Atiku vs Buhari: Yoruba elders, leaders name their candidate, give reason

Yoruba elders and leaders have vowed to work with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming election.

The leaders also reiterated their call for restructuring of the country.

They said it was through restructuring that Nigeria could witness prevalence of equity, fairness and justice.

The leaders including a chieftain of pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George; Prof. Banji Akintoye, Senator Femi Okunronmu, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, among others, made their position known at a 1-day South- West Colloquium with the theme: “2019: The South- West Speaks,” coming out with a 12-point communique, read by Prince Uthman Sodipe.

The elders and leaders in their communiqué; noted that the Yoruba remains cohesive, indivisible and strengthened by a common cultural bond and ideological vision.

They maintained that, “The Yoruba believe in the restructuring of Nigerian union in order for the prevalence of equity, fairness and the dominating anchor of justice.

“The centre is too unwieldy, too disproportionate, effectively creating equity in the distribution of the collective wealth.

“We must encourage every state in our federation to grow on the momentum of the available resources within their soil.”

On their decision to adopt Alhaji Abubakar as the Yoruba candidate for the 2019 presidential poll, the communiqué added, “The Yoruba people resolved to adopt the candidature of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for the presidency in the 2019 elections in view of his support for the restructuring of Nigeria to create equal opportunities, fairness and justice for all stakeholders.” (Daily Post)