.Party should apologise if his comments on northernising Presidency is true -Wike

 

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday, vowed to restore peace and reactivate dying factories in Kaduna State if he emerges president of Nigeria in 2023.

He also promised to rehabilitate the the roads linking Kaduna and Kano; Kaduna and Jos, and Kaduna and Abuja.

Atiku, who stated this during the PDP presidential rally in Kaduna, said: “First of all, let me thank you for your support in 2019. Kaduna State gave me the highest number of votes in Nigeria. I have come here to pledge on behalf of the PDP that if you give us your votes, we will restore peace in Kaduna State. The security challenges will be addressed.

“We promise that we will reactivate the industries in Kaduna state in collaboration with the current private sector in Kaduna State. We will establish those factories. We promise you that the road linking Kaduna and Kano, linking Kaduna to Jos, linking Kaduna and Abuja, will be completed by the grace of God. These are four undertakings that I am taking on behalf of the PDP if you vote for PDP,” Atiku stated.

 

Also speaking, the chairman of the PDP governors forum and Sokoro State governor, Aminu Tambuwal accused APC of plots to scuttle the campaign in Kaduna state. He said the APC government has impacted negatively on the life of Nigerians.

 

He said, “Some people said PDP has suspended its rallies in Nigeria, we issued a statement that, it was fake news manufactured from the fake news laboratory of the APC and we are here in Kaduna today.

 

“We have also just witnessed another effort to throw spanners in our works, they will fail and they have failed, they will continue to fail by the Grace of God.

 

“They do not want us to continue because they are not prepared, they have not even constituted their presidential campaign council, not to talk of flagging off their campaign because of infighting. They are busy fighting themselves.

 

“We are here in Kaduna, the political capital of Northern Nigeria and we are indeed very happy to be here. I believe the people of Kaduna have seen and have felt the negative impact of the APC administration in Nigeria, all the textile industries in Nigeria have closed down, all manufacturing concerns in Kaduna are out of business.

 

“When Atiku is elected by the Grace of God, we shall bring back all the factories and manufacturing in Nigeria. Part of the agenda of the Atiku and PDP of re taking Nigeria is growing the economy and you can only grow the economy when you grow the production sector and manufacturing.

 

“Atiku Abubakar administration will ensure that by the Grace of God we will reinvigorate and reestablish our industries for economic growth and for jobs to be created for the people to have what to do.”

 

PDP’s National chairman, Oyorchia Ayu also said the APC government planned to disrupt the Kaduna rally.

 

“Whether they give you the venue for the rally or not, even if it is on the road we shall gather and we shall win.

 

“The APC has failed, they have failed woefully and they do not want us to take over and reconstruct this country, we are going to rescue this country whether they like it or not, because the party is in the heart.

 

“The party is not on the street, anything they do resist it, make sure you organize. In the last election PDP got the highest vote in Kaduna State, in 2023 we are going to double the votes we got in 2019.

 

“Let no body deceive himself by distracting you that we are going to lose, they have been doing everything to show that this party is divided, but we are united. We are a united political party, we are going to win all our five elections. House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate Governorship and above all we are moving to the Villa. Carry your PVC and make sure that Atiku wins everywhere.”

 

The vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa said, “We are privileged today to have a presidential candidate who believes in Nigeria. Among all the presidential candidates, he is a pan Nigeria who believes that both the north and the south must work together for the good of all of us and we thank God for the life of Atiku Abubakar.

 

“I am happy and priviledged to be his vice-presidential candidate because I know that he has a solution to the problems that we have in Nigeria today.

 

“With Atiku Abubakar as president, we will not go back to our beds very hungry. We will not be poor because he knows what to do to make us work and to enable each and every one of us have a place to work to earn money and that is what we need in Nigeria today. Atiku Abubakar is the man who is ready ensure that the insecurity.

 

“I bring you greetings from the south of the country. Those of us in the South, in the south-south, in the Southeast and the Southwest, we are ready to vote for Atiku and the PDP. By the time the results come out in February, PDP will win in the south-south, win in the southeast and the PDP will win in the Southwest.

 

“When we were going to Osun just three months ago, they were saying that PDP cannot do anything but when the results came out, PDP won Osun state. We won the state of the presidential candidate of the APC. That shows you how strong the PDP is.

 

“The people of Kaduna are happy with you and will ensure that all the votes from Kaduna goes to the PDP because we are ready and by grace of Gods, we shall win elections and you will be happy for it because you will not go to bed hungry. For our people especially the youths, we will ensure that they get jobs, that they’re able to go to school.”

