By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has assured the people of Niger State of improved security, if elected as the President of the country in the forthcoming election.
Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, also pledged that a PDP-led federal government would complete the Baro port if given the mandate in the February 25 general election.
Atiku made the pledge on Saturday in Minna, the Niger State capital, while addressing PDP supporters and faithfuls at the the party’s presidential campaign rally.
He pointedly declared that only the PDP can bring about peace in the state as the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government has shown that it does not have capacity to do so.
According to the PDP presidential flag bearer, “We want to appreciate the people of Niger for their support since we came to the state, may God bless you all. We pray that God bring peace to the state.
“You know that only PDP can bring peace to Niger. When PDP was in power from 1999 to 2015 was there in security in Niger?
“We want to assure you that if you return PDP, we will eliminate insecurity in Niger State.
“We also assure you that the Baro port, that the PDP first constructed before the APC truncated it, will be completed. You demanded for change, now have you seen the change? What did the change bring? Insecurity, hardship and economic meltdown.
“We appeal to you to return PDP for improved security, development and other things in Niger and the country at large”, he said.
Addressing the rally, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP and Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa lamented that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has done a great damage to the country.
According to Okowa, “In the last eight years, the APC government has done a great damage to Nigeria. They brought poverty to us, they brought insecurity to us, they have divided Nigeria and that is not what we want as a people.
“PDP has brought a father, a man who is humble, a man who is ready to care for you, a man who is ready to love all Nigerians, a man who does not care whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, he is ready to attend to your needs and that is Atiku Abubakar.
“We are very convinced that he will be able to unite Nigeria again. We are very convinced that he is able to work with all, particularly the security agencies to make sure that we have peace in this country again.
“We are very convinced that he is able to make our industries to grow, so that the youths of this country can have jobs again.
“We are very convinced that he is able to make sure that youths will be able to have meaningful education and that is what we want in this nation.
“We cannot continue to destroy the future of Nigeria. We cannot continue to destroy the future of our youths.
The Chairman of the PDP presidential campaign council, PCC, and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, while also speaking at the rally, described Atiku as the only candidate with capacity, experience and a man who will bring progress to the country.
In the words of Governor Emmanuel, “today (Saturday) we are here with our candidate, the man with capacity, the only man with experience, the man that will take Nigeria to where Nigeria would have been, if PDP had continued in government, he is the man that will bring the geometric progression of our economic prosperity.
“Niger used to host a lot of economic activities, we do not call Niger power state in vain. In those days when you are looking for where to buy paper you come to Niger, there were many companies in Niger, but today they are not here again.
“Before now in 2015, when we want to buy motorcycle it was 80,000 naira, but today how much is motorcycle? Can you vote for such party that has brought hardship?
“How much is a bag of rice now now? How much was it in 2015? will you vote for such party again?
“The only man that will make sure you have enough milk in your tea, that will make sure you can afford a bag of rice is Atiku Abubakar. Atiku will make sure our youths are employed, will restore security, prosperity”, he said.
While also addressing the rally, the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu noted with regrets that under the APC, Niger state has almost become the headquarter of poverty and insecurity.
Ayu said, “Niger state, unknown to so many people, has the highest concentration of mineral resources ranging from gold to every other thing possible under the ground. Unfortunately, under the APC, Niger state is almost the headquarter of poverty. It is also the headquarters of insecurity.
“At some point, 10 of the local government in Niger state were occupied by bandits, yet we have a government that promised that it will give you change, it will give you security, it will give you development.
“I just want to tell my good people of Niger state that it is time to come back home. Come back to your party, vote for your party from state assembly to National Assembly, to governorship and above all return Nigeria back to the path of progress.
“The only way that can be done is when you come out en masse with your PVC and vote for Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa”, he said.
