With ambitions stacked high in the party, and the South-West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisting that the opposition party give its ticket to an aspirant from the southern region of the country, three men who abandoned the party seven years ago to work for the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the All Progressives Congress(APC), and returned to the party within four years: Atiku Abubakar, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki have thrown their hats into the ring.
In Abuja on Wednesday, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says his enduring persistence in contesting for the office of the president of Nigeria is borne out of his passion to rekindle the Nigerian dream.
He said his dream for Nigeria was that there should not be any limit to what a Nigerian wanted to achieve if he was willing to work for it.
Tambuwal, who on Thursday in Minna, Niger State, met with two former Military heads of state, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, announced that the main opposition party did not zone the presidency ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Tambuwal told journalists after the meetings, “The main issue has been that political parties will throw out candidates and allow Nigerians to decide who to elect as their president. The emergence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo from southwestern part of the country in 1999 was a deliberate action by the political class to address a particular concern after the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election.
“Zoning of power to the southwestern part of the country was meant to assuage a particular situation at that time; not meant to completely erode the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens.”
Tambuwal said “In 1993, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, had Chief MKO Abiola as its presidential candidate while Alhaji Bashir Tofa was the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) and there was no zoning. Again in 2007, Chief Rochas Okoroacha from the southeastern part of the country, contested the presidency with the former President Umaru Yar’Adua. So when you look at the past, you will agree with me that zoning has not being the main issue in our political journey.
“What is paramount to PDP is how to win the elections in 2023 and not wasting all its energy on zoning controversy. This country at this point in time is in dire need of a president with competence and capacity not a regional president.”
As the trio try to downplay zoning, the party has set up a committee that meets in Abuja this Thursday.
A statement from the party disclosed that the National Working Committee (NWC) has named representatives from the 36 states and Abuja into the zoning panel. They are:
1(Abia) Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa
2(Adamawa) H.E. Boni Haruna
3(Akwa Ibom) Sen. Emmanuel Ibokessien
4(Anambra) Prof. A. B. C. Nwosu
5(Bauchi ) Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi
6(Bayelsa) Rt. Hon. Boyelayefa Debekeme
7(Benue) H.E. Dr. Samuel Ortom
8(Borno) Sen. Sanusi Daggash
9(Cross River) H. E. Liyel Imoke
10(Delta) Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu
11(Ebonyi) Amb. Franklin Nchