A group known as the Professionals for Atiku (PFA) has called for issue-based campaigns as the 2023 general elections approaches.

National Coordinator of the group, Charles Ojugbana, on the occasion to inaugurate the group in Abuja on Tuesday, urged political parties and candidates alike to tone down the rhetoric in order not to inadvertently incite supporters.

Ojugbana, who was in the company of the National Secretary, Mohammad Kamaludeen Nasir, as well as other members of executive of the group, said Nigerian politics must be like any other sport where there will always be winners and losers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, losing elections should never be seen as a failure. it should rather be an opportunity to seek triumph next time around. We must all remember that every time we win, someone else loses. Simply put, those who hate to lose, do not deserve to win!” he said.

He said PFA strongly believes that the task of governance and nation-building is one that belongs to every true patriot who is desirous of a better and more prosperous Nigeria.

The National Coordinator said country has struggled through history to deliver the true fruits of good governance to its people.

“From the colonial era down to Independence to the Civil war and even in this democratic dispensation, our history is replete with numerous failed attempts at getting it right. Age-long challenges bordering on ethnicity, religious intolerance, marginalisation and a deficit in equity, fair-play and justice remain as serious impediments to our path to progress,” he said.

He said while it might be convenient to place much of the blame for this alarming state of affairs on the doorsteps of the political class, other citizens share in the blame.

“Perhaps, a great part of the blame should actually be apportioned to our professionals and elites. It is true that most Nigerian professionals, despite their sterling qualities and special skills, find it convenient to remain aloof on matters of state. They however are usually the first to bitterly complain about the conduct of politicians and broken governance systems. This to us is unhelpful because even though criticisms are good,they are however best served together with proffered solutions.

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“For us in PFA, the time for sitting on the fence has long passed. After all there is no other country to call our own apart from Nigeria, The point remains that no matter how bleak the present looks, our assured future can only materialize when we build badly needed synergy together. There is no more them and us Therefore our clarion call today goes out to all other professionals within Nigeria and in the Diaspora. Please join us in this mission to salvage our dear country,” he said.

According to him, the only way “we can do this is to earnestly seek out the best available candidates. It is this urgency of now that gave birth to our volunteer support group which comprises proven experts in virtually all aspects of human endeavour.”

He said their membership was “drawn from diverse fields such as Medicine, Finance, Commerce, Architecture, Engineering, Aviation, Agriculture, Environment, Foreign Affairs, the Academia, ICT, Law, Entertainment, Sports Administration and even the Media to mention just a few.”

“We are confident that a coalition of our wealth of experience has the capacity to add value to the next administration in Nigeria. Since the current political dispensation has thrown up an interesting mix of eminently qualified candidates, it has now become our obligation to sift through the chaff and unearth the best possible options. This sacred selection duty calls for our inner convictions as well as a methodical analysis expected of all true professionals. Like we all already know, “Many are called, but few are chosen”.

He said after an intense evaluation of the candidates running for the presidency, they decided to throw their weight behind former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who he described as “is a focused statesman, an accomplished achiever and a unifier.”

He said the former Vice President has what it takes to lead Nigeria to prosperity.

“He is simply the man to beat and we are unequivocally delighted to throw our support behind his candidature. We pledge to volunteer every wise counsel we can mobilise and pledge to place them at his disposal,” he said.

The Convener of the group, Mrs Hajia Ogugua Agagbo, who inaugurated the volunteer support group, said it was a novelty to see so many professionals representing such a diverse field of experts coming together to lend their support to a political movement.

Agagbo, who was represented by the National Secretary, Mohammed Kamaludeen Nasir, said by choosing to no longer sit on the fence, they have all demonstrated love for the country and the deep desire to see Nigeria take its rightful place in the comity of nations.