NACCIMA Didn’t Endorse Atiku –Iyalode Lawson

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, has distanced itself from the report in a national newspaper claiming the chamber has endorsed the candidature of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate in the coming February 16 General elections.

Iyalode Alaba Lawson, National President, NACCIMA, in a statement on Thursday, said the Chamber remains non-partisan and do not endorse any political candidates while it remains politically neutral on all issues, without exception.

The full statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a news report in the Punch Newspaper of 22nd January, 2019 with the headlines “NACCIMA and others back Atiku on NNPC Privatization”.

We wish to make it clear that contrary to the suggestions and insinuations peddled by the said news report, NACCIMA has not endorsed any particular candidate(s) in the forthcoming General elections.

NACCIMA’s political neutrality is a core principle that is equally imbibed by NACCIMA’s Council, Executive Committee, Members and Employees.

NACCIMA has an ethical obligation to ensure that as the non-partisan voice of Nigerian Businesses and the leading national member of the Organized Private Sector, we do not endorse any political candidates and that we remain politically neutral on all issues, without exception. NACCIMA as a matter of policy also does not make donations or contributions towards any political candidate or their campaigns and we remain even more resolute in our nonpartisan stance as the forthcoming General Elections draw near.

Rather that becoming a tool for political ends, NACCIMA is more than ever preoccupied with the fulfillment of its core objective of promoting and advocating for a conducive business environment which will promote the activities of the Private Sector for inclusive economic growth and development.

This clarification has become necessary in view of the false narrative currently making the rounds that NACCIMA has now pitched its tent with a particular political candidate.

Be assured that NACCIMA’s remains unflinching in its commitment to promoting what the best for the Nigerian economy and not the galvanization of support for political candidates contesting for elections at any level.