Ezekwesili Withdraws from Presidential Race

By Uche Mbah
Madam due process, Obiageli ezekwesili, hitherto the presidential candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN,Thursday threw in the towel as the presidential flag-bearer of the party.
Her spokesperson, Obioma Ubabukoh, issued a statement indicating that she will work closely with others to dislodge Buhari and prevent Atiku from taking over. According to Ezekwesili, she took the decision to step down after consultations with Nigerians at home and abroad.
Hear her: “This decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days.I deem it necessary for me to focus in helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections. It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens.I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our National redirection. I wish to state that over the past three months, I have been in private but extended talks with other candidates to birth a coalition that would allow Nigerians exercise their choice without feeling helplessly encumbered by the evil twins of #APCPDP”.
Ezekwesili, a former World bank Regional Vice president, shot into limelight in his campaign of #Bringbackourgirls, a movement that sought to fight for the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls. The movement lost steam under the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. She decided to join the presidential race in what many described as Also-ran capacity, since she has no structure on ground to combat the two major political parties. Curiously, she was more interested in the attack on a fellow opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, instead of the incumbent, whose stewardship is being called to question. Not a few believed her to be a closet supporter of the incumbent.
She was one of the three who participated in the Presidential Debate, though she has never been seen to do any public campaign before she threw in the towel. Her campaign was said to have been sponsored by party faithfuls.Ezekwesili promised to give an account of campaign spending in the coming days.