2019: 200 NGOs hold rally in Abuja, insist on Buhari

A Coalition of over 200 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), under the umbrella of a Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations in Nigeria (FONGON), yesterday held a mass rally in Abuja to drum support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

The Forum said it had uncovered plot by some economic saboteurs to demonise Buhari and hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians to vote against the President.

It, however, said the 200 NGOs in the forum will fight to the finish to ensure that Buhari continues in office.

FONGON made its position known in a February 6 letter to Buhari which was read at a mass rally at the Unity Fountain in Abuja to kick-start

a nationwide mobilisation support for the President.

The letter, which was read by the National Coordinator of FONGON, Comrade Wole Badmus, said the NGOs came together to “serve as a

counter-voice to the nay sayers and looters who are increasingly dominating the polity.”

It said: “Mr. President, we have chosen to come out this time because there seems to be an orchestrated and well-choreographed campaign going on across the country at the moment to demonise Buhari administration and hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians into believing that the administration has achieved nothing since assuming office.

“The looters, economic saboteurs and unpatriotic fellows are feeling the heat of Buhari administration’s fight against corruption.

“They are earnestly yearning for a return to the immediate unedifying past in which the national treasury became the piggy bank of a few.

They also want to pave the way for the return of the same people who brought the country to where it was before you assumed office.

“We believe there will be more letters and more voices urging you not to run. And we urge you (Mr. President) not to heed such calls. Those

who are for you are more than those who are against you.

“That is why we have decided to come out. We are concerned that unless an urgent action is taken, the voices of these people, whom we believe

are being sponsored by looters and their ilk, may become the dominant voices.”

Continuing, it said: “We (members of the FONGON) will match the naysayers’ propaganda for propaganda, memo for memo, and rally for rally. We will go from door-to-door, house-to-house, city-to-city and state-to-state to let Nigerians know the good work that your administration is doing.

“As we say never again to the enemies of the nation, looters and criminals taking charge of our nation’s affairs, we pray that Allah will continue to strengthen, guide and protect you. We urge God to give you more wisdom and good health to pilot the affairs of this great nation.

It asked Buhari to ignore calls not to vie for second term in office.

“We ask you not to hesitate to go for another four-year term to enable you to go for another four-year term to enable you to consolidate on the good work that you have started.”

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