By Myke Uzendu
Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has urged party members not to take the All Progressives Congress (APC) for granted despite the visible misrule and destruction of the economy by the ruling party.
Atiku, who thanked party members for their support during the just concluded convention said that the event was just for the party to bring it’s best foot forward, adding that his victory at the convention was the victory of the party.
The former vice president, who made the statement after receiving his Certificate of Return as the Presidential candidate of PDP called on all his supporters and party members to unite and achieve the second leg of the victory which he said is the sack of the APC from the Presidential Villa in 2023.
While commending the Iyorchia Ayu led National Working Committee for transforming the party and Organising a very credible National convention, Atiku stated, “The NWC assured me that it would be fair and will provide every aspirant a level playing field. I was also assured that once a candidate emerged from our primary election, you will all support that candidate and work very hard to ensure our victory in the presidential election.
“I am honoured and humbled to receive this certificate of Return haven emerged as our party’s candidate in our just concluded special convention. This victory is a victory for all of us, for our party, and for the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the misrule of the APC. It was a collective effort, and I’m very grateful for everybody’s contributions.
“I am particularly grateful that you kept your word and gave us contestants fair treatment, despite what might have been a difficult situation”.
The former Vice President reiterated that the National Convention was a family contest and called on all stake holders to come together and work for the defeat of the ruling party.
“While I’m excited and happy for this opportunity to bear our party’s flag again, let us all remember that what just happened is a contest within a family to decide how to put our best foot forward. The main contest is the one to win the presidency of our country for our party.
“It will require the entire PDP family and other supporters and sympathizers. We must pull everyone together. Nobody should be excluded, I beg of you. I have already visited some of those who contested against me, as a way to lead in that effort to unify the party so that we can face our real opponents, defeat them in the elections and begin the process of rescuing and rebuilding this country from the callous and dangerous APC misrule over the past seven years which is there for everyone to see.
“However, we should not take that or their defeat for granted. We must unite and work extremely hard for every single vote in this country. There is so much to do. And there is very little time to waste. So let’s get to work” Atiku charged the party.
Earlier in his remarks, National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu described the victory of Atiku at the convention as a victory for the party, adding that there was no victor and no vanquished.
He called on all the aspirants to mobilize all their supporters for the party.
Ayu urged all party members to come together irrespective of whom they supported at the convention and work together for the success of the party.
Present at the event were Sen. Bukola Saraki, a former President of the Senate, as well as other aspirants at the just concluded PDP presidential election convention, including Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Tari Oba Olivar and Sam Ohuabunwa,
Others include Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta state, Tom Ikimi, Emeka Ihedioha, Babangida Aliyu, former Niger state Governor, Biodun Olujimi, Ahmed Makarfi, former Governor of Kaduna state, Ndudi Elumelu, the PDP Minority Leader in the House of Representatives and former Adamawa state Governor, Boni Haruna.
