The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged to restore the glory of plateau state and add value to its agricultural produce that it can be exported to the international market.
Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council (PDP) Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state made the commitments on Tuesday in Jos, capital of Plateau State during the party’s presidential rally.
Gov. Emmanuel recalled that Plateau was once a state Youth Corpers would want to be posted, a state where the first bottled water, Nasco products and cornflakes were produced but now a shadow of its self.
“We are here to assure you that PDP is coming back again. We are coming on a rescue mission. We will restore peace in Plateau state. We will restore the economy of plateau state.
“Sometimes last year, Plateau alone produced the quantity of potato that would feed the whole of West Africa but they could not export one. Under Atiku Abubakar, Plateau would be a major exporter of what they are producing and that would stimulate the economy.
“Before now, Plateau was the center of enterprise, Plateau was driven by the economy of the private enterprise. Today, due to a lack of peace, due to insecurity in Plateau State, all that has vanished.
“I’m standing as a surety of the government of Atiku Abubakar that he will restore peace, he will restore security, he will restore the economy.
“When we were much younger, when they ask you where you would like to go for NYSC, you will say Plateau but today, it is not like that again. Don’t lose hope. Don’t give up. Your miracle is on the way. The rescue team is here.
“In those days, when you are looking for custard or cornflakes there were made in Plateau. The first spring water in Nigeria, the first water that was bottled in Nigeria was made in Plateau. You can now see why we are here now, to reassure you that we will recover and we will restore”.
Also addressing party supporters, Presidential candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar said that his government when elected will restore peace in the state where he has lived for about 23 years.
“We have promised you that if you vote for the PDP, we will return peace and development to Plateau State, especially for all the youths that are here. We will recreate Plateau’s wealth, so that you can have jobs and employment. Those who want to work will be there and those who want to handwork will have the opportunity.
“Most of the roads linking neighboring states are bad because the APC and its government has failed to construct these roads in the last 8 years”.
National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu went further to recall that PDP was birthed in plateau state by prominent men and women from the state. He said that PDP is like a rock and that only the people can determine the future of the party and not any individual.
He said “PDP started in Plateau State by my father Chief Solomon Lar. He was the one who took me out and linked me up with other patriotic leaders like Abubakar Rimi, Jerry Gana, Sule Lamido, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Atiku Abubakar and so many leaders, including your own son governor Jonah Jang. He built this party to be your party. PDP is owned by the people of Nigeria and that is you.
“When you left PDP, PDP left you and you started suffering. Therefore, this party is going to rebuild the party and the country. Whatever crack that existed in the party is now all over. We want to thank our leaders, governor Jonah Jang, J.T Useni, Amb. Yahaya Kwande. All these leaders have been reunited and we want all the followers to be reunited so that we can win Plateau back together.
“I came here and received many decampees, thousands and thousands of decampees. I am sure PDP today is a rock. Nobody can dislodge PDP again in Plateau State. It is going to rebuilt Plateau, reconstruct Nigeria.
“PDP is the one that will rebuild your universities, it will not close your universities for one year, it will rebuild your roads, you can see what governor Jang did when he was governor. There is no reason to go and vote a party that will destroy what we were trying to build” Ayu said.
Also in his remarks, Gov. Okowa and Vice-Presidential candidate of the party said that the Presidency of Atiku Abubakar will reactivate the economy, end hunger, create jobs and ensure that the youths are educated.
“There is so much hunger and we believe Atiku Abubakar will turn things around in Nigeria and hunger will be no more in this country. Our youths after finishing school have not been able to get employment. Atiku Abubakar is going to turn things around.
“He is a man of honor, a father that we can trust, he is not one of those that looks at newspapers and begin to quote figure. He is a man with Knowledge and experience to turn things around.
“He has been vice president before, he knows Nigeria through and through and he is the only one capable among the eighteen presidential candidates, who can stop this insecurity in the next few years”.
Several decampees were received during the rally including eight young men that trekked from Shendam to Jos just to attend the rally.
