2023: Atiku gets PDP’s certificate of return

• …Victory is for all, says Ayu

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was yesterday presented with his certificate of return by the party’s national leadership with a declaration that there is no victor, no vanguish in the primaries that produced the candidate.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who presented the certificate of return to Atiku, at a colourful and well attended  ceremony at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, pointed out that the victory of the candidate is a victory for the party and all its members in general.

This is even as the presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku, equally re-echoed the position of Ayu, saying that his victory is for all, especially the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the misrule of the present administration.

At the ceremony, which was attended by some of the party presidential aspirants who participated at the last weekend’s primaries, State chieftains, Ayu described the it (the party’s presidential primaries)  as “a minor contest, a small contest within the family”.

Dr Ayu, a former University lecturer and erstwhile Senate President, said, “Within the PDP family, we had a minor contest, a small contest within the family. 

“There were no victors, there were no vanquishes, the party won. It is the party that won. Atiku Abubakar is not yet victorious. 

“He has only been produced as our candidate, the candidate of the whole party.

“We want to thank all of you aspirants for your contribution to the growth of this great party. We appreciate you all. 

“As we marched forward, we need all of you because each one of you had a supporter and all of you plus all your supporters, we want you all to fuse together into one happy political family. “It is this family that will face the battle ahead. We have only started a journey. We shall end this journey sometime next year. 

“By the first of June next year, we should take over power from colourless and clueless government that has totally destroyed this country. 

“All of you are aware of what has happened to our country in the last seven years. I don’t need to repeat issues of insecurity, total destruction of the economy, total disunity of the country. 

“We have never been as divided as we are today as a country. Families are divided, communities are divided against each other. There is no trust among ourselves. 

“The president that is coming in is tested and trusted. He will lead us to reunite the country. He will lead us to rebuild the economy. He will lead us to get rid of bandits and terrorists. He will re-enforce the armed forces. He will give us respect in the international community. 

“Today we are a parrier state but in the next 12 months, the whole world will begin to respect Nigeria all over again”, he said. 

Ayu harped on the need for all to come together, saying, “It doesn’t matter which candidate you supported, come together and support the party, support our efforts, support our candidate, the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

The National Chairman of PDP assured that members of the National Working Committee, NWC, will continue to work tirelessly because “you didn’t elect to us to organize a successful convention, you elected us to win the presidency for you”. 

He added, “You elected us to give you more governors, you elected us to take control or the two houses or the National Assembly. You elected us to win all the houses of assembly across the states and we will continue to do just that by working with you, by calling on many of you to come and help us execute this objectives because we can’t do it alone”.

Responding after receiving his certificate, Atiku commended the party’s

National Working Committee for transforming the party into a decent and beautiful place. 

According to the presidential candidate, “This is a clear evidence that, if we have a new PDP government, we will transform this country. 

“When I came here in April and informed the National Working Committee of my intention to offer myself for consideration as the flag bearer of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party in the forthcoming election, I was very well and warmly received. 

“The NWC assured me that it would be fair and will provide every aspirant a level playing field. 

“I was also assured that once a candidate emerged from our primary election, you will all support that candidate and work very hard to ensure our victory in the presidential election.

“And of course, the governorship election across the country. I am honored and humbled to receive this certificate of Return haven emerged as our party’s candidate in our just concluded special convention. 

“This victory is a victory for all of us, for our party, and for the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the misrule of the APC. 

“It was a collective effort, and I’m very grateful for everybody’s contributions”, Atiku said.

Among those who graced the presentation ceremony were; Senator Bukola Saraki, a former President of the Senate and aspirant at the primaries.

Other presidential aspirants included; Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Tari Oba Olivar and Sam Ohuabunwa,

Others were Governors Ifeanyi Okowa, (Delta) Udom Gabriel Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Darius Isyaku (Taraba State), Chief Tom Ikimi, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha,

Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, former Niger state Governor, Biodun Olujimi, Ahmed Makarfi, former Governor of Kaduna state, Ndudi Elumelu, the PDP Minority Leader in the House of Representatives and former Adamawa state Governor, Boni Haruna.