A pan-Nigeria group, under the aegis of The Natives, has urged the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, not to contemplate leaving the country.
The group advised them to stay in the country and join hands with President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rebuild the country.
The Natives enjoined the two leading opposition leaders to take a cue from President Muhammadu Buhari who, after losing presidential elections three times, remained in the country and continued to contribute to the nation’s democratic growth until he became victorious.
The Supreme Leader of The Natives, Smart Edwards, made the appeal while addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja.
Edwards, who was reacting to Obi’s claimed that he was being pressurised to leave the country, advised the duo to stay back at home and contribute to national development.
He said: “We are hearing rumours that some presidential candidates of various parties have started leaving the country. This is a trademark of any politician who is just an opportunist. We, however, called on our respected Labour Party candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, to please stay in the country because his talents, ability and his contributions are needed in this country as a patriot. He doesn’t need to go into exile.
“We are also hearing that the PDP candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, will soon be on his way back to Dubai. Whether he has gone or is about to leave, we appeal to him to stay back because his valuable contributions are needed in this country. We encourage all of them to stay back as President Muhammadu Buhari stayed back. In that process, they will be able to contribute to the development of our democracy and Nigeria.
“For Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his party lost elections twice, but this one he won through proper collaboration, and we are asking all to work together for the growth of our beloved Nigeria and its democracy.”