Atiku Abubakar: My Last Wish ‘Before I Join My Ancestors’ – Prof Nwabueze

Renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, has thrown his weight behind the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The endorsement comes after a summit held by South-east leaders and stakeholders in Enugu, with the theme ‘Ndigbo 2019 and Beyond.’

Nwabueze, while urged Ndigbo to support Atiku, argues that the actualisation of the ticket remains the visible means of political survival for the people of the region.

He further mentioned that the Atiku Abubakar project was his last wish “before I join my ancestors.”

In a five-point communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the south-east leaders said their position was based on the restructuring agenda put on the table by Atiku and Obi, which four zones of the country had agreed on.

Read by a legal luminary, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, it said, “The Igbo people of Nigeria held a one day non-partisan and inclusive summit convened by elders, traditional and religious leaders on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 to consider Ndigbo’s place in the polity especially in the light of the forthcoming 2019 elections.

“The summit deliberated on the State of Ndigbo in Nigeria today especially after years of exclusion from the centre. This country has never been so divided, as it is today. We Igbos have always yearned for a level playing field with justice, equity and fairness.

“The summit recognised the nomination of His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, as the vice presidential candidate of the PDP and fully endorses this nomination. It was acknowledged that this nomination puts Ndigbo back in the centre of governance. It is, therefore, important that Ndigbo should rally behind the Atiku/Obi ticket.

“We identify with the Atiku/ Peter Obi ticket on the restructuring agenda as has been reiterated by four zones of the country namely, South-south, South-west, North-central and South-east. We believe that as long as the federating units remain weak the centre will continue to be weak. We equally move to appreciate the position of the Atiku/Obi ticket in promoting national unity.

“In conclusion, the summit reiterated that the time is now for Ndigbo to mobilise and organize effectively to realise the Atiku/Obi ticket. We are not campaigning against anybody; we are simply campaigning for our very survival. Igbo votes must count wherever Ndigbo live in Nigeria.”