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By Daniel Fayemi
Presidential
candidate of the
Action Congress
of Nigeria,
Mallam Nuhu
Ribadu today
(Thursday)
explained that
it was the ego
and self-centered
world of
politicians that
made talks of an
alliance against
the ruling
Peoples
Democratic Party
fail.
Ribadu who was
addressing a
press conference
in Abuja however
said that it was
not a session
for nostalgia or
for indulging on
the pains of the
past, but a
moment for
decision.
He said, “The
future we are
stepping into is
longer that the
past we are
coming from, and
I understand
that not all the
variables are in
the hands of the
electorates.
“Fellow
compatriots we
have to use this
opportunity to
make the future
address the past
of our nation.
Opposition
politicians
understood this
challenge and
tried hard to
forge an
alliance to
address the
problem.
Sadly,
however, the ego
and self-centered
world of
politicians have
made it
impossible to
forge that type
of massive force
against the
administration
of the ruling
PDP.”
Ribadu said that
election
malpractices
should be
frowned against
at all levels
even as he urged
Nigerians to be
at alert saying
that there will
be attempts to
rig and
manipulate
election
results.
He said, “The
history of
elections in
Nigeria reveal
that electoral
malpractices are
the most
formidable
hurdle that
always stood
against electing
a truly
representative
and responsible
government.
“In last week’s
National
Assembly
election, the
same challenge
started rearing
its ugly head
again and the
main
perpetrators are
the same gifted
captains in the
art of election
rigging and
manipulation.
“They are
roaming the
streets about
now, getting set
for action, and
if they did it
last week, we
would all be
naïve to imagine
that they would
yield on this
criminal and
unpatriotic act
and go on
vacation this
coming Saturday.
“Ladies and
Gentlemen, it is
for this reason
that I want to
sound a strong
note of caution
against
tampering with
the votes in the
coming
presidential
election, as
indeed of the
remaining
elections.”
He
also appealed to
the youth of the
country to
resist any
attempt to buy
their votes.
“In the midst of
opulence and
unspeakable
wealth, our
story and our
journey of
failure, of
squalor and
despair, remain
one of the most
ironic
narratives in
the history of
nation building.
“But this is not
a session for
nostalgia or for
indulging on the
pains of the
past, but a
moment for
decision.
“A decision that
will usher in a
new Nigeria in
which people
want to live in
peace, and
harmony with one
another with
good healthcare,
good education
for our
children, job
opportunities,
security of life
and property,
and above all a
humble,
responsive, and
accountable
government.
It is
that simple.”
Ribadu said.
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