By Udo Ibuot
LAGOS—CHAIRMAN of Integrated Democratic Movement, IDM, Chief Jamiu Afolabi Ekungba, has asked Yorubas in the South West to vote enmasse for the presidential ambition of Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau in the 2011 elections.

Ekungba who was addressing IDM stakeholders in Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Ekiti, Kogi, Edo and Delta States, said Shekarau was the only governor who had never been found wanting by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, or the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC.

Describing Shekarau as the most detribalised Nigerian, Ekungba said the governor “appointed special assistants on Igbo and Yoruba affairs, to oversee the interests of the two tribes in Kano, adding that “there was no religious or ethnic crisis in Kano since he took over in 2003.”

The IDM boss noted that if Shekarau became president of the country, the reccuring religous and ethnic crisis would be a thing of the past.

While dismissing insinuations that Mallam Shekarau was fronting for President Goodluck Jonathan, Ekungba said: “He cannot be a surrogate for anybody. He will never betray the trust of any human being. If Shekarau tells you it is white, believe him. If he believes it is not white, he will never say it is white.”

The South West Coordinator of IDM, Hon. Jamiu Rotimi Ogunbodede said he was happy with the turn out of the stakeholders, adding: “IDM is not a ‘chop chop’ group.

We are a grassroots movement out to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
Ogunbodede described Mallam Shekarau as the only presidential aspirant with integrity, noting that others were exploiters who did not have the interest of the masses at heart.