By George Agba, Abuja

The Concerned Middle Belt Forum said it has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the February 16th presidential and National Assembly elections.

The national chairman of the group, Chief John A. Mamman announced the endorsement at a press conference held in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the Forum took the decision after careful evaluation of the performance of President  Muhammad Buhari and APC Federal Government, noting that Buhari came into power promising to fight corruption, eliminate insecurity and enhance the economy and observed that administration has failed in all these promises.

“Under President Buhari Nigeria has dropped by over ten places to become the third most corrupt country  in the world. In respect of the economy Nigeria was the fastest growing and largest economy in Africa, but within the space of three years, this administration turned our country into the poverty capital of the world” he maintained.

He explained that “Buhari told us his administration has technically defeated the dreaded Boko Haram in the North East and was in the process of ridding the nation of Sundry crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery, herders/farmers clashes instead we are witnessing an unfortunate rise in insurgency and other criminal activitiesactivities”.

Chie Mamman said in the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria the Fulani herdsmen have embarked on a mission of conquest and occupation of ancestral lands with Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina states are under siege.

“I can say categorically that the security situation in Nigeria today is worse than during the civil war 1967-1970. President Buhari and his campaign organisation should stop insulting the sensibility of Nigerians in insisting that the APC administration has fulfilled its electoral promises to the nation”.

While calling on Nigerians to come out in their numbers on Saturday and perform their civic duties, Chief Mamman said: “I wish to call on President Buhari as an Officer and Gentleman to publicly apologise to Nigerians for his administration’s abysmal performance” he said.

He maintained that the former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has the capacity and know-how to change the course of the country for the better, arguing that his success story in many facets of life is a clear testimony.