The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has called on political leaders of Igbo extraction to shun personal interest and support the Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the good of the country. He described the emergence of the duo as flag bearers of PDP as a blessing to all Nigerians.

Bishop Ezeokafor spoke on Tuesday at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, while reacting to the state of the nation. He thanked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for choosing Obi, saying that with him as a politician and Obi, as a great manager of resources, at the helm of affairs Nigeria’s economic and administrative challenges would be adequately tackled.

He expressed confidence that if the duo were given the opportunity to pilot the affairs of the country would not only deliver, but would put smile on the faces of the citizenry.

The Catholic prelate while explaining that Obi’s job creation prowess and his renowned human capital developers would place Nigerians on the path of progress insisted that restructuring was the only way through which every part of the country would be proud of what they had as a race.

He advocated for real confederation as practised in America adding that for Nigeria to make any headway they must revisit what they had in the constitutional conference.

His words: “Current Nigeria’s problem is lack of economic management and mal-administration. I think, with Atiku and Obi at the helm of affairs, Nigerian would be changed for good. We are tired of leadership ineptitude.

“Obi’s emergence is the greatest thing to have happen to Nigerians in recent times. It is a blessing to Igbo race. We have long been forgotten. Those who know Obi's antecedent know him as a great manager of resources. Atiku/Obi, what a great combination.

“I have already started foreseeing greater and prosperous future for all Nigerians with the two men managing the affairs of the country. Ndi Igbo would feel involved with the current arrangement.

“I think these two great men will salvage this country. Not because Peter is from Anambra State but, because of his outstanding performance in governance. I was in Sokoto sometime in September this year, you need to see how people were talking about Obi’s visit to various northern schools. He offered educational materials and monetary support to every school he visited.”

The bishop stressed that if Obi could replicate what he did in Anambra State as a governor for Nigeria, the country would be better for it.

On the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ezeokafor dismissed it as the most unfavourable and insensitive government noting that the continued silence of the president on the killings and maiming of innocent Nigerians only deduce lack of political will to quell the situation.

He added: “We are tired of this government; we need a detribalised Nigerian as a leader not a leader with dictatorial and despotic tendencies.

“Imagine a country where people who are agitating to be on their own will be labeled terrorists while people who are moving about with guns in the name of herdsmen are pampered.

“A country where agitators that have neither stick nor stone except their mouth are manhandled and treated like outcasts. Buhari’s administration is unfavourable to Nigerians, especially Christians. What we need now is positive change, not this type of change we are witnessing today.”

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