Oby Ezekwesili has just announced her withdrawal from 2019
presidential race saying she has opted to help build a coalition to
defeat the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party
in the February 16, 2019 election.
Explaining her action in a series of tweets this morning, she
said the action was also prompted by an examination of the country’s
electoral environment sequel to the 2019 presidential debate of
Saturday, January 19, 2019.
See her full statemnt below…
Following the reactions of Nigerian citizens at home and abroad to
the 2019 Presidential Debate held on Saturday 19 January 2019, and after
extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across
the country over the past few days, I have decided to step down from the
presidential race and focus on helping to build a Coalition for a
viable alternative to the#APCPDP in the 2019 general elections.This coalition for a viable alternative has now more than ever before
become an urgent mission for and on behalf of the citizenry.Over the past three months, I have been in private extended talks
with other candidates to make a coalition possible that would allow
Nigerians to exercise choice without feeling helplessly saddled with the
#APCPDP.In doing so, I have not hesitated to offer my willingness to step
down my candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of a strong and
viable alternative behind which Nigerians can line up in our collective
search for a new beginning.My commitment in this regard has been consistent and in consonance
with my agreement, at the request of then aspirants under PACT in 2018,
to supervise their internal selection process as an outside observer
passionate about building this alternative force.Despite disagreements within the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria on
these and other issues, I have decided that it is now necessary to show
by action and example my determination on this issue by stepping down my
candidacy and focusing on building the coalition once and for all.We have no right to allow citizens give in to despair. We will
#Fight4Naija
together, and prove to all that the mess that has now become the
political class will not be allowed to destroy our spirits and the
nation.We are also determined to ensure that the message keeps resonating
that our beloved country deserves better, and that if we are to get the
best that we deserve, we must fight for it.