The People’s Democratic Party PDP has appealed to Nigerians to give the party another chance to rescue the country and foster unity.
The Party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, made the appeal during the flag-off of its Presidential campaign in Uyo, the Capital City of Akwa Ibom State.
Atiku said when the PDP ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2015 it turned the fortunes of the country around making it one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and if given another chance, it will replicate that fate and make Nigeria prosperous again.
“We lifted Nigeria from the bottom to the top. We became the biggest economy in Africa, we had peace, we had progress. Then Nigerians said they wanted change and they voted for change in 2015,” he said.
Atiku said the campaign flag-off is “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, and it will be a vote for your safety and there will be security”
Vice presidential candidate of the PDP and Deta state governor in Southern Nigeria Ifeanyi Okowa said the presidential candidate of the party has the will, capacity and courage to lead Nigeria.
The energy is building. Akwa Ibom, Nigeria 🇳🇬 Dàkkàdà! -AA #PDPCampaignFlagOff #AtikuInUyo pic.twitter.com/oxFwSsCw6v
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) October 10, 2022
“In the political field and governance of Nigeria, when you are talking about experience, then Atiku Abubakar is a general. We cannot allow lieutenants to lead because they will lead us to doom. We believe that PDP is the only party that is prepared to rescue this nation. After you have rescued the nation, you will also need the experience to be able to restore and rebuild” he explained.
Okowa described Atiku as someone with friends and family across the country adding that he is “One man that people are comfortable with in the six geopolitical zones of this nation. He understands Nigeria and we know that he has the capacity and experience to unify us as a people. He is one man who is willing to take the bull by the horn and not to pay lip service. He is one man who has the capacity to tame the insecurity in this country and I believe that with his experience as Vice President, he will stir the government of this country on the right path again. So I want you to come out and vote”.
National chairman of the party Iyorcha Ayu, said “Nigerians are complaining and are hoping that what we did for them in the last 16 years we will come back and do it for them again. Let us all join hands together because we have the solution. Already we have pen down the Covenant with Nigerians, we will restore the economy to its glory. Nigerians will be happy all young people will get jobs, the economy will grow there will be more industries”
He praised PDP state governors saying they have performed well and when they come into power from the state houses of assemblies, national assembly, governors and the president, the PDP will live up to its covenant with the people.
Chairman of the PDP Presidential campaign council, Governor Udom Emmanuel who was visibly elated as he saw the sea of heads that turned up to the presidential flag-off historian reminded the party faithful to “elect people that have the capacity for delivery… this is the time, let us join hands to rescue Nigeria, join hands to move Nigeria to the right direction and that direction can come if Nigerians vote for the PDP in 2023”.
Director General of the campaign council Aminu Tambuwal said the two candidates of the party are the most competent to run for the offices of President and Vice President, insisting that “The ticket of Atiku/Okowa has recognized the plurality and capacity of Nigeria and has respected our character as a nation and our party is presenting forth these two great Nigerians that have the capacity character, the competence to move the country forward. Our party is on a mission to rescue Nigeria and to restore its value. We have a balanced ticket, we have a ticket that can rescue Nigeria through its current situation and I appealed to all of you men and women of goodwill to join on this train of Atiku Okowa to rescue Reset and restore Nigeria”.
Voice of Nigeria reports that five governors at odds with the party, Nyesome Wike of Rivers state, Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state, and Okezie Ikpeazu did not turn up for the presidential campaign flag-off.
However, their absence did not deter supports from carrying on as the party brought activities to a standstill in Uyo, streets were closed, branded cars with the faces of the candidates and supporters, people in the party’s attire, were waving green, red and white flags and blaring music from all kinds of cars.
The nest of champions stadium was agog with celebration as the pioneer state to officially call on Nigerians to vote the party it rejected seven and a half years ago back to power as they promised to make a difference and provide citizens with a better deal. Governors, national assembly members, members of the board of trustees, national working committee, women, youth, men and people with disabilities thronged to the stadium to support Atiku and Okowa.
N.O
