2023: Atiku vows to build a strong, effective democratic govt as PDP inaugurates campaign council

*Don’t sit in Abuja to campaign, Udom warns members

…Wike, Makinde, Ortom absent

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to build a strong and effective democratic government where the safety and security of Nigerians and their property is the primary and singularly most important responsibility.

The former Vice President made the declaration at the inauguration of his party’s 600-member presidential campaign Council in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Addressing party leaders, stakeholders, and members of the PDP at the International Conference Centre Abuja  Atiku said the current system of government is unfair, unwieldy, and skewed towards favouring the federal government at the expense of the other federating units, and has in itself, become a “willing tool for underdevelopment”.

Atiku said his policy document titled “My covenant with Nigerians”, spells out his vision for the country’s future which include restoring Nigeria’s unity through equity, social justice, mutual collaboration, and consensus among our diverse peoples.

“To establish a strong, resilient, inclusive and prosperous economy that generates opportunity, jobs and wealth while lifting the poor out of poverty. To encourage the adoption of a true federal system that provides where all the federating units are equal, and has a fair and representative federal government that secures our borders, defends our people and ensures national unity, whilst allowing the federating units to develop and grow in line priorities which they have set on their own” he explained.

The former Vice President noted that the task before members of the PDP is to rescue and rebuild Nigeria which is their end goal especially as history beckons them to grasp with both hands and undertake it with vigor and zeal.

“Every single person who loves this country, as I do, is needed for the arduous tasks that face us ahead as a nation, and this includes every member of the PDP.  And it is my fervent hope and prayer that every man and woman of goodwill will join hands with us to help rescue, rebuild and reposition our beloved country, Nigeria. So, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, and the distinguished members of our Presidential Campaign Council, it is in the light of all I have set out above that I want you to view today’s inauguration.

 The tasks ahead may appear daunting; they may seem a load too heavy to bear.  But, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of generations yet unborn, we must not, even for one minute, shirk in the responsibilities that we have been entrusted with to come together to rebuild this beloved country of ours”, Atiku added.

Chairman of the campaign Council and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria, Udom Emmanuel, stated that members of the Presidential Campaign Council  will work to secure victory for the party in 2023 ” We must move this party forward the PCC has the passion, vigor, capacity, integrity, and character to win next year’s election”.

Governor Emmanuel called on all PDP members to reach their various units with the message of growth, development, and restructuring as enunciated by the Presidential candidate promising that they will work with all organs of the party for total victory.

Director General of the campaign and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal said the PDP enjoys massive support from Nigerians because they know that the party is structured to win and boasts of candidates ready to work for Nigeria to get to where she ought to be in the comity of nations and that Atiku Abubakar as the party’s standard bearer is capable of winning in all the six geo-political zones of the country.

Governor Tambuwal seized the opportunity to call on the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to “conduct free, fair and credible election”.

Acting National Chairman of the party Ambassador Umaru Damagun while inaugurating the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, charged them to rise to the occasion and ensure victory for the PDP from members of state Houses of assembly to the President.

Damagun said Nigeria is faced with a number of challenges that only the PDP can face and resolve. “Nigeria should assess the PDP in the past against those who came after us and do the needful. Our Party carried out the most transparent primary election that shows how democracy work and we will right the wrong in Nigeria”.

Voice of Nigeria reports that the PDP Presidential Campaign Council consists of senior party chieftains, women, men and people living with disabilities but some members with grudges against the party such as the governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Southern Nigeria, Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, South East Nigeria, Samuel Ortom of Benue state, Central Nigeria and others demanding the resignation of the national chairman of the party Iyorcha Ayu boycotted the inauguration of the committee.

Ayu was also absent from the inauguration ceremony with the National Vice chairman of PDP Ahmed Damagu apologising for Senator Ayu’s absence due to ill health.

The PDP National Presidential Campaign Council will hold its inaugural meeting on Thursday in Abuja to draw up its campaign calendar and other strategies for the successful conduct of the 2023 general election.

Three Books on the Standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar have been Unveiled at the International Conference Centre Abuja. Nigeria’s capital.

Meanwhile, three books were unveiled by Senator Jim Nwobodo including “The story of Atiku Abubakar” a 388-page biography detailing his rise from poverty to global prominence as an educationist, businessman, and politician written by Late Dr. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba. Landmark Constitutional Law Cases in Nigeria-2004 to 2007 The Atiku Abubakar Cases written by two legal luminaries Maxwel Gidado and Chudi Nelson Ojukwu, 300-page documentation of Atiku’s cases and milestone constitutional feats, and “Restructuring As A Pathway to Unity and Development” which analyses the challenges that lead separatists agitations and proffers solutions to each specific problem and details Atiku’s commitment and determination to promote a federal system that works for all.