By Boluwatife Adedokun
The presidential aspirant of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has explained that the party is majorly concerned about eradicating poverty in the country, as well as bringing unity to the country.
He disclosed this in the party’s rally organised yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Governors, ex-governors, and other top
executives of the People’s democratic Party, PDP trooped out en mass with 15 private jets to Uyo, Akwa Ibom to support the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okonwa, for initiation of the party’s poll ahead of the 2023 general election.
The PUNCH reported that beside the Governor of River State, Nyesom Wike, and his partners in Oyo State (Seyi Makinde), Benue State (Samuel Ortom), Abia State (Ikpeazu Okezie), and Enugu State (Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi), other governors nominated by the party were available at the occasion.
The inauguration, which was held at the Nest of Champions International Stadium, was attended by the party’s National Assembly members and National Working members led by the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, among other party stalwarts.
Members from the PDP Board of trustees driven by a former Senate President, chief Adolphus Wabara also attended the event.
The PDP Governors present at the meeting incorporate Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintri; Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku; and the host governor, Udom Emmanuel.
Others are the governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri; his Bauchi State partner, Bala Mohammed; Delta State governor, and Atiku’s running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa; and Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki.
In his address, Atiku lamented that since the retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress regime took over the leadership in 2015, Nigerians have been experiencing unprecedented hunger, insecurity and poor economy while Nigerian students have continued to stay out of school.
He noted that the PDP on the other hand lifted Nigerians out of poverty when it assumed power in 1999, noting that Nigeria became the biggest economy in Africa.
The aspirant expatiate that there was peace and progress until the APC took over power in 2015.
Speaking further, he said that the beginning of the presidential campaign was to rescue Nigeria from hunger, and poverty and bring back the unity the country lacked.
While noting that Nigerians wanted to take a cue from Akwa Ibom which had witnessed uninterrupted PDP administration and progress since 1999, the ex-VP stressed that the PDP is on a rescue mission to salvage the country.
He appealed to Nigerians to vote for the PDP for prosperity, unity, and safety.
Atiku said, ‘’Today, as we inaugurate the flag-off of the campaign to rescue Nigeria, to rescue Nigeria from hunger, to rescue Nigeria from poverty and bring back the unity we are lacking in this country; I want to appeal to all Nigerians to vote for PDP.
“If you vote for PDP, it will be a vote for prosperity, it will be a vote for unity, it will be a vote for your safety. So, there will be no more hunger and there will be security. I swear, if you vote for PDP, you will not be out of school, you will get jobs, there will be security, there will be unity.”
In his remarks, the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, Okowa told the gathering that the PDP is the only party that is prepared to rescue the nation through a candidate that has the experience to restore and rebuild.
He added, “When you want to rescue people, particularly in the military, because we are in a war, everything has gotten so bad, you do not go to war with a lieutenant leading, some other parties are presenting lieutenants but PDP is presenting a general.
The state Chairman of the party, Tanko Beji also disclosed that the rally was organized to garner support for the PDP presidential and governorship candidates in the state.
While speaking at the campaign ground in Uyo, the PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu affirmed that the party has moved on, urging those who are yet to join the party’s presidential campaign to do so because they are moving slowly waiting for them.
He referenced the withdrawal of Governor Wike and his allies from the party’s presidential campaign council following the crisis in which the party stated that Nigerians were not interested in the personal rifts in the PDP but in the rescue mission of the party.
Speaking further, he said that the party’s presidential candidate has jotted down his plans for Nigerians in his policy document, ‘My Covenant with Nigerians.’
He said, “The PDP train has started moving and we have left the station, but we are moving slowly so that those who are yet on board will join us on the train.
“It is important for us as leaders; Nigeria is not interested in our quarrels, Nigeria is waiting for us to come and rescue them from what is worrying them. The PDP knows what is worrying Nigerians: Nigerians are hungry, Nigerians are suffering from all sorts of sickness.
