By Olisemeka Obeche
The Association of white witches in Nigeria (AWWN) has predicted that the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, would beat the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari of APC in the February 16 presidential election.
Spokesman of the association, Dr. Iboi Okhue, disclosed over the weekend that, the victory of the former vice president was sealed in two meetings held at Obudu Mountain in Obudu local government area of Cross River state and the Zuma Rock in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja late last month respectively.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Africa, a research unit of London-based The Economist Magazine also last weekend predicted that Abubakar would win the election. The EIU Africa said last Friday that the margin of victory was getting narrower as the election approached, but that Atiku and his political party would win the historic election.
“#NigeriaDecides2019: Less than 2 weeks before #Nigeria ‘s presidential election. Abubakar has floated idea of corruption amnesty. It is arguably an impolitic time for such a delicate proposal,” EIU Africa tweeted.
“Abubakar is hard-pressed to convince voters that he is a clean politician, having been on the receiving end of numerous graft allegations in the past. We retain out forecast for #Abubakar to win, but expected margin of victory is narrowing as the poll approaches.”
In 2015, the magazine also predicted victory for Muhammadu Buhari over then-incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, stating that Buhari was “the least awful choice,” which would be chosen “with a heavy heart.”
“Voters have ample cause to send Mr Jonathan packing. In a country where power has often changed through the barrel of a gun, the opposition All Progressives Congress has a real chance of winning through the ballot box,” The Economist said in 2015.
The research unit of London-based The Economist Magazine had said in 2018 that the PDP will win the 2019 election.
“Abubakar’s pledge is to reinvigorate the economy with pro-market reforms. Both candidates are from the northern Nigeria, where Buhari’s support base lies, presaging a fierce contest there,” EIU had said.
“With the vote likely to be split in the North, Abubakar will find it easier to garner support from the country’s south, which has traditionally been a safe haven for the PDP.
“This gives Abubakar an edge, as does popular frustration over the rise in joblessness and poverty (two of the biggest voter concerns) on Mr. Buhari’s watch, as well as growing insecurity in central Nigeria.”
Lai Mohammed, minister for information and culture, had said The Economist’s prediction was nothing but fake news. “We have all read that the intelligence unit of The Economist said the PDP will defeat the ruling APC in 2019,” he had said.
“We have also read that the international financial institution HSBC said Nigeria’s economic development will be stunted if President Buhari gets a second term “Let me state clearly that these reports are based on fake premises and, therefore, qualify as fake news. It is a psychological warfare by those who have been badly hit by our policies.”
The white witches disclosed that Atiku’s major victory would be the bulk vote from the northern part of the country, including areas that President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to have a firm stronghold like some of the states in the northwest.
Dr. Okhue, disclosed that given the public outcry of millions of Nigerians about the incessant shedding of innocent blood that has been spilled in the country under this government by the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen, as well as the avoidable hunger and extreme poverty that Nigerians have been subjected to, “the grace of God has since departed from Buhari”.
Okhue added that the 2019 presidential election would witness a lot of crisis if it is rigged by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in favour of the president, adding that “no amount of intimidation and rigging will deny Atiku the victory”
Meanwhile, Atiku’s bid to wrest powers from Buhari and ruling APC received major boost over the weekend as leaders and elders from various geopolitical zones across the country endorsed him as their preferred candidate.
Atiku’s endorsement formed part of the resolutions at a meeting tagged: ‘Summit of Nigerian Leaders and Elders’, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, yesterday.
Present at the meeting were leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Northern Elders Forum, Pan-Niger Delta forum, the Middle Belt Forum, as well as a faction of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political group.
Participants at the forum said they agreed on endorsing Atiku after meeting with various presidential candidates. They said the decision not to support President Muhammadu Buhari, currently seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was based on his loss of control of government. They also accused Buhari of dividing the country.
Among those who attended the meeting were: Ayo Fasanmi (Afenifere), Dr Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt Forum), Ango Abdullahi (Northern Elders Forum), Edwin Clark (Pan Niger Delta Forum), John Nwodo (Ohanaeze Ndigbo) and Buba Galadima.  https://orientdailynews.com.ng/cover-story/witches-economist-predict-victory-atiku/lalasticlala seun mynd44 |
