Frontline presidential aspirant of the PDP and former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has named Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and 58 others as members of his Presidential Nomination Council ahead of the PDP Presidential Primaries.
Members of the council drawn from several states of the country are eminent stakeholders in the PDP and are expected to mobilize support from their respective states for the emergence of Atiku as the PDP presidential candidate. (See list of members attached).
Announcing the membership of the council last week the Director General of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization and former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said that, “the work of this council – as the name connotes – is to mobilize PDP delegates from all the states of the country for Atiku to emerge as the presidential flag-bearer of our great party.
“Of course, when by the grace of God our aspirant becomes the candidate of the PDP, membership into this council will be expanded and more people will be drawn into the council.”
In his remarks, Atiku noted that the struggle for national renewal is usually a difficult one, but it is one that patriots must engage in if they hope to improve the lives of their compatriots.
“Assembled here today (Thursday) is a diverse group of Nigerians, including experienced political leaders representing all regions and segments of our country. You are all here because you want a better deal for Nigeria and Nigerians. You are here because you are committed to fighting for a better Nigeria, a Nigeria that works.
“Nigerians are yearning for jobs, for opportunities, for unity and security. We must work with them to deliver these. We must also restore truth in politics, justice, and fairness in governance, and a genuine federal system that helps us address local priorities and run a more effective and efficient government”, he said.
Responding on behalf of other members of the council, Chief Iwuanyanwu remarked that “we owe the Waziri (Atiku) a huge sense of gratitude for finding us worthy for this national assignment.
“I have been in politics for nearly 50 years, and in all those years I have never seen our people this poor and I am sad when I see all of these things. My worry and my concern is ‘how do we reverse this situation?’
“The Waziri (Atiku) is somebody I know very well. He has enormous strength and he has what it takes to bring PDP back to power and make life more abundant for our people.
“Therefore, I urge us all as members of this council to see our nomination as a call to national service to rescue our people from the claws of poverty and bad governance.”
The full list is as follows: (1) Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu – Imo (2) H.E. Otunba Gbenga Daniel – Ogun (3) Dr. Anwalu Anwar – Kano (4) H.E. Babangida Aliyu – Niger (5) Sen. Abdul Ningi – Bauchi (6) H.E. Ibrahim Shema – Katsina (7) High Chief Raymond Dokpesi – Edo (8) H.E. Achike Udenwa – Imo (9) H.E. Okwesilliere Nwodo – Enugu (10) H.E. Idris Wada – Kogi (11) Chief Dubem Onyia – Enugu (12) Prof. ABC Nwosu – Anambra (13) Chief Onyema Ugochukwu – Abia (14) Barr. Eyitayo Jegede – Ondo (15) Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi – Osun (16) Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu – Lagos (17) Alh. Awwal Tukur – Adamawa (18) Sen. Ben Murray Bruce – Bayelsa (19) Amb. Nkoyo Toyo – Cross River (20) Sen. Aniete Okon – Akwa Ibom (21) Sen. Helen Estiene – Akwa Ibom (22) Hon. Adamu Maina Waziri – Yobe (23) Col. Bala Mande – Zamfara (24) Prince Tony Omoaghe – Edo (25) Chief Yusuf Ayitogo – Nasara (26) Chief Henry Ikoh – Abia (27) Prof. Sam Oyovbaire – Delta (28) Sen. Stella Omu – Delta (29) Alh. Kinyo Yabo – Sokoto (30) Hon. Saleh Shehu – Jigawa (31) Alh. Abubakar Mustapha – Kaduna (32) Alhaji Mallam – Kebbi, (33) Sen. Sa’idu Umar Kumo – Gombe (34) Dr. Daudu Kurfi – Katsina (35) Hon. Ibrahim Bunu – Borno (36) Chief John Mankillk – Pleateu (37) Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji – Osun (38) Mr. Gideon Ikhine – Edo (39) Dr. Jophia Gupar – Pleateu (40) Haj. Zainab Maina – Adamawa (41) Madam Juritmwa Goyit – Pleateu (42) Lady Ime Udom – Akwa Ibom (43) Ms. Monique Ogon Chief – Cross River (44) Ms. Nkechi M. Udeala – Abia (45) Ms. Obianuju Ogoko – Imo (46) Hon. Jeje Samuel Abiola – Ekiti (47) Abagun Kole Omololu – Ondo (48) Chief Saka Balogun – Oyo (49) Hon. Mulikat Akande Adeola – Oyo (50) Dr. Remi Bakare – Ogun (51) Sen. Bala Mohammed – Bauchi (52) Mr. Oseloka Henry Obazee – Anambra (53) Sen. Nimi Amanghe – Bayelsa (54) Chief Vincent Ogbulafor – Abia (55) Sen. T.A. Orji (56) Prof. Echefuna Rotimi Onyebadi – Delta (57) Oloye Jumoke Akinjide – Oyo (58) Tunde Odanye Esq. – Osun (59) Emmanuel Ibeshi – Osun.
They are not the only ones backing up Atiku. There are others who are to co-ordinate the South West.
Bode George, Jimi Agbaje (Lagos); OGD, Salmot Badru (Ogun); Jumoke Akinjide, Mulikat Akande, Seyi Makinde, (Oyo); Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Shuaib Oyedokun (Osun); Faborode, Eyitayo Jegede, (Ondo).
In Ogun, Dr. Remi Bakare, Jelili Kayode Amusan etc. Ifeanyin Uba, Ben Obi, Peter Obi, Vincent Ogbulafor.
