By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

FIFTEEN presidential aspirants, representing what they termed the new breed of politicians, have flayed the recent wave of defections by prominent politicians, describing it as an attempt by political establishment to neutralise the change Nigerians desire in 2019.

The presidential aspirants, including former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Deputy Governor, Dr. Kingsley Moghalu; leadership expert cum motivational speaker, Fela Durotoye; Saharareporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore; real estate mogul turned philanthropist, Dr. Elishama Ideh; businessman and economist, Tope Fasua, among others in a communiqué, firmly put the problems of the country on those they said ran the country between 1960 and now.

The politicians were drawn from different political parties.

Saying that the move by the politicians to seek new identity was a plot to sabotage the real change that Nigerians desire, they called on Nigerians not to be deceived but to focus on the new political players who they said have the capacity to bring change.

They also vowed to forge a united front that would elevate the change.

The others who signed the communiqué included Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, Comrade Eragbe Anslem, Sina Fagbenro-Byron, Jaye Gaskia, Ahmed Buhari and Mathias Tsado.

The rest were Victor Ani-Laju, Alistair Soyode, Godstime Sidney Iroabuchi and Clement Jimbo

Noting that past leaders caused the problems of the country, they said: “We are very clear in our minds and share the collective conviction, that our present woes, in their history is a result of collective failure of leadership by those who have been in the leadership of our country for decades, and the establishment that has institutionalised support in their self-interest.”