A Senator in Nigeria, Mr. Danjuma La’ah, has extolled the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Atiku Abubakar, describing him as the best choice capable of taking Nigeria to a greater height among the comity of nations.
Mr. Danjuma Laah, who is the deputy Senate Minority Whip and Senator representing Kaduna South, North-West Nigeria, stated this during an interview with Voice of Nigeria in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Senator Laah urged Nigerians to vote for the PDP’s presidential candidate, Mr. Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 general elections for equitable resource distribution, rule of law, and good governance.
“The choice we’ve made, His Excellency the former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, Wazirin Adamawa, was not a mistake.
“It looks as if he’s a God-sent person.
“He has all it takes. He is well focused, vibrant and articulated. He has been tested and actually knows what to do when given that opportunity.
“At a time he was even a vice-president. He has been able to do a lot of things for this country.
“Now given the permission to be the one on the steering, he will leave no stone unturned.
“All those that tried to frustrate his effort during his time in those days, we will bring them to book.
“I assure you by virtue of the way he (Mr. Atiku Abubakar) handles situations, we are hoping to have a very nice and promising president come 2023,” said Senator Danjuma Laah.
PDP Crisis
On the issue of the five PDP Governors christened the ‘G5 governors’ who have refused to join in Atiku Abubakar’s campaign team, Senator Danjuma Laah nevertheless expressed hope in the party’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
The PDP has been in an internal crisis over party leadership: the presidential candidate, Mr. Atiku Abubakar and Governor Wike of Rivers state, Southern Nigeria, have had opposing views with Gov. Wike calling for the removal of the party’s National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
According to Wike, there is the need for the South to produce the party’s next national chairman.
“Even in your house with your family, there will be times when things may fall apart.
“You try to correct the wrong things and if you know maybe correcting the wrong things may escalate to different things, you have to take it gradually and slowly.
“There is no point of rushing over common misunderstanding they are having, as you may say.
“But as far as we are concerned in the party, we don’t see anything wrong in someone voicing out his feelings, saying what is wrong.
“As a matter of fact, we sit down as people to check and look how it is wrong.
“Is it necessary to change or make it the way Nyesom Wike, the governor of Cross River state, wants it to be?
“We are not saying what he is saying may not be true that the national president and party chairman should not come all but from the North.
“But there is a lacuna in this issue. After all is said and done, if the presidential candidate succeeds in winning the election, chairman of that party, Senator Ayu, will vacate the seat; it will be re-allocated to a different zone because we have six geopolitical zones.
“The President-to-be is not refusing hearing what he wants.
“We have gone places, most especially the Senate principal officers, looking for where amendment can be done,” said Senator Danjuma Laah.
Ensuring free and fair Elections in Nigeria
Senator Laah condemned election rigging and vote-buying.
“No rigging. The actual things must be done.
“It is no longer like business before; things must change. Buying votes is just wasting resources.
“They may buy the vote; it will not be implemented as long as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine is there.
“You can not just sit down and start printing what is not possible.
“We are proud that we, the parliamentarians, did what the layman and what the less privileged people want,” Senator Danjuma Laah added.
Checks and Balances on Legislation
“Release of funds depends on the performance of the Agencies and Ministries.
“Money being given to you must be spent accordingly for specific projects.
“If all things are done accordingly, we will not have problems.
“For instance, if money meant for bridges is diverted to roads or for buying bed sheets, you would have violated the rules and regulations,” Senator Laah reiterated.
National Security
“I read in the newspaper that the Chief of Army Staff promised that the 2023 election will be free and fair in the aspect of security.
“Unfortunately, we do not have enough manpower in the country.
“And they have been given approval for more personnel to be employed, but we must be very careful in rushing to employ.
“Some time ago, we, the Senate, brought the idea of a wall to separate Nigeria from the neighbouring countries in order to secure it from illegal entry just like Israel that built round the whole country to prevent people from entering without legal papers.
“It’s unlike Nigeria where people enter and go out at will,” he cautioned.
Edited by Amaka E. Nliam
