In the words of Martin Luther King Junior “there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it is right.”
Your Excellency, it is an honour and privilege to stand before you not just as a group of patriotic young people of like minds, but also as citizens under the umbrella of Concerned Citizens for Atiku (CCA) whose common interest is not limited to the total reversal of the unfortunate under-development of Nigeria, but also ensuring her speedy climb, up the ladder of economic growth and prosperity, as well as the wellbeing of its citizens irrespective of all sentiments.
The formation of this progressive pressure group, which has Coordinators in the 36 States of the Federation as well as in the diaspora, was borne out of the need to create a platform for sustained dialogue towards finding better alternatives for resolving many of the multi-faceted challenges facing our beloved country, Nigeria.
No doubt, our country is at a crossroads and urgently needs rescue. Nigeria is in dire need of a leader with a track-record of credibility and empathy, a leader with vast political and administrative experience, a focused and detribalised leader with friends across our geopolitical borders, a leader with memorable antecedents and a man of unquestionable character.
Your Excellency, there is no doubt that you fit in perfectly to the qualities described above. Also, without any iota of doubt, you will agree with us that Nigeria at this time is shopping for a bridge builder, a pathfinder, a repairer of breach, a reliable and dependable as well as intelligent leader with the milk of human kindness, and on whose broad shoulders we can lean on as citizens.
Permit us to report that we have searched through the dossiers of many characters parading themselves as leaders or would-be leaders but all of them, except one man, fell short of our expectation. And that one man is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Therefore, on behalf of the board of trustees of Concerned Citizens for Atiku (CCA), WE ARE CALLING ON YOUR EXCELLENCY, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR (GCON) TO DECLARE YOUR INTENTION TO RUN FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
For us in this group, having decided that you are the only man who can rescue this nation, our involvement has gone beyond appealing to your good self. We see this project as a mission of compulsion, a commitment to dragging you into the 2019 presidential race as an urgent and necessary step to save this country from an imminent catastrophe.
We believe that our request may be weighty but you have been positioned to rescue Nigeria from the current state where citizens only wake up each morning and wail, due to the economic situation being faced by every single family. With all due respect to you sir, this is your time to fix Nigeria so that posterity will remember you for good.
Furthermore, Your Excellency, we wish to use this rare privilege to celebrate you for your selfless contributions to the growth and advancement of Nigeria’s democracy through the support and encouragement of popular participation and the rule of law. You have never pretended about the fact that your love for your fatherland has eaten deep into your system.
And as an advocate for the total restructuring of Nigeria, your name will be written in the golden book of the country as one who has demonstrated an unflinching commitment to equity and justice as a necessary condition for peace, unity and stability of our country.
There is no doubt that as a people, we need a fearless, frank and consistent advocate for justice, equity and rule of law or, simply put, a consistent defender of the masses’ interest and a standard bearer for the oppressed majority.
We are convinced beyond doubt that you will go the extra mile to ensure that you take advantage of the constitution to protect our cherished democracy.
In conclusion, we hereby express our deep gratitude for the opportunity provided for us to speak our mind, knowing that ‘a closed mouth is a closed destiny’.
Finally, in the words of Anthony De Mello, these things will destroy the human race: “politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness and worship without awareness.” Therefore, let’s come together and make this dream a reality.
We look forward to working with you as foot soldiers in the interest of the survival of our country.
We thank you for this opportunity.
Long Live Concerned Citizens for Atiku.
Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Adebowale Taiwo Jante, Convener, Concerned Citizens for Atiku, gave this speech on the occasion of a courtesy visit to the office of the former vice president of Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON) on Friday, November 17, 2017.
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