No one should dictate to APC its choice of presidential candidate-Atiku

Atiku made the statement at the APC secretariat yesterday when he picked the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest for the party’s presidential ticket.
He said the role of the party leadership is to guide its members to make the right choice in the coming party primaries in order for the party to present a formidable candidate to challenge the candidate of the ruling party and take the country out of its present predicament.
Atiku, who said the APC, as a party, was built on sound democratic credentials of equity and justice, advised that it should provide a level playing field for its aspirants in the primaries so that the best among them will be selected.
“Anybody who believes he has a democratic right to exercise should be given that opportunity to exercise that right. It is left for the members of this party and the Nigerian public to make a decision. I don’t think it is the responsibility of any one of us as an individual or group to decide for this party or its membership for the people of this country. Yes, as leaders, we have a responsibility to guide those coming behind but the guidance should be based on this firmly rooted democratic principles.”
Earlier, the Director General of Atiku’s campaign organisation, Professor Babalola Borishade, said they were at the secretariat to submit their payment particulars and collect the forms so that they will go ahead with preparations towards the party’s convention to get the party’s nomination for their candidate.
In his reaction, the national chairman of the party, Odigie Oyegun, said it is necessary for the party to inform Nigerians and the whole world that the APC train has started and its last stop will be the presidency in 2015.
He added that the party is looking at a contest that will be rancour free and the choice of candidates will be based on the merit of the individual not on the demerits of others.
However, the former vice president had at a press conference rolled out his draft programme of action and policies, if elected.
The seven point policies he presented include; employment generation and wealth creation infrastructure ánd power, education and skills acquisition, security, citizenship and governance, agriculture and food Security, Niger Delta and North East Re-integration.