..Says restructuring, resources control a must, if elected
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has promised that youths and women would be given greater roles to play under his administration, if elected as the next President of Nigeria.
Atiku also assured Nigerians of restructuring and resource control if voted into office at the forthcoming presidential election of February 25, this year.
The former Vice President of the country made the promises on Thursday while addressing the PDP presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital.
The PDP presidential flag bearer however berated the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which he described as an ‘alliance that has collapsed’.
In the words of Atiku, “We want our youth to be where we are, we are here to bring you up-our youths and our women- we are bringing you up so that you can succeed us.
“We are not going to be there forever. We want you to succeed us. For you to succeed us, you must be responsible citizens. You must be hard working youths, young men and women.
“We all came from very poor background but we worked hard. If you work hard. You can be anything.
“I want to assure you that the next government of PDP is going to be a government for the youth and for the women because you are in majority and we must recognize that and we must give you the opportunity so that you can also be able to lead us of this country.
“We are convinced that this state is a PDP state. And as you know, I am committed to power devolution as well as resource control, restructuring and I know all the south eastern states have been yearning for it.
“I ‘ve been propagating for the restructuring of this country because we want them to have more powers and more resources to deal with their own local affairs.
“The APC, they abandoned the issue of restructuring. They are a very deceitful party or alliance. We are committed to it and we mean it. So, give us the support we are going to deliver”, he said.
Also speaking at the rally, the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu expressed the firm optimism that PDP will take over power in this country after the forthcoming general election.
According to Ayu, “APC cannot come to Ebonyi and claim that they have done anything. It is the achievement of the PDP and the foundation was laid by governor Sam Egwu and Elechi. So weather they decamp 20 times, you will reelect PDP governors 2000 times and over.
“It is only in PDP states that you see their governors developing their states.
Yesterday, we were in Delta State we spent the whole day commissioning gigantic projects.
“We are proud of our PDP governors, we are proud of their performance. And that is why we want to ask Nigeria people that if you want development, stick with the PDP.
“In the first year of administering this country for 16 years, you knew what we did for this country. Since the last eight years, what have you seen – poverty, hunger, disease, insecurity. That is all the APC will offer you.
“Do not make the mistake you made in 2015. Stick with the PDP and you will see development, Ebonyi will soon be better than New York with what I’ve seen and I believe that this will be transformed to the whole of Nigeria.
“With what I saw in Delta State yesterday, I believe that when Vice President Okowa joins hands with another great performer of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria will be transformed.
“Do not lose hope because of one bad administration. That party is not a party, that party is a coalition of small parties that got together and deceived Nigeria people. It will not happen again.
“We are going to take over power in this country thanks to your power, because you are determined that this country should not fall apart.
