Lecturers from universities across Nigeria, particularly South-East and South-South yesterday agreed to work for the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, former Governor Peter Obi in the 2019 Presidential Election.

The lecturers under the aegis of Academic Democrats took the decision yesterday after an extensive meeting in Awka where they examined the manifestoes of the major candidates. They said the contents of Atiku and Obi joint ticket showed that there was hope for Nigeria, if they were elected.

The meeting agreed that the joint ticket of Atiku and Obi would serve the country better in actualising restructuring, good governance and better life for its citizens. The said they would follow up the meeting of today with sensitization tour of various states in the country particularly South-East and South-South to meet other academics to enable them join forces together to ensure victory for Atiku and Obi in 2019 general elections.

Speakers including the Academic Democrats convener, Dr Chinedu Onyeizugbe , Prof Chinyere Stella Okunna, Prof Uche Nwogwugwu, Prof Emenike Obi and Prof Frank-Collins Okafor, among others, who buttressed the need why academics should support the aspiration of Atiku and Obi in 2019, agreed to embark on advocacy for the candidature of Atiku and Obi in order to ensure Nigeria is restructured to give room for democratic legacies currently lacking in the state.

Similarly, students in the South-East under the aegis of Student Community Voters (SCV) South-East yesterday endorsed the nomination of former Governor Peter Obi as the running mate of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Their endorsement was contained in a statement signed by Right Hon Ezeukwu Christopher Formula, Chairman Student Community Voters , SCV and Speaker, Students Representative Council (SRC) , Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka , Anambra state and Comrade Chimezie Fortunatus Izuchukwu, Secretary Student Community Voters and President Students Union Government University of Nigeria, Nsukka , Enugu State.

The students, while commending Atiku for nominating Peter Obi as his running mate said Obi was eminently qualified and had the solidarity of youths across the nation, particularly the students who he had won their hearts.

They described the choice of Obi by Atiku as a demonstration of “political sagacity.” Their words: “In the same vein, we laud the exercise, the leadership and members for their political sagacity on the choice of Peter Obi, a resourceful personality.

Chief Peter Obi’s leadership qualities have endeared him to many particularly, the voting youth population, students inclusive across Nigeria. Obi’s managerial skill is not in doubt as he is an expert in fund and human management.”

Further, they said of Obi; “He is as well a public friendly politician whose humility in and out of office was rated awesome. Obi has so many things to offer Nigeria, and at the same time he is energetic, charismatic, dynamic, amiable, transparent, accountable, fair, credible and a trusted man of the people. These and many more are reasons why the character and personality of the man called Peter Obi stood him out as the VP for Nigeria to be greater.”

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