Oby Ezekwesili, the presidential hopeful in the 2019 elections, has stepped down as the leader of a political pressure group she began in January 2018, the Red Card Movement.
In an emailed statement, the chair of the the movement’s secretariat, Tony Akabuno said that Dr. Ezekwesili’s exit was necessary as the group was non-partisan and committed to retiring the current class of leaders from office.
Ezekwesili is a former education minister and former vice president of the World Bank. She is running for president as the candidate of the Action Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN.
“To that effect and to avoid any conflict of interest, they have stepped aside from membership and leadership of RCM. We are grateful for their patriotism and steady reputation of integrity,” the statement read.
“The RCM is a well-grounded citizens’ Movement with a well defined vision and mission. It will continue to execute its agreed mandate by mobilising citizens, to collectively strengthen our democracy. Our Movement shall continue with the plans to midwife the coalition of Alternatives that will produce a formidable consensus candidate that will disrupt the political space in 2019 elections.
“Nigeria deserves a leader who can deliver good governance to its citizens. That leader must have the Character, Competence and Capacity, to lead us to the New Nigeria of our dream.
“We therefore urge all RCM members, to stay engaged and resist any narrative that the choice for 2019 elections is between Incompetence and Corruption. Nigeria deserves better and we must all stay committed to birthing the New Nigeria of our dream.
“We remain resolute to work with all patriotic citizens, credible leaders, eminent Nigerians and alternative political parties to herald a visionary, youthful, dynamic, global and tech savvy leadership with character, competence, and capacity,” the statement read.
RCM was convened by Ezekwesili.
