The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has denied a Lagos based coalition, claiming to be supporting him.
In a statement issued by his SA Youth and Support Groups, Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas, Atiku said such faceless groups are being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A group, Diplomatic Youth Movement of Nigeria (DYMN), a purported PDP support group had said it has dumped PDP’s Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar.
The group said it has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee of Youth Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS) to ensure the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Malam Yunusa Mohammed, DYMN National Coordinator, on Wednesday in Abuja, said the organisation decided to join forces with the CYMS in the interest of Nigerians and youths especially.
He spoke when he led some members of his organisation on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the CYMS Board of Trustee, Mr Festus Uchenna.
Mohammed said the DYMN which was originally registered as a support group under the PDP in 2014, resolved to join forces with the APC to work for the re-election of President Buhari because of the trust they had in him.
“We support and strategise for any candidate we trust and want to work for, we have mobilisers across the federation who serve as our foot soldiers.
“Elections are actually worn at the grassroots, and that is our base, from where we are going to start working from,“ he said.
Mohammed, however, noted that information reaching those at the grassroots, especially on the achievements of the APC Buhari-led administration had not really been robust, adding that his organisation was ready to change the narrative.
He stressed that his organisation would be ready and willing to work and carry out any responsibility that may be assigned to it, so long as it was aimed at ensuring Buhari`s re-election come Feb. 16.
Reacting, Ambassador Bin Abbas said:
“The false alarm and outrageous fake news being exceptionally promoted by the agents of mass failure and hopelessness called the All Progressive Congress (APC) has multiplied unabated.
“The allegation of non-funding and lack of campaign materials from the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organization credited to a faceless group parading itself as the Coalition of All Atiku Support Groups and signed by Mike Iheanyi is a further example of stacks of figments of demented imaginations consistent with the APC and its leadership gravely rejected nationwide,” it stated.
Ambassador Abbas said that the false alarm bears no semblance in any shape or form to the very vibrant and festive mood generated in the PDP camp nationwide.
“It falls within the narrative of the APC who claimed they have bankrupted the PDP and His Excellency Atiku Abubakar GCON and as such poked holes in our abilities to rally and mobilize our constituents.
“It’s pertinent to inform all and sundry that Atiku Abubakar is a shining star whose stature and leadership extends beyond party affiliations. Most Nigerians have taken it upon themselves to campaign and mobilize without fear or reproach.
“It is also clear that our campaign and message of rescue and renewal ; hope and happiness has reverberated throughout Nigeria. It is called Atikulate.
“The outcome of trusting that Nigeria will work again with Atiku Abubakar on account of his experience, exposure and expertise in managing men and material resources for sustainable growth and development.
“It is apparent that in the days ahead, the drowning APC will muster its last fangs of threats, fake news, oppression and tyranny to place fear in the hearts and minds of the electorate.
“But the point of departure is that Nigerians have made up their mind to dump and reject the next deadly and dangerous level of the APC. We say Never Again!” It stated.
Ambassador Abbas therefore, appealed to millions of his supporters; market women, students, youths, farmers, and the unemployed to stand firm in total unison and union with him to vote out “this incompetent blame-mongers and lackluster gov’t of the APC under the siege of President Buhari.”
Meanwhile, Alhaji Atiku, who is the Wazirin Adamawa, has for the third consecutive time emerged the AUTHENTIC MAN OF THE YEAR 2018.
The Consulting Editor of AUTHENTIC News Daily, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson disclosed this in a statement.
Atiku had also emerged in two previous editions, 2016 and 2017.
For the AUTHENTIC POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai who was able to surmount many political battles, emerged winner.
He beat the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Orton to it.
AUTHENTIC WOMAN OF THE YEAR was won by Obiageli Ezekwesili, who is a strong contender for the seat of the President in 2019.
Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State emerged AUTHENTIC GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR, after he was voted best, narrowly beating Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State to the prestigious award.
AUTHENTIC LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR went to Senator Dino Melaye, who in spite of several controversies remains popular among Nigerians, mostly youth.
He beat Kaduna Central Senator, Comrade Shehu Sani, who won the previous two editions back-to-back for it.
For all the winners, see details below:
1 AUTHENTIC MAN OF THE YEAR – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
2 AUTHENTIC POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR – Malam Nasir el-Rufai
3 AUTHENTIC WOMAN OF THE YEAR – Obiageli Ezekwesili
4 AUTHENTIC GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR – Udom Emmanuel
5 AUTHENTIC LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR – Senator Dino Melaye
6 AUTHENTIC BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR – Alhaji Rabiu Abdulsamad
7 AUTHENTIC MDA OF THE YEAR – Ministry of Works Power and Housing
8 AUTHENTIC BRAND OF THE YEAR – Amstel Malta
9 AUTHENTIC CORPORATE ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR – Rahmaniyya Oil and Gas
10 AUTHENTIC NGO OF THE YEAR – CISLAC
11 AUTHENTIC MILITARY OR PARAMILITARY OUTFIT OF THE YEAR – FRSC
12 AUTHENTIC SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR – St. Anne’s Secondary School, Otukpo
13 AUTHENTIC UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR – Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
14 AUTHENTIC JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – Tim Elombah
15 AUTHENTIC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – Ekene Abubakar Adams
16 AUTHENTIC OPPOSITION FIGURE OF THE YEAR – Rivers State APC
17 AUTHENTIC ENTERTAINMENT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – Whiz Kid
It would be recalled that Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged AUTHENTIC Man Of The Year 2017, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki was AUTHENTIC Politician Of The Year 2017, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wine was Governor Of The Year 2017, winning it back-to-back, while Senator Shehu Sani was Legislator Of The Year 2017, also winning back-to-back.