Posted by By Chimex Ndubuisi on
As a group who are pressuring the former president to come out and run for the presidential race for 2007 in Nigeria, Our Democratic Assembly (ODA) has urged Nigerians to support former President General, Ibrahim Babangida who would ensure that dividends of democracy continues to flourish and for people to be involved in governance for a better Nigeria.
As a group who are pressuring the former president to come out and run for the presidential race for 2007 in Nigeria, Our Democratic Assembly (ODA) has urged Nigerians to support former President General, Ibrahim Babangida who would ensure that dividends of democracy continues to flourish and for people to be involved in governance for a better Nigeria.
Briefing newsmen on IBB presidential race for 2007 held at the Royal Garden Hotel, Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt, the National facilitator of the group Chief (Barrister) John Ogolo called on all Nigerians irrespective of their political lineage and political positions, to come out and support the former President, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Barrister Ogolo stated that Our Democratic Assembly (ODA) has a programme that would commence within the first quarter of 2005 that would take care of the majority of the unemployed youths, the widows, the widowers, the retired but not tired and the elderly. He said that the programme would be tagged "Life Enhancement programme", and called on people to register with the coordinator of (ODA) in their various local government and states of the federation free of charge, when it starts.
The ODA facilitator stated that the group would visit all the local government areas in the country and find out what the people could do to themselves, pointing out that people who have something to offer living within and outside the country that could not be harmonized into the political party PDP which IBB belongs, irrespective of their party or the ethnic groups called to service.
He called on all Nigerians to stop criticizing government and bring their suggestions and programmes to their offices located across the country for proper documentation and possible implementation before 2007 when a purposeful leader in the person of IBB would be installed as the Nigerian President.
According to him, "Do not say that politics is a dirty game and not for Christians, Muslims and other religious groups. Remember somebody must play the game and stand for elections".
He said the reasonable men and women shy away from participating in politics; the non-reasonable and dirty people will play it. If such people eventually win, it is the reasonable men and women that have the fear of God that would always complain and end up praying and fasting for those in government", he noted.
Barrister Ogolo hinted that those clamoring for the number one position, come 2007 are merely seeking for number two position and advised Nigerians from south-south and South-East not to listen to them because according to him, "when finally they settle for the number two position what happens to their followers? They will be marginalized".
The ODA facilitator disclosed that since the people of South-South and South-East have embraced and endorsed the candidature of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) as the president in 2007, what Nigerians need is good governance, saying that this could only be achieved when we join hands and make it work.
"This is the time to come together to find how we will stop money politics, massive and excessive rigging in our polity in this country" he concluded.