The Deputy National Leader of the Izala Movement in Nigeria, IMN, Sheikh Sambo Rigachikun has called on all “well-meaning Muslims” to vote for Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2019 presidential election.
This is coming few days after the national leadership of the movement, at a Colloquium in Jimeta, Adamawa state, had endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari, urging all its members to vote for the president in the 2019 presidential election.
Recall that on Friday, January 11, the leaders commended Mr Buhari’s administration, especially his achievements in the fight against corruption, commitment in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency, the reform and diversification of the economy and agriculture revolution.
According to the Islamic movement, the Buhari-led government is moving in the right direction and “the Izala movement has put its seal of approval on it.”
However, Sheikh Rigachikun, in a statement he issued on Wednesday in Kaduna State, disclosed that Mr Atiku contributed much more to the development of Islam in Nigeria, saying: “I am calling with all emphasis to well-meaning Muslims to vote for Wazirin Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar in 2019.”
He said: “Whenever we approach him on issues to do with Islam, or Islam related matters, either to sponsor symposiums, to build schools for Islamic activities, to help the less privilege or to make money available for day to day activities of Islamic leaders, Atiku has never turned our request down in all the over 30 years that I have been close to him.
“Members of Izalah Exco recently declared that members of the movement should support Buhari in 2019, but I, Sambo Rigachikun is seriously kicking against that position because I cannot remember if President Buhari ever built even a single mosque in spite of all the positions God made it possible for him to hold in the country.
“I cannot also remember people that he sponsored to Holy land or orphanage homes that he helped or built. As such, I am calling with all emphasis to well-meaning Muslims to vote for Wazirin Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar in 2019.
“The difference between the two political giants contesting for the presidency from the North are crystal clear because there is no state in this country where Atiku did not assist more than fifty people.
“He assisted some when he was in Customs Service, some when he was vice president and some he employed in his chain of business outfits. He gave sponsorship to many to study in ABTI American University, Yola. Since 2007, he has been campaigning to be president of Nigeria and he made friends all over the country.”
