[FILE PHOTO] Atiku Abubakar of PDP
Ahead of Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign rally scheduled to hold in Lagos soon, some support groups of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential flag bearer have called on Nigerians to ensure that an efficient and reliable candidate is elected to lead the country in the next election.
In separate interactions with The Guardian recently, Women and Youths Supports for Atiku (WAYS 4 Atiku), Lagos State chapter of YES ATIKU 2019 and Atiku Presidential View said the country could not afford to experience what it is through under the current President Muhammadu Buhari-led ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for another four years.
The groups said the best and only alternative Nigeria has to address the chronic poverty that it is witnessing under the present government is to vote Atiku, who was a former vice president and successful businessman to take over the mantle of leadership next year.
While the National President and Global Coordinator of WAYS 4 Atiku, Princess Kemi Adesanya-Eboda, said the country deserves qualitative leadership in 2019, the type that would bring peace, unity and equitable development, Deputy Coordinator, Babatunde Idowu, and Publicity Secretary, Godwin A. Akangbe, of YES ATIKU 2019 said the only means the country could remain united and witness progress is to remove the incumbent president through the ballot next year.
Speaking at a media interaction over the weekend, National Coordinator, Atiku Presidential View, Mr. Chris Oghenevwierhe said Nigerians should not fall for the fake promises of the ruling party again in 2019. He said APC deceived the electorate in 2015 to earn their trust but later failed to fulfill any of those promises.
Adesanya-Eboda, who emphasised that party affiliation or not should not be a criteria in next year’s election since the contest is going to be between the incumbent and the former vice president, said, “Atiku represents the quality leadership the country desperately needs to reposition its economy. A true leader must have the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others, which is absent in the present situation but Atiku is a consummate humanist, a unifier, a pathfinder, and an indefatigable defender of democracy and constitutionalism, who will definitely fit into the role of fixing the county.”
She noted that the women and youth groups her organization represent stands to benefit a lot under an Atiku leadership compared to what they are currently passing through under the incumbent administration, saying, “The PDP flag bearer has been tested, and trusted; and proven to have the capacity, competence and resilience, coupled with his immense business acumen, and enduring ability to rescue our country Nigeria from the ravaging squalor and poverty, insecurity and disunity that has enveloped Nigeria in the past three and a half years.
“He s also a great leader, with the philosophy of creating jobs across all sectors, enhancing and advancing qualitative education, and motivating the citizenry in his golden crusade to get Nigeria working again!”
She said a vote for Atiku to become president would be for an all-inclusive government that would unite the country and bring the citizenry out of penury through mass employment, wealth creation and genuine restructuring for a better Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the YES ATIKU 2019 said going by the policy document, which Atiku presented compared to Buhari’s roadmap of ‘Next Level’ geared towards seeking re-election, “The onus is on Nigerians to say no to next level of poverty and hopelessness.”
The group also flayed the ruling party for lacking coherent and comprehensive policy, which it said its government unfortunately combined with poor leadership. It noted that the incumbent government has failed in the area of security, employment, restructuring and economy among others, which it promised during the 2015 campaign.
According to the group, “Nigerians have a choice to make in 2019. We can save ourselves from the next four years of APC clueless administration by voting for the person who can make it work again in the person of Atiku, who has a coherent and comprehensive policy combined with good leadership skills.”
Oghenevwierhe, who addressed the media in Lagos along with the National Woman Leader, Princess Funmilayo Michael said the former vice president is the only one that could restructure the country based on his experience and understanding of Nigeria.
He added that Atiku also has vast understanding of the Niger Delta area and its challenges as well as other parts of the country. He said, “In term of someone with vast connection and influence, Atiku stands out among other contestants and he is the most detribalise presidential candidate as at now.”
He also dismissed the allegation of corruption being leveled against the former vice president as mere propaganda of the ruling party. He stressed: “The allegations of corruption against PDP presidential flag bearer in the next election cannot hold any ground. It goes to show that APC is jittery.”
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