The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has promised that South Western Nigeria will be made the nation’s industrial hub if elected president of Nigeria come February 25, 2023.
The former Vice President made this disclosure while speaking at the PDP Presidential campaign rally held at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
However, the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and many PDP stalwarts that are loyal to Governor Makinde were conspicuously absent at the said rally yesterday.
While appealing to the state to go out enmass to vote for all PDP candidates in the coming election, Atiku however, expressed gratitude to the state Governor, Seyi Makinde for ensuring an enabling environment and providing the needed support for the peaceful rally.
According to Atiku, “South West is going to be a business centre, that is why in our economic programmes, we are committed to making sure that industrialization of the south west is achieved and has the support of the federal government.
These is our commitment. There are five major commitments to the people of this country. We must make sure there is unity, we must make sure there is inclusion. Every part of this country will be represented in our government, not like what the APC government is doing.
We will also make sure we take control of our security situation so that there is peace, law and order in every part of this country. These are commitments unlike the commitment of the APC in the last seven to eight years. They have failed in every areas of their commitment and you are all key witnesses.
This is an opportunity for you to vote out APC, vote them out completely from top to bottom and replace them with PDP all the way from top to bottom.” Atiku said.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend Governor Seyi Makinde and the PDP in Oyo state for making sure that this rally is well organized and orchestrated.
The South West has been known to agitate for restructuring. By restructuring we mean giving more powers or giving more autonomy to the state.
This is one of the five pillars of our programmes to make sure we implement restructuring meaning that we give the state more resources and more powers so that you can develop your respective zones and states. This is our commitment.
Again, we are committed to making sure there are no more strikes in our universities. Meaning we will fund our universities, pay our teachers on time so that we don’t have any disruption to academic activities. Atiku added.
The Vice Presidential Candidate of the party, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa told the people not to be deceived by any social media propaganda but vote for Atiku who he described as humble, experienced and trustworthy.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu in his remarks said the PDP had a great dream for the country which occasioned the birth of PDP as the adopted name for the party noting that the party was gradually bringing the dreams to bear before APC came and disrupted it.
Other notable party stalwarts who spoke at the rally included the chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, Atiku’s wife, Mrs. Titilayo Abubakar, Senator Dino Melaye, and former Minister of state for FCT, Jumoke Akinjide among others.
Atiku, together with the entourage were received at the Ibadan airport by Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Bar. Ashim Gbolarumi, Elder Wole Oyelese and some PDP National Assembly candidates in Oyo State.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had earlier on arrival at the Ibadan airport, visited the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun to pay homage while also held n interactive meeting with the non indigenes forum at Jogor event centre, Ibadan before he departed to Ibadan airport
