A group, Nigeria Diaspora for Asiawaju (NDA), has called on Nigerians to cast their votes for candidates who have the capacity to lead the country to prosperity.
Director General of the Group, Dr Akin Badeji, said Nigerians should not allow their choice be determined by religion, ethnicity or any other differences.
He spoke at an event to inaugurate the Nigerian Director of the NDA, Alh Abiola Wasiu, in Abuja.
Badeji said it was time for the country to move beyond religious sentiments in choosing its leaders.
According to him: “It is time for us to move beyond religious sentiments. If we believe in capacity and leadership, we should not be talking about religion. Let us use the United Kingdom as an example. All of us know what Britain is, but because they believe in competency, an Indian born African Muslim emerged in a Christian country as the new prime Minister in this country that we all are looking up to. That is why we are saying the time is now, to show leadership with competency. We should forget about religion. What matters is the capacity to transform our country to a country where we have our own fair share. A leader who has the ability to create wealth. That is what we are looking for. It is not religion.”
He said the group, which originated in the UK, was aimed at bringing Nigerians at home and diaspora together to support the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
He said, “NDA is set to galvanize support for our principal, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and that is why today we are unveiling our Nigerian Director because of his hard-work and contribution towards this movement. And we have seen how he works and we have found out that he merits this position and that is why today, the national executive have come together to say we have to unveil him for all members of NDA Worldwide to know their new Nigeria Director, Alh Wasiu Abiola. So today we are unveiling him to the world as the Nigeria Diaspora for Asiwaju Director, Alh Wasiu Abiola.
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“So today we are unveiling him to the world. We know he has the capacity to bring a lot of ideas to the table, whereby all of us would work together and would be supporting the DG, because we started this movement, a long time ago and where we are now, what we have done and what we are about to do now, is to continue to galvanize support for the principal. Take this mobilization to the local level, to the grassroots where we have people down to the ward level so that message can go to the roots, so people will know that this time around, we have the opportunity to elect the right candidate for Nigeria. And if we believe for a better Nigeria, it is time for us to come together, to forget party affiliations, to forget religion or ethnicity but belief in the future of this country whereby our children and unborn children will have their own fair share. We are calling on Nigerians to join us to work together.”
Another member of the group, Hajiya Zainab Abbass, said Nigerians should not bring up religion in selecting its leader.
The newly appointed NDA Nigeria Director, Alh Abiola Wasiu, said going forward, NDA will seek partnership with relevant stakeholders in a way that will make our job easier.
He said: “I sincerely thank our Director General Mr Akin Badeji for believing in me and for the absolute confidence reposed in me. I don’t take this lightly. I know the enormity of this appointment. I do hereby accept the responsibility and I am using this opportunity to pledge my total dedication.
“Going forward, NDA will seek partnership with relevant stakeholders in a way that will make our job easier. NDA is ready to offer support to APC/Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council in many ways that are required. We are ready to mobilize all our members for the rally and also provide constructive media coverage for the PCC activities.
“We are ready to work with civil rights organisations in promoting violence free elections, also we will explore this by partnering with them in a way that we can convince our young adults to go to INEC and pick up their PVCs.
“Up North, NDA will scale up its activities and intensify its advocacy for Asiwaju aspiration. We want to use this opportunity to thank Northern Governors for their support to Asiwaju during the APC presidential primary. They did noble. We urge them not to relent until Asiwaju is announced as the elected president of Nigeria come February 2022.
“In the coming days, NDA will unveil its programs and shows with artistes and popular On Air Personalities. We are looking at how we can talk to our young adults in the language they love.
“Asiwaju has the capacity to carry out financial reengineering of Nigeria’s economy just like what he did in Lagos. Have you wondered why every Lagos State Governor performs in office? Fashola, Ambode and Sanwo Olu performed in offices. There is something unique about Lagos. Asiwaju left a very solid foundation that is the reason why Lagos State Governors always deliver because they are not distracted. Asiwaju bequeathed a developmental masterplan while leaving office. We want such to be replicated at the federal level. Lagos State IGR is the highest in the country. It will keep growing because the state has turned the corner. Asiwaju is responsible for this.
“Have you wondered why Lagos State’s crime rate is low? Asiwaju woven a security architecture that is peculiar to the state. We need such at the federal level.”