*Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
The campaign train of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) arrived Abuja today as it’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar promised to make life better for the indigenes of Abuja and Nigerians at large.
The former vice president also promised to release all entitlements of Abuja indigenes through the constitutional review.
Atiku made these promises today while speaking at the party’s presidential rally held at Eagle Square, Abuja.
“We are here basically to thank you for your support. You’ve always supported us and we’ve no reason not to believe you are going to support us again,”he said
“What we are here for is to pledge to you that if you support us the opportunity, we will do more than what we did in 1999 till 2015. We shall give you all your entitlements under the current constitution. All the appointments that’s meant for Abuja will be given to Abuja including the constitutional review.
“In the process of restructuring, we will give you all what belongs to you. PDP will fulfil all the obligations to you. We are not taking your loyalty for granted. We will pay back but not with hunger and insecurity,” he said.
On security, Atiku vowed to secure the nation’s capital if given the mandate to succeed President Muhammad Buhari next year.
“Currently we have challenges. Can you imagine Abuja,the Federal Capital not secured?
“We shall protect and secure Abuja for your own safety. You know our five-point agenda, we will unify this county; no part of the country will be left untouched. Peace for everybody. It is only when there is peace that we can undertake our legitimate businesses and aspirations. These I promise you,” he said.
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Speaking about the Education in the country,Atiku promised to ensure Nigerian universities do not go on strike if elected President.
He said: “We have promised education is key for everyone. Today we have the highest number of out of school children,we will make sure that these children go back to school.Not only that, we will make our universities remain open forever.
The former vice president further promised the crowd that Abuja would be the first to feel the impact of the government because it’s the Federal Capital Territory.
Atiku praised the loyalty of PDP supporters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), saying the party did not take it for granted.
“We are very serious and I assure you assure you we are going to pay back not with hunger, insecurity, unemployment,No. We are going to repay you by fulfilling our promises,” he promised
Speaking earlier, the vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, in his address, noted that the party was stronger than it had ever been in the FCT.
“We need to rescue our people from where the APC has left us. We must work together with youths, women and elders to collectively steer the ship of this country to safe harbour.
“The people are tired of the APC government, they are angry and hungry. Nigeria requires a man with experience to rescue the country and Atiku is the only candidate that has solutions to the problems of this country.
“PDP has given us the best and what’s left for us is to out there and campaign from house to house,market to market and community to community. Let the people know that we have the solution to the challenges in Nigeria.
“Youths,women should go out and campaign for PDP and by May 29,2023 our tears will be wiped out,” he said
On his part, the National Chairman of the party,Iyorchia Ayu urged the people of Abuja to vote massively for PDP the way they did in the last local government election in which PDP won nearly all the Chairmanship and fourty-six councilors compared to eighteen won by APC.
He accused the APC of creating so much poverty that NIgeria had become the capital of poverty in the world.
He added that Nigeria had also become the most borrowed country in the world
“Today, we control major towns in Abuja. Abuja is PDP. In the coming elections,vote as you did in the last election.
“We know what you are going through. Every citizen of Abuja is suffering. You are suffering from Housing, Rice. A bag of rice is almost 50,000, many of you will not enjoy Christmas of APC and you are also suffering from Gas.
“Cost of building construction is so enormous. A lot of our young people can’t afford to get apartment of their own. Most of you are squatting while some were forced to return to their villages.
“When Atiku Abubakar comes back as a president,he will continue from where he left off under Obasanjo. We don’t want an experimental president,we don’t want president who will come and deceive you.
“Recently,we woke up in Abuja and we were threatened that the whole of Abuja is going to be attacked. Insecurity is affecting everybody.
“Many of you can’t travel because the roads are blocked by Bandits,the railways are blocked by Bandits and Airports are attacked by Bandits. We can’t run a country controlled by Bandits.
“Return this country to the PDP under President Atiku Abubakar and you will see what he will do for you.”
Others who spoke include; Director General of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Aminu Tambuwal, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Senator Philip Aduda among others.