Focus on insecurity, Lake Chad Basin, Shehu of Borno advices  Atiku

…Scores injured as hoodlums attack Atiku’s convoy

The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garba, says the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, should focus on addressing insecurity, reactivating the Lake Chad Basin, and powering local government areas with electricity when he comes into power in 2023.

The Shehu made the request at the former Vice President’s visit with his entourage to Borno State. During the visit, Atiku vowed to end insecurity in the Northeast and reduce the excessive taxation policy in the state. He affirmed the statement while addressing a massive crowd of PDP supporters at Ramat Square in Maiduguri.

Atiku said, “Before I arrived here, I visited the Shehu of Borno, and in his address, he requested us to attend to about four or five issues that are the problems in Borno.

“One of them is to restore peace and security in the state, and I promise you that by the grace of God if the PDP is elected, we shall restore peace and order in Borno State.

“Second, he requested we reactivate Chad Basin development so our farmers can return to their farms, produce food and reduce unemployment.

“He said we should ensure we supply the local governments with electricity, provide the enabling environment for employment opportunities for women and youth, and abolish the exorbitant taxes charged to citizens by the current government, which we promise we would do.

“Also, he requested we reactivate the exploration of oil in the Chad Basin, which we promise to do by the grace of God.”

The vice-presidential candidate of the PDP, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, asked the youth to keep their permanent voters’ cards close and encourage their peers to come out en mass to vote for the PDP and defend their votes for Atiku who will turn the economy of Nigeria around for the benefit and prosperity of all Nigerians.

“The problem of Nigeria today is just too much, and the only person who can handle it and make sure that our children are happy again is Atiku Abubakar. In Southern Nigeria, the South South, the South East and South West, we are going to vote for Atiku Abubakar.

 He will ensure that you don’t go to bed hungry, that there is food in the family. Our women and men will provide for their children, and our children will go to school and will have jobs.”

Okowa told supporters in Maiduguri that “It is time for a new Nigeria which only Atiku that can provide it.”

The National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, represented by the deputy national chairman north, Illiya Damagum, promised that the PDP would solve the current challenges in the country once Nigerians give the party and its candidates a chance to lead in 2023.

 The PDP National Youth leader Muhammad Suleiman encouraged the youth to vote for Atiku Abubakar as president as he is the person to unify the country, restore peace and improve the economy.

The National Deputy Chairman North of the PDP presented the party’s flag to its gubernatorial candidate Muhammed Jajari to win the governorship election in March 2023.

Atiku appreciated the people of Borno State for the massive reception, and he called on them to vote for the PDP at all levels during the 2023 polls.

He said, “People of Borno, we thank you very much for this reception and support. Enough of hunger, insecurity, unemployment, and excessive taxation. We look forward to the day you will vote for the PDP.”

 Meanwhile , scores of supporters of PDP were injured on Wednesday when hoodlums, attacked the convoy of the presidential hope in Maiduguri.

 Atiku’s convoy was attacked just as he left the Palace of the Shehu of Borno to Ramat Square, venue of the presidential rally.

The injured persons have since been rushed to hospitals in the state capital.

Minutes before the presidential candidate took to the stage, the spokesperson for Atiku’s campaign council, Dino Melaye announced that the convoy of the campaign council was attacked and about 174 supporters were injured in the process while over one hundred vehicles in the convoy were vandalized.

Atiku, while addressing thousands of supporters later on, sympathised with the injured and said no amount of intimidation can stop the PDP from sending the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) packing from the Aso Rock and the Borno State Government House in 2023

Atiku was in Borno alongside his running mate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; amongst other chieftains of the party.

Borno has been home to the then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) now the APC since the inception of the Fourth Republic.