Utomi Quits Presidential Race, Endorses Shekarau
31 Mar 2011

Prof. Pat Utomi
By Charles Ajunwa

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Prof. Pat Utomi, has said he is withdrawing from the presidential election. He said he would on Thursday in Abuja submit his withdrawal letter to the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Utomi also declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Kano State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, whom he openly asked his friends and supporters to vote for in the presidential election.

Making his intention known at a town hall meeting organised by his campaign organisation to deliberate on the state of the nation, held at a hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday, Prof. Utomi said his decision was informed among others, by the illegitimacy of the current Nigerian constitution which he attributed to being responsible for all the failings in the country.

The SDMP presidential candidate, who participated in the 2007 presidential election, said even with his withdrawal from the race, he remained committed to institution-building and would work with any person of goodwill to build a new Nigeria.

In a statement titled “Walking My Talk: A Cry For My Country”, Utomi regretted how his efforts to bring progressives in the country in the SDMP, ANPP, Action Congress of Nigeria (ANC) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) failed to produce one particular presidential candidate and running mate for the election.

He also said it was already too late to achieve all the set out goals of the progressives in the country to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Utomi, who said he did not want the presidency so badly, maintained that he had always made it clear that he was ready to step down for any presidential candidate whom he believed could live up to the promise, the hope and aspirations of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

According to him: “It doesn’t matter whether I’m a candidate or not,  if those ideas I have put together that I believe will take Nigeria to the next level are adopted and we have somebody else that is prepared in going forward, I’m satisfied to be part of the citizens contributing to the country going to a particular direction. I have been told by people like Chief Olu Falae ‘to stop doing this because it suggests that you don’t really want it bad.’ Nobody needs it badly.

“I’m standing here therefore to make that unequivocally clear that at the end of this meeting today, I’m sending a letter to INEC withdrawing myself from the process. The process made me to, given the sincerity of one of those people that were in that process with a clear articulation.

“His name is (Alhaji) Ibrahim Shekarau. And I’m not moving Shekarau as the ultimate candidate but I’m saying that I withdrew so that people who think he will make a difference can support Ibrahim Shekarau and if Shekarau feels that for the sake of Nigeria he needs to step aside for another person, all can be offered to whoever that person is.

“At this moment, I’m going to be stepping down from this place committing myself to constitutional reform in this country in building a brand new Nigeria that can live to the promise, hope and aspirations of our founding fathers. So far, we have not done well.”

rhythyson:

Utomi Quits Presidential Race, Endorses Shekarau
31 Mar 2011
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Prof. Pat Utomi


By Charles Ajunwa

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), Prof. Pat Utomi, has said he is withdrawing from the presidential election. He said he would on Thursday in Abuja submit his withdrawal letter to the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Utomi also declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Kano State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, whom he openly asked his friends and supporters to vote for in the presidential election.

Making his intention known at a town hall meeting organised by his campaign organisation to deliberate on the state of the nation, held at a hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday, Prof. Utomi said his decision was informed among others, by the illegitimacy of the current Nigerian constitution which he attributed to being responsible for all the failings in the country.

The SDMP presidential candidate, who participated in the 2007 presidential election, said even with his withdrawal from the race, he remained committed to institution-building and would work with any person of goodwill to build a new Nigeria.

In a statement titled “Walking My Talk: A Cry For My Country”, Utomi regretted how his efforts to bring progressives in the country in the SDMP, ANPP, Action Congress of Nigeria (ANC) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) failed to produce one particular presidential candidate and running mate for the election.

He also said it was already too late to achieve all the set out goals of the progressives in the country to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Utomi, who said he did not want the presidency so badly, maintained that he had always made it clear that he was ready to step down for any presidential candidate whom he believed could live up to the promise, the hope and aspirations of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

According to him: “It doesn’t matter whether I’m a candidate or not, if those ideas I have put together that I believe will take Nigeria to the next level are adopted and we have somebody else that is prepared in going forward, I’m satisfied to be part of the citizens contributing to the country going to a particular direction. I have been told by people like Chief Olu Falae ‘to stop doing this because it suggests that you don’t really want it bad.’ Nobody needs it badly.

“I’m standing here therefore to make that unequivocally clear that at the end of this meeting today, I’m sending a letter to INEC withdrawing myself from the process. The process made me to, given the sincerity of one of those people that were in that process with a clear articulation.

“His name is (Alhaji) Ibrahim Shekarau. And I’m not moving Shekarau as the ultimate candidate but I’m saying that I withdrew so that people who think he will make a difference can support Ibrahim Shekarau and if Shekarau feels that for the sake of Nigeria he needs to step aside for another person, all can be offered to whoever that person is.
“At this moment, I’m going to be stepping down from this place committing myself to constitutional reform in this country in building a brand new Nigeria that can live to the promise, hope and aspirations of our founding fathers. So far, we have not done well.”

enyojo:

THE STATEMENT IN BOLD IS MY PUNCH LINE.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SHEKARAU WILL TOE THE SAME PATH OF HONOUR TO WITHDRAW FOR BUHARI SINCE A FAR MORE ELOQUENT AND ARTICULATE CANDIDATE HAS JUST WITHDRAWN FOR HIM

10cirenoh:

Here's how it's going to pan out, Shekarau and Ribadu are going to withdraw for Buhari at the last minute.

watch this space.

At this moment, I’m going to be stepping down from this place committing myself to constitutional reform in this country in building a brand new Nigeria that can live to the promise, hope and aspirations of our founding fathers. So far, we have not done well

10cirenoh:

Here's how it's going to pan out, Shekarau and Ribadu are going to withdraw for Buhari at the last minute.

watch this space.

THE DAY THAT HAPPENS, I WILL SEND YOU N1500 MTN RECHARGE CARD TO CELEBERATE IT

GenBuhari:

Can somebody give me some credentials of this  Pat Utomi guy?

What is his track record?

Can he fight corruption?

PapaBrowne:


Una no understand politics at all!! Ribadu and Shekarau and even Utomi are posturing for 2015!! Their best shot would only come if GEJ wins this election!! I have watched Shekarau's moves and all I see in him is 2015!!! His goal is simple: divide Kano votes and help prevent a Buhari victory! That way in 2015 he stands a very strong chance!

Now enter Utomi: Endorse Shekarau today, then 2015 Shekarau picks you as his running mate!! Noww that would make an unresistatble perfect combo!!
These guys are smart trust me and they are all positioning themselves properly for the next election since the opposition failed from the onset to agree on a consensus candidate which  has given the PDP another free reign for the next 4 years!!!

GenBuhari:

Why Shekarau?

Is this story reliable?

lekanfahd:

Sometimes one just wonder where all these is taking us to. For how long do we continue to make fool of ourself. Those that are crying to make changes end up to chicken out .They now make those that are interested in the change bid look silly and at the end of the day, the so called-nonentity get to the top after which you see them crying for change again. If people like Pat Utomi knows they aint going far, why come on board in the first place? Why make people bellieve they are better off those in PDP. GUYS MAKE WE SHINE OUR EYES, ALL THESE PEOPLE WE ALL SHOUT AFTER ARE BIRDS OF A FEATHER, THEY ALL KNOW WHERE DEY RUN THINGS AND ITS ONLY THOSE OF US THAT ARE NOT WISE ENOUGH PUT ALL THIER HOPES IN THEM. GUYS WISEN UP, i dEY lAUGH iN sWAHILI

10cirenoh:

Nah, not as you think, NOW that GEJ has refused to step down, it's BYE BYE to zoning, alot of people are going to spring up come 2015, alot of these current governors are going to be running for president come 2015, e.g Amaechi, Fashola, Akpabio, Saraki e.t.c, then we are going to have alot of people trying to win the heart of Nigerians by performing well between now and 2015.

One more thing, what we need now is someone who's going to put things back into order so that these new guys can perform excellently without some "crooked" system holding them back. Just like Utomi said, this current constitution and system is an epic fail, said people cannot perform under it hence the reason for his withdrawal, HE SO WANTED PDP to be defeated, hence the reason he labored for the amalgamation of opposition parties, he knows that anything PDP won't create that change he wishes for.

He also knows that Shekarau can't win, that's why he's expecting Shekarau to step down for another from the "progressive" side, he just does not want to give his endorsement straight to the only person we all know stand the chance of upsetting PDP.

Anyways April is already here, Nigeria is going to pass through one of her most trying moment in the history of Nigeria.

Watch this space.

PapaBrowne:


Una no understand politics at all!! Ribadu and Shekarau and even Utomi are posturing for 2015!! Their best shot would only come if GEJ wins this election!! I have watched Shekarau's moves and all I see in him is 2015!!! His goal is simple: divide Kano votes and help prevent a Buhari victory! That way in 2015 he stands a very strong chance!

Now enter Utomi: Endorse Shekarau today, then 2015 Shekarau picks you as his running mate!! Noww that would make an unresistatble perfect combo!!
These guys are smart trust me and they are all positioning themselves properly for the next election since the opposition failed from the onset to agree on a consensus candidate which has given the PDP another free reign for the next 4 years!!!

10cirenoh:

^^^

1500 is too small jor, i need 8000 worth of airtime

enyojo:

N8000 AIR-TIME IS TOO MUCH FOR STEPPING DOWN.
I CAN SEND THAT IF BUHARI WINS, IF SHAKARA-U and RIBAD-U  STEP DOWN, THEN N1500 MTN/GLO IS YOURS
cross my heart

master j:

i am just thrilled by this news! Utomi can help our maro economic policy formulation and not through presidency.  I want a Fashola's Lagos state, buhari presidency, A Ribadu police force, a Shekarau power ministry and an Ogunleye Ministry of works. If this can work, we are in for a thrill.