…As Atiku promises to end Insecurity and Hunger
…Five PDP governors shun campaign flag-off
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
As the Presidential Campaign Train took off on Monday in Uyo Akwa Ibom State, National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Iyorchia Ayu has appealed to Rivers State governor and other dissenting voices to join the campaign train, insisting that Nigerians are more interested in good governance than intra-party quarrels.
This is even as the Presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar pledged to take the country back to the days of economic prosperity and unity which was the hallmark of PDP administration.
Ayu made the call on Monday in Uyo during his speech at the flag-off of the Presidential campaign of the party.
Ayu said that the party is making efforts to carry everyone on board adding that Nigerians are more interested in providing leadership for the citizens than the internal bickering in the party which was as a result of skewed leadership structure in the party.
According to Ayu, “The PDP train has started moving and we have left the station, but we are moving slowly so that those who are yet to board will join us on the train.
“Nigeria is not interested in our personal quarrels; Nigerians are waiting for us to come and rescue them from what is worrying them. The PDP knows what is worrying Nigerians, Nigerians are hungry, Nigerians are suffering from all sorts of sickness, Nigerians cannot move from one point to another without worries, Nigerians cannot sleep because of insecurity, Nigerians are getting more and more divided, 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, every PDP governor has performed well, therefore, when we get to power from State Houses of Assembly to the state governors, the National Assembly we need all of them to support our President who is coming to power next year to redeem Nigerians”.
Also in his speech, Atiku Abubakar who is the candidate of the party called on all party members to mobilize votes from the grassroots so that hunger, insecurity and poverty ravaging the country will be a thing of the past.
He said, “What we have seen is poverty, insecurity, lack of jobs and disunity. Our children are no longer going to school.
“Today as we inaugurated the flag-off of the campaign 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, it will be a vote for your safety. So there will be no more hunger and there will be security” Atiku reiterated.
Also in his remarks, Gov. Udom Emmanuel who is the Chairman of the campaign council called on Nigerians to vote out the ruling party so that the country can return to the days of glory.
“We must elect people that has the capacity for delivery, if you cannot manage a kiosk, you will not be able to manage a multinational company. If PDP has not given another party opportunity, Nigerians would not have known that any other party outside PDP will sink the ship of our economy,
will rubbish our currency, will destroy our educational system and wil not have anything to offer in our social contract.
“The PDP will bring Nigeria back to its lost glory. 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”.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal who is the Director General of the campaign council said that the party has the best Presidential team that is acceptable and took into consideration, the religious diversity in the country.
“The ticket of Atiku/Okowa has recognised the plurality and capacity of Nigeria and have respected our character as a nation and our party is presenting forth this two great Nigerians that have the capacity, the character, the competence to move the country forward.
“Our party is on a mission to rescue Nigeria and to restore its value and I believe the other party and it’s candidature is not only against the federal character but against the constitution of Nigeria because it doesn’t reflect the federal character of Nigeria.
“From day one they are planning to plant a seed of discord in this country and we must not allow that to happen. We have a balance 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”.
The Nest of Champions Stadium, venue of the event was filled to capacity by teaming supporters in carnival float and lavishly decorated with party colours.
Meanwhile five governors who are against the continued stay of the PDP Chairman including members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) boycotted the event.
The five governors are: Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Also absent were the national vice-chairman of the party in the South-South, Dan Orbih, Deputy National Chairman South West Hon. Taofeek Arapaja and BoT live member Bode George.
Other are former Cross River State governor Donald Duke, former Gombe State governor Ibrahim Dankwabo, former National Publicity Secretary Prof. Jerry Gana, former Ondo State governor Olisegun Mimiko and other party stalwarts
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