| Atiku’s men
join Marwa
BY KENNY ASHAKA, Kaduna
Tuesday, November 9, 2004
|
Gen Buba
Marwa
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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Barely a week after hundreds of supporters of former military
ruler, Gen Ibrahim Babangida dumped him to declare support
for former Lagos State military administrator, Gen Buba Marwa,
more political groups weekend changed camp in Kaduna to back
Marwa in the 2007 presidential race.
The groups under the aegis of Kaduna State Solidarity Group
claimed at a press conference held at Sardauna Hall, Hamdala
Hotel that they have been working for the presidential ambition
of Vice President Atiku Abubakar but had to change camp because
"we see Marwa as an easy candidate to sell to the people
of the North than any other person jostling for presidency
in 2007."
"Our reason for declaring support for Buba Marwa is that
we find it difficult to convince the people of Kaduna and
the North about the genuineness of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s
candidature come 2007 in view of the many hurdles he has to
face in the race. We don’t want to take chances with
the vice president because we are determined to see that the
presidency come to the North in 2007," a statement read
by the group’s patron, Yahaya Usman, and signed by Kabir
Buhari, Chairman and Isiaku Useni, General Secretary stated.
Usman who told journalists that Northern youths are determined
more than ever to put a stop to money politics in that part
of the country stressed that "this is why we are supporting
a man like Marwa not because of money but because of our belief
in his capability and enviable track records."
His words, "with this leadership qualities, we know Buba
Marwa will restore national unity and cohesion by putting
an end to factionalisation and inter-ethnic violence, and
rebuild our nation on the basis of unity, equity and social
justice. We see him as a man who can genuinely build on the
solid foundation being laid by the present government of President
Olusegun Obasanjo.
"We know Buba Marwa will promote a genuine free market
economy by ensuring political stability, security and peace
and laying a fair and just economic arena for all the nation’s
actions."
He argued that the age advantage Marwa has above other Northern
aspirants jostling for the presidency in 2007 also put him
at a vantage position "for acceptability not only by
the youths of Nigeria who have been agitating for generational
change in the nation’s leadership but by the international
community where younger generation of leaders now call the
shot."
He said their position is not to reduce the image or chances
of any other northern leader eyeing the presidency, but "a
logical move to go for the best among them."
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