A candidate for the presidency of Nigeria under the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has undertaken to support the businesses of young Nigerians with $10bn if voted into office in the February 2023 elections.
Atiku also pledged to create jobs, end insecurity in the South-East and restructure the country while speaking at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential campaign in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, yesterday.
In his address to the state's people, Atiku said, “I know that you are businesspersons, and I assure you that if you vote for me, businesses and trade will pick up. Because as I said in my policy document, I will set aside $10 billion just to empower women and young men in business.
“There will be no need for any young man or woman not to have something to do. We will provide jobs; if you don’t want jobs, we will provide businesses for you and an enabling environment where businesses can succeed,” he pronounced.
Atiku, the 11th Vice President of Nigeria, also vowed that if elected president, his administration would give the Igbos a sense of belonging and dialogue with the Igbo youths, particularly on restructuring the country.
Stating that he is the only presidential candidate with the requisite experience to unify the country and rescue it from bad governance, Atiku declared, “If I become the president, consider it that Imo is in charge of the presidency. It is your presidency; I will come here, sit down and work out a settlement. I have been associated with the Igbo nation for many decades.
“The South-East is yearning for restructuring. We will work with the national assembly to ensure power and resources are devolved to the federating units. I swear I will do it because I have the experience,” he said.
While imploring the people to vote for the party at all levels, the PDP flagbearer further said, “Don’t vote for any other party but the PDP. The PDP recorded the greatest growth during its years in office. We shall repeat it and even surpass what we did when we were in government. I assure you that, and I swear to God that we can do it again. The people of Imo and the South East have absolutely no reason to vote for any other party other than PDP.”
Concluding, Atiku enthused, “Honestly, I am impressed with the turnout. My fellow people from Imo State, God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In his remark, the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, called on members of the party in the state to avoid division, stay united, and work together to ensure the victory of the presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections.
Ayu said, “The party has to be united, and we will not accept division. Everybody must work together to produce victory. I want you to produce the president on February 25, 2023. Everybody should come out as one PDP family and vote for Atiku Abubakar as president. Vote all PDP candidates for National Assembly.
“Once we have won the presidency, take it that Imo is back in the hands of PDP, and we will take governance from there. The issue of insecurity, a big problem in Imo, will be a thing of the past because you are voting for the president who understands the country and has controlled security services as vice president. We will support every one of you, particularly young men and women. Where there is cooperation, there is no fighting.
“The good news is this Imo State is a PDP state. Last time we won, and in February 2023, we will still win because Igbo people are wise. Even those who have gone elsewhere were all PDP, like Rochas Okorocha, so without PDP, you can’t win Imo State.”
Also present was the National Secretary of the PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, who expressed confidence that Atiku would win the forthcoming presidential election. The Governor of Sokoto State and Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Aminu Tambuwal, added that Atiku’s administration would end insecurity, poverty, and bad governance caused by the APC administration.
Equally, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Udom Emmanuel, said the party would restore sanity to the government if elected.
On his part, the immediate past governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, promised Atilu that the people of the state would vote for him, just as a former governor of the state, Achike Udenwa, urged the people to vote for the PDP from top to bottom.
