No “new breed” Candidate “gives me as much hope” as Ezekwesili – Bakare

Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, has said that with Oby Ezekwesili‘s candidacy in the 2019 presidential elections, Nigerians cannot say there is no credible alternative to the “status quo”.

According to Punch, Bakare made this known in his state of the nation address during service on Sunday.

The address, titled: ‘The prophetic portrait of Nigeria in her latter days’ read in part:

We have heard the incumbent (Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress) insist that Nigeria’s current problems were created within the 16 years of the previous administrations and that, little by little, they are working to rewrite the narrative.

On the other hand, we have heard the ‘Atikulated’ side of the contest argue that the 16 years argument is now stale news. We have seen former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi, of the Peoples Democratic Party downplay the achievements of the current government.

We have read the so-called ‘Atiku Plan’ spanning a competitive and open economic system, public institution reform, reduction of infrastructure deficit, economic diversification, and human capital development. We have also heard Atiku Abubakar’s promise to restructure the polity with a focus on devolution of powers.

We have seen a new generation challenging the old order and insisting that Nigerians do not have to choose between six and half a dozen.

We have seen Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party project his experience in economic management at national and international levels as he promises better economic management and a geo-economic restructuring of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria has eloquently promised a new Nigeria where the cost of living is reduced, power, security and health care are guaranteed, jobs are created, and law and order are maintained.

We have seen the likes of Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress criss-cross the nation, mobilising the young, especially students, in his drive to take our country back.

However, of the new breed seeking to disrupt the political space, none gives me as much hope for the near future as does my sister, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria.

Bakare extolled “her brilliance, experience, sacrificial service to our nation, antecedents at championing and executing pro-people and pro-good governance reforms, compassionate yet dogged belief in the Nigerian potential, and her faith in the God-ordained plan for Nigeria.

I salute her for jumping into the fray despite her seemingly limited chances and as I have said to her in times past, come what may, one day, and that day will come soon, we will fix this nation. One thing is very clear in my mind: with her candidacy, no Nigerian can reasonably say after the election that there was no credible alternative to the status quo in 2019.