2019: Nigerians must make the right leadership choice – Ezekwesili

A former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili on Monday urged Nigerians to make the right leadership choice that would reposition the country and put it on the path of greatness, come 2019.

Ezekwesili, presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) gave the advice at a news conference in Lagos.

She blamed most of the challenges the country was experiencing on long years of bad leadership.

The presidential candidate urged citizens not to vote a leadership that would “perpetuate the cycle of despair in the country” in 2019, but one that would inspire hope.

Ezekwesili said she was in the race to lead the country because she had the pedigree, the passion and commitment to help realise the country of everybody’s dream.

“I am in the race to disrupt the cycle of bad leadership and give hope to Nigerians. I am the candidate of the people, I know the job and have records of achievements.

“I have excelled in corporate Nigeria, I have excelled in private enterprise and in international development, and in all I have done, there has never been an allegation of corruption against me, let alone having a case.

“I am the choice of a better Nigeria, I am the candidate of the people. I will serve the people, I will move the country forward,” she said.

Ezekwesili said Nigerians should never think the People’s Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress were the only options available for them in 2019.

The ACPN candidate said the two parties were “ Siamese twins of failure and incompetence” as they had not justified the mandate given to them to lead the country at different times.

Ezekwesili said the PDP enthroned corruption in the country during its 16-year rule and promoted the culture of impunity.

She said that the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, did not have the competence or the moral capital to lead the country.

The ACPN candidate said the APC had also failed to deliver on its electoral promises and did not deserve re-election.

She asked Nigerians to reject what she called “Butiku”in 2019, saying the presidential candidates of both APC and PDP could not provide the right leadership.

Ezekwesili said she was confident of leading the country out of the woods in 2019, as she trusted in the votes of Nigerians to be president.