Success Nwogu and Abiodun Nejo
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Monday assured the people of Ekiti State that he would not abandon them if given the opportunity to become the nation’s President.
He said his government would not promise and fail like the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku, who said the All Progressives Congress government abandoned the state in the areas of roads and federal presence, said he would rehabilitate all the Federal Government’s roads in the state.
He spoke at a rally in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
He said, “When we were in the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, the traditional ruler made a case for roads. My administration will tar all the inter-state roads.
“We will complete all Federal Government projects in the state. Our government will not promise and fail like President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We will also restore standard and quality education so that we can give you jobs.”
Atiku said the Buhari administration was bereft of creative ideas to create jobs, hence the job losses that Nigerian youths had contended with since 2015.
He added, “APC doesn’t know how to create jobs and doesn’t know how to give you same.
“We have promised that 40 per cent of our portfolios will go to youths, while 30 per cent will go to women. That is 70 per cent for youths and women.
“We know how to do it and we have done it before, we will do it again.”
The PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, against plunging the nation into unnecessary chaos by attempting to subvert the mandate of the people in the general elections.
Secondus, who expressed optimism that his party would win the February 16 presidential election, claimed that Buhari failed to fulfil his promises of job creation, fighting insecurity and surmounting the challenge of corruption “because he is too weak to rule a country as complex as Nigeria.”
The PDP chairman urged the people of the state and Nigerians to vote for Atiku to free the country of hunger and suffering.
“We are going to win this election. Look at Atiku, he is tested and trusted in the public and private sectors. He is a man that can turn the economy around. He has the energy for the job,” he said.
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, urged the people, particularly the youth to vote for Atiku, saying: “There is no story. Youths are the future we need. A leader has to make good his promises, but Buhari promised you jobs, security and to fight corruption, has he fulfilled his promises? No!
“To do all these, you must know how to do it. Atiku is a man who knows how to create jobs, secure the country and also fight corruption.”
A former governor of Ekiti, State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, promised PDP the votes of Ekiti people, saying, “In Ekiti we will deliver. He that the gods will destroy, he will first make to run mad, that is the case of the current Federal Government, but PDP will deliver Nigeria from their poverty and misrule.”
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator, Atikulate Leaders Forum, Mr Frankline Eze, on Monday said no fewer than 140 groups would deliver at least 10 million votes for Atiku.
Eze spoke at a press conference in Abuja.
He said, “We make it clear to the world that the about 140 Coalition of Atikulate Leaders Forum formerly known as Coalition of All Aggrieved Atiku Support Groups, are still with Atiku.
“We are still with the Peoples Democratic Party and we shall keep ‘Atikulating’ until we get Nigeria working again. This is to say that we have decided to vote Atiku and Obi at the 2019 presidential election, and there is no turning back.
“We have come to state categorically that of the alleged 145 support groups, not less than 140 groups, as you can see, are still with Atiku. We pledge to deliver 10 million votes for Atiku and the PDP.”
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