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… Wike, Ortom, Makinde, others shun PDP campaign inauguration
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has inaugurated his Presidential Campaign Council with a vow to ensure that Nigeria is united again.
Atiku who said that his plans for the nation is laid down in the document titled “My Covenant With Nigerians”, also said “the tasks ahead may appear daunting; they may seem a load too heavy to bear. But, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of generations yet unborn, we must not, even for one minute, shirk in the responsibilities that we have been entrusted with to come together to rebuild this beloved country of ours.
He said that his plans for Nigeria and Nigerians are as follows, “To restore Nigeria’s unity through equity, social justice, mutual collaboration, and consensus among our diverse peoples.
“To build a strong and effective democratic government where the safety and security of our people and their property is our primary and singularly most important responsibility.
“To establish a strong, resilient, inclusive and prosperous economy that generates opportunity, jobs and wealth while lifting the poor out of poverty.
“To encourage the adoption of a true federal system that provides where all the federating units are equal, and has a fair and representative federal government that secures our borders, defends our people and ensures national unity, whilst allowing the federating units to develop and grow in line priorities which they have set on their own.
“To redevelop, invest in, and strengthen our education system in order to provide its recipients with the education and skills needed to compete in the new global order driven by innovation, science, and technology, as well as to live healthy, productive, and meaningful lives.”
Atiku said that, “to undertake these tasks, the members of our party, the PDP, have, graciously, granted me the ticket to lead the party in next year’s presidential elections, with the singular mandate to come and lead the efforts to cure these ills.
“So, what is our task that we are gathered here today to undertake? It is beyond merely coming together to inaugurate a Presidential Campaign Council. No! Our task today is to come together to rescue and rebuild our beloved country, Nigeria. That is the end goal. It is existential to us as a nation, and it is a task that history beckons upon us all to grasp with both hands and undertake with vigour and zeal.
“But, to rescue and rebuild our country, we must first takeover the mantle of leadership from the party that driven us into this mess. To do this, we must all be united in purpose and come together to fight and win all the elections slated for next year.
“Every single person who loves this country, as I do, is needed for the arduous tasks that face us ahead as a nation, and this includes every member of the PDP. And it is my fervent hope and prayer that every man and woman of goodwill will join hands with us to help rescue, rebuild and reposition our beloved country, Nigeria.”
Wike, Ortom, Makinde, others shun PDP campaign inauguration
Meanwhile the event was nearly marred with the absence of key party leaders including five out of 13 PDP governors.
Governors Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, all believed to be loyal to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, including Wike, on Wednesday, boycotted the inauguration of and book launch in honour of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Also absent from the event was the National Chairman of the PDP who, according to the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, was absent as a result of ill-health.
Other PDP governors believed to be loyal to the party’s presidential candidate were, however, in attendance.
They include: Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Diri Duoye of Bayelsa State; Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; Darius Ishaku of Taraba State; Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
The Delta State governor and running mate to Atiku, Ifeanyi Okowa, was also present at the event.
God has given PDP another opportunity – Ag. national chairman
The acting national chairman who is also, deputy national chairman, North Amb. Umaru Damagun said that, “God in his infinite mercy, has provided Nigerians another opportunity to evaluate us and those that came after us. It is time to assess and do the needful. We are presenting our best to all. In all of our elections from the state assembly up to the president, we have gone through a transparent primary, which shows that this party is deeply rooted democratically.
“Let me say that God has given us another opportunity to prove them wrongs in this election period. The PDP has brought out it’s best to you the members of the presidential campaign Council. We are all selected to be in this council because we have distinguished ourself in our various endeavours. I sincerely trust that the confidence reposed on us by the party will be reasonable reciprocated by giving our best during this campaign season. I thank you once again.”
PDP solid as a rock – Gov Emmanuel
Akwa Ibom governor, Udom Emmanuel who is the chairman of the PCC assured that as a campaign council, they have the seriousness and unity required to achieve success.
“It is our duty to campaign, to carry and publicize the message on how to rescue and restore the hope of Nigerians. It is for Nigerians to vote and for the Almighty to give victory.
“I want to say here, don’t mind the doomsayers, I read every where all those doomsayers saying PDP here, PDP there, but I want to assure you that PDP is a solid Rock and we know that no matter the wind it will not move the Rock. So irrespective of the wind that you see around the rock, it will not move the rock. The rock remains as solid as ever. Please don’t mind the doomsayers. We want to assure you that we are campaigning to win. Nothing is acceptable to PDP outside victory for PDP, But this will also require that all of us, we must also work.
“This time there is no sitting in Abuja, everybody will have to work hard and carry the message home. PDP is not an Abuja party, you win from your unit, your ward and not by sitting in Abuja. The campaign council will take the message to the unit.
“If we had made mistakes in the past, we cannot wind down the clock, we cannot recall what passed yesterday, but we can move forward in the spirit of oneness, unity and progress.”
We’ll deliver Atiku, Okowa to Villa in 2023 – Tambuwal
Also, the Director-General of the campaign council and Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal also said PDP will hit the ground running.
He said, “It is with humility and sense of purpose that I stand before you as the DG campaign which will serve as the vehicle that will deliver the PDP and its presidential flag bearer and his running mate to the villa come may 29 2023 by the Grace of God.
“Our Chairman has spoken, all of us are going to hit the ground running and we shall work collectively as a family and expeditiously to ensure the victory of our party.
“The PDP and our candidate is the party to beat in this election, it is only for us to work and with God on our side we shall deliver this victory to our party and to Nigerians. We have the support of Nigerians and we appeal that INEC will conduct a free and fair election, and victory by the Grace of God will be guaranteed for PDP.”
End.