The Coalition of United Political Parties on Monday expressed delight at the Sunday’s endorsement of the candidature of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by the Northern Elders Forum, Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle Belt Forum.
It described the endorsement as a fatal blow to President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid.
The coalition’s position was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja by its first national spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere.
Ugochinyere urged the President to quickly drop his re-election bid to avoid being subjected to an embarrassing defeat in the February 16 election.
He said, “This (endorsement) is one huge and soothing fatal blow to the ambition of President Buhari. A revival of the Nigerian spirit has been born.
“Despite all the divisive actions of President Buhari, all the regions have seen through his destructive agenda and have identified a unifier who will lead the mission to get Nigeria working again.
“It is not yet too late for the President to call it quits for the sake of the progress and wellbeing of Nigeria before Nigerians subject him to the most embarrassing and humiliating defeat in Nigeria’s political history.
“President Buhari had only one quality which was packaged for him and sold to Nigerians which has since been unveiled and Nigerians now know is a façade.
“Nigerians are no longer in doubt that the acclaimed integrity of the President was only political, a contraption hurriedly put together for the purpose of 2015 election.”
Ugochinyere hinted that more critical stakeholders will in the coming days also desert the President.
He added, “This momentous endorsement is the beginning of the cracking of President Buhari and his APC-led Federal Government like crackers biscuit by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“President Buhari and his record of woeful performances cannot be a match for Alhaji Atiku and the people of Nigeria who desire their country to work again.
“President Buhari has failed and Nigerians know that another term of four years for him will lead to irreparable damage to the fabric of the country, hence the general resolve to show him the way out and be assured of a better life.”
The coalition’s spokesperson claimed that Buhari is a divisive ruler while describing Atiku as a unifier.
He said voting out the President was a patriotic service and Nigerians have resolved to do that.