Fusion774, a political support and economic advocacy group, has urged a former Chief of Army Staff and Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Tukur Buratai, to join the 2023 presidential race.

The National Coordinator of Fussion774, Sediq Jikta, made the call at a news conference on Friday, in Abuja.

Mr Jikta said the call by members of the group was borne out of the security challenges facing the country, saying the threats posed to the nation’s national security had been of immense concern.

He said the 23 years of Nigeria’s democratic experiment had witnessed different threats to its survival such as civil disturbances, which required experienced hands to pilot its affairs.

According to him, Nigeria is currently in  very challenging times and it is important to decide on the right leadership, a leadership with the capacity and ability to deliver and make the country work.

The coordinator said the achievement of Mr Buratai as a service chief in the fight against insurgency was a pointer to his sterling quality and qualification to vie for the highest office in the land.

He said time of Mr Buratai as chief of army staff was the height of Boko-haram activities, adding that his astute leadership saw the reclaiming of overran territories from the terrorists.

Mr Jikta also hinged the call by the group on the many achievements of Buratai in repositioning the Nigerian army for greater efficiency among other things.

According to him, experts believe that, security challenge of the future is not going to be external aggression as countries will have to contend with internal security.

“During his time as COAS, he brought to an end the rampant spate of bombing in the country, hence, Nigerians could enjoy peaceful atmosphere to carry out their daily businesses.

“Gen. Buratai also exhibited an open door policy of good governance, where private citizens with something to offer in terms of security are  given a listening ear and action taken.

“With these achievements we can see that Buratai is one courageous leader who can step in to  bring the much needed solution to the security challenges and the desired development for the country.

“We are using this opportunity to call on Buratai to come out and declare interest and contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“By this announcement, we are prepared to purchase the APC nomination form for him in the event that he declares his acceptance and readiness to contest,” he said.

Mr Jikta said that Fusion774 was simply the unification of political strength of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria into a virile, strong and formidable political front.

He said the group was mainly driven by people from all walks of life, for the interest of all, and for the common good of the country.

The coordinator said that while the group agreed with the policy of rotational governance for all regions to have a sense of belonging and participation in governance of the country, they believed that merit should be promoted in time of national catastrophe.

According to him, the group reached a consensus that rotational governance should be suspended for a candidate with the requisite capacity to provide a solution to the national security threat to emerge. 

(NAN)