Oby Ezekwesili, who was until
Thursday morning the presidential candidate of The Allied Congress Party of
Nigeria (ACPN), has hit back at the party over allegations that she was using
its platform to negotiate a ministerial position in the next political dispensation.
In a statement personally signed
by Ezekwesili, she lashed out at ACPN’s decision to
go ahead and endorse President Muhammadu Buhari in next month’s general
election.
The former vice-president of the
World Bank, also revealed she would hold a world press conference when she
returns to Nigeria, where she would clear up many issues.
“Some hours ago, I arrived far
flung Cabo in Mexico where our Albert Einstein’s Genius100 Visionaries meeting
is holding. I was delighted to read reactions of real patriots to my
announcement that I have decided to withdraw from the 2019 presidential race
and end my membership of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN). I have
also seen the reaction of ACPN leadership to my decision.
“Fortunately, they have divinely
helped me by making the Nigerian public now fully understand why I had to
swiftly depart from their midst. How could I upon realising the divergence of
values and vision with the leadership of the party continue to stand on such a
political platform? My abiding vision has been to mobilise citizens to disrupt
the old order politics of APCPDP.
“Nigeria and Nigerians deserve a
New Order of ethical, competent and capable leadership. I had earlier assumed
the ACPN was aligned with me to offer that, until it proved otherwise. The
values and vision divergence with the party was a key factor that triggered my
withdrawal from the presidential race on their ticket prompting me to
dissociate immediately in order to help build a coalition for Good Governance.
It is why I was instant in sacrificing my candidacy to uphold my values by
withdrawing.
“The party’s decision to
immediately today endorse the candidate of APC, which was announced by my
erstwhile VP candidate who is also the Chairman of ACPN was their classic
political entrepreneurship in full display for Nigerians to see. It is
instructive.
The party leadership’s
transactional approach to politics began to manifest in their attitude
following after the convention that adopted me as their presidential candidate.
All who know me can attest that I detest transactional mindset. I would have
none of such and therefore extremely delighted to part ways after a tumultuous
three months of hoping that the ACPN leadership would elevate to the new values
of disruptive politics that one had desired for and preached within the party.
“As for the defamatory statements
made against my person by the ACPN leadership in their malicious statement, I
want Nigerians to know that there is NO IOTA of truth in any of them.
Everything ACPN wrote or said of the campaign donations is fabrication and
outright lies. Our campaign was conducted with the highest level of
transparency and accountability with impeccable evidence. I know and can
guarantee that at all times because, these standards firmly underpin my
commitment to lasting values and professionalism.
“Only those who desperately wish
to believe falsehoods would lend any credence to such puerile accusations by
the leadership of ACPN. Only those who pretend ignorance of my legendary and
uncompromising passion for accountability would give heed to such baseless
statement.
“I have declined any interviews
until my return to Nigeria upon which I shall hold a World Press Conference to
engage Nigerians on the actions I shall take even as we present full report of
our three-month old campaign for the 2019 presidential election to the public.
“I want to again thank all who
supported us in the last three months with their talent, time and treasure to
run a formidable campaign. Without your support we would never have attained
the height #Hope2019 achieved. You gave our Disruptive Campaign real VALUE.
“We shall at the World Press
Conference also provide insights into the citizens movement that we are
energised and committed to build. There is no end to our zeal to end the reign
of Bad Politics in our country.
“Finally, take it from me that WE
shall definitely build the Coalition force that will terminate the poverty
escalating governance of the two dominant parties in the 2019 election.
“We are citizens of Nigeria. And
we are resolved,” the statement read.
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