you, we didnt just leave PDP, we consulted widely and I can now tell you Nigerians prefer Buhari and the APC to Atiku and the PDP. That was why we unanimously agreed to denounce our membership of Atiku Presidential Campaign Office and as well withdraws total supports for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ambition nationwide with immediate effect and direct all affiliate bodies to do same forthwith.

“On the flip-side, we the members of aggrieved Atiku Support Groups Coalition, warehousing more than 145 aggrieved support groups across Nigeria, are now promising to mobilise our members to give President Buhari six million votes across the country to ensure that he is not stopped by the PDP in 2019. We are of the opinion that he should be allowed to continue the good works he is doing.

“Integrity question will be at stake here. We need to put that in context. I still believe Buhari will come on top at end of the day. Also the choices of the running mates have set a voting pattern in motion. The west and the east will look at the persons running as vice president and decide which party should be given the chance. The south will determine the next election. Take my words for it, Buhari will win in 2019.

When asked if his groups’ members are now members of All Progressive Congress he said: “we have not officially declared for APC, but we have pledged allegiance to Mr. President through Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But let me say this categorically; it is a sin to remain in PDP. Nigerians have spoken, they will never return to Egypt, so PDP will never return to power in Nigeria.”