Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has called on National Assembly candidates on the PDP platform to work hard at winning their election which will in turn reflect in his votes tally and boost his chances of winning the presidential election set for Saturday February 25.
Addressing the candidates along with chairmen amd directors of the states presidential campaign council at the Congress hall of Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja Nigeria’s Capital, Atiku said as members of the same party they should have robust engagement and understanding in their respective duties.
“During my tenure as vice president, I developed a very intimate relationship with members of the National Assembly and it is that relationship that enabled us to stop a third term or life presidency attempt by President Obasanjo.
I really look forward to engaging you again, as regard to the National Assembly, for your constitutional functions to further deepen democracy, development and progress of our nation.
Our nation has found itself in one of the most challenging times in the history of this country” he stated.
The former Vice President said the country is facing dire challenges which demands that the executive and legislature work together to take the country from its present malaise.
“These are challenges that the Constitution has bestowed on both of us to discharge. I therefore want to wish you success in this deliberation and to assure you the most important thing if you’re elected and I’m elected, you are not going to work with somebody unknown or somebody who doesn’t have the experience. You are going to work with somebody who has worked with the National Assembly before and successfully too, facing the incumbent president and still making sure that we protected the constitution”.
Vice Presidential candidate Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa said their successes will translate into success for the their presidential bid “So I want to urge that as we move forward in the next few days, we must continue with the campaigns. we must continue with the planning. We must ensure that we’re truly battle ready, because I know that will win the popular votes, all we need to do is to defend those votes”.
Okowa asked them to train their party agents on the electoral processes “to ensure that our agents are able to transmit our results to us. We need to be sure that our security is taken care of. You have done a great job. You cannot afford to sit back now”.
National chairman of the PDP Senator Iyorchia Ayu asked the candidates to strive hard to repeat the party’s victory of 1999 when it had the majority in the national assembly adding that this would create more robust the egagement for seamless law making and policy formulation at the presidential level.
Ayu said “if they win they elections they will work with a president who is experienced … as PDP legislators the should speak with one voice at the caucus level.”
Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign council Sokoto State Governor, in northwest Nigeria, Aminu Tambuwal called the meeting an avenue for the candidates to collectively strategies on ways to win the election.
Tambuwal described Atiku as a leader who is tried and trusted and has the capacity to understand seperation of powers for effective goverance.
Minority whip of the House of Representatives Edudi Elumelu said the presidential and vice presidential candidates believe in true democracy and they will allow members of the national assembly to operate independently.
Tambuwal said Atiku and Okowa will carry them along in his leadership of Nigeria and they will keep their words to the party and Nigerians.
Senate Minority Leader of the party Senator Philip Aduda promised Atiku that all candidates will canvass to secure his victory and provide the enabling environment for his five points covenant with Nigeria to be realised.
In a communique at the end of the meeting the candidates said they are commited to improving transparency and accountability across the whole government, reduction of the cost of government through improving citizen oversight and a strong emphasis on curbing waste and cost reduction
Reading the communique Senator Philip Aduda said if they all win the election the PDP will reduce poverty by 40% over the next 4 years.
He said the meeting resolved that reducing unsustainable national debts will be a priority, “support greater investment in education and infrastructure by incrementally increasing budgetary allocation starting from the next budget and as members of the next national assembly we will quickly pass the national budge and secure Nigerians through robust conflict resolution mechanisms and improved welfare and funding of security agencies”.
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