Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has visited Gombe State on his mission to seek the support of the People’s Democratic Party Delegates during the May 28/29 Presidential Primaries, scheduled to hold in Abuja.
The former Vice President said since the time of Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, the North East had not produced any head of state or president to lead this country; as such, it was the turn of the North East to be given the opportunity to lead the country.
He backed his argument on the premise that since the re-emergence of democracy in 1999, the country had been rotating power to other zones of the country, thereby urging the delegates in Gombe State to realise that voting him would be automatically voting a man from Gombe State.
“I know that since the return to democracy that is nothing I have left out in ensuring that I help Gombe. In fact, what I have done in Gombe, I have not done in Adamawa State. Because of that, I want to use the opportunity to seek your support, with your help, with your prayers to clinch victory in this outing,” said former Nigerian VP Atiku.
He says he believes that with their support, he would be victorious.
The PDP Presidential Aspirant, who was the Presidential Candidate of the party during the General Election in 2019, said he was grateful for the support already rendered to him by the association of North East Businessmen, which began in Gombe and was specifically set up to support his presidential ambition.
Atiku said he was grateful that the businessmen contributed money to buy the Nomination Form for him.
Former VP Atiku says he is also thankful to the people of Gombe for such support being lavished on him, while praying that God should answer all their prayers by giving him victory.
The Gombe State PDP Chairman, Retired Major General Abnor Kwaskebe, said the Gombe Delegates of the party would give the Former VP all the needed support to win the primaries.
Saraki’s Campaign
Similarly, former Nigerian Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who is also a presidential aspirant under the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was in Gombe State also.
Dr. Saraki’s, while addressing delegates of the party, urged them not to vote based on sentiments, but should do so on the basis of competence.
Senator Saraki, who was a former Governor of Kwara State, said he wanted to be the next president of Nigeria because of his track records as governor and Senate President, saying he has the experience in business, government, both the executive and legislature.
The PDP Presidential Aspirant said his main focus, if he won the presidential seat, would be on peace and security, particularly in bridging all gaps to ensure that Nigerians of all faiths coexisted peacefully.
He said he was not aware of the PDP imposing any candidate on them, because the PDP was a party that believed in discipline and democratic principles, which is inclusiveness.
The Former Senate President also said the PDP was working to ensure a smooth convention.
The Gombe PDP Chairman, Retired Major General Abnor Kwaskebe, gave Senator Saraki the assurances that the PDP Delegates from Gombe would give all the needed support to secure the candidature of the party.
He said his conviction that Senator Saraki would make a successful president was because of his major roles played in ensuring peace and unity of the country, at both times as a |governor and senate president.
Nnenna.O