 

In another development, Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has expressed mixed feelings over comments credited to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that what the north needs is a northerner, not an Igbo or a Yoruba person as next president of Nigeria.

Such statement, if true, Governor Wike said, is a threat to the unity of Nigeria at a time when efforts should be concerted in giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging.

Governor Wike spoke on Monday at the international wing of the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area, shortly on arrival from Spain. Governor Wike, was accompanied by the governors, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

“I don’t believe that my candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could make such statement. But assuming he did make that statement, and this is one of the things we have been saying, this country needs to be united and part of the way you unite it is to include everybody.”

Governor Wike expressed his stances against anything that relegates any section of Nigeria and treat them as second fiddles.

The Rivers State governor is of the thinking that the handlers of Alhaji Atiku should also share in the blame for allowing their principal to make such comment in public which is capable of heightening tension and deepening the feeling of alienation among Nigerians.

“That has now confirmed to me one of the reasons why those of them in their camp, do not want Ayu to resign because they do not want inclusivity.

“I don’t know how those who are packaging the presidential candidate will allow him to make such statement. I was reading where somebody was saying that it was a direct response to a question he was asked.”

Given that the statement is now in the public domain, Governor Wike advised the leadership of PDP to tender apology to Nigerians while explaining the circumstances in which the statement was made.

“Be that as it may, I don’t think that it was necessary at this time, as people who are going in for election, as people who want Nigerians to trust them to have allowed such a statement to be made. “If it (statement) was made, as they said, I think, as a party, we need to apologize to Nigerians, assuming the (statement) was made.

“People are denying that it was made but if you watch the video, it appears true but people are saying with recent technology, anything can be done.

“This requires further explanation by our party, because Nigerians, as it is today, we can’t go this way if we want this country to remain as the way our finding father’s struggled, laboured, and toiled all the night to see that there is a country called Nigeria.”

Speaking further, Governor Wike took a swipe at the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorciha Ayu, saying going by his responses to the allegations levelled against him, he stands indicted except proven otherwise.

“Luckily for me, he (Ayu) has now mentioned that he went to the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Waziri of Adamawa where they discussed on the issues of borrowing.

“Now, the question is, when you talk about borrowing, who approves borrowing? You must go to the National Working Committee (NWC) to say you want to borrow money.

“I challenge him to bring the records where NWC approved that the party should go and borrow N1billion. What is the collateral?”

Governor Wike explained that in matters of funding the party, the governors had been up to that responsibility dutifully. According to him, it was therefore unthinkable that the national chairman would, in the guise of seeking funding for the party, opt to collect loan on behalf of the party without notifying the NWC and governors.

“Be sincere, how can you talk of N1 billion loan without the NWC mooting the idea, without the governors knowing. Then you talk about the N100million (One Hundred Million Naira) he said he told the Board of Trustees (BOT).

“If any governor gives you One Hundred Million Naira in order to rebuild one of the structures of the party, the Democratic Institute, let him show the minutes of the NWC where he said a governor has contributed N100million. Let him show the account to reflect this N100million.

“Let him also say that the N100m was in Naira or in Dollars. He said he gave it to the treasurer. I thought he would have told the world that NWC was aware.

Governor Wike stated for emphasis that his allegations against Ayu were categorical and it was expected that his responses should address each of the issues separately.

“In fact, the normal thing is that when once any governor or any party person has donated money to the party, you will go and tell NWC that so and so person has donated money. Let him (Ayu) show us the account where this money was paid into.

“Coming out to do a general denial is not denial. You (Ayu) must deny specifically to the allegations that were made.”

Governor Wike also wants  Ayu to mention names of those he has contacted to handle the rehabilitation works going on at the PDP Democratic Institute and at the National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone in Abuja.

“Ask him, the contracts that are going on in this Democratic Institute and that of Wadata, who is doing that contract, is it not one of his sons?

“As a party, we believe that Nigerians must trust us. We must show leadership and part of that leadership is integrity. You don’t just come and deceive Nigerians that you did not collect one billion naira.

“So, let Ayu come out and tell us, tell the PDP people and tell the public that this matter was discussed in NWC.”

Governor Wike also described as out of order the PDP Board of Trustees resolution that mandated Ayu to make commitment that he would resign after the 2023 elections.

The governor wondered why the BOT could not make Ayu to fulfil his initial commitment that he would resign if a northerner emerges as presidential candidate from the PDP convention.

“To say he should make another commitment that he will resign after the elections, for me, BOT resolution is ridiculous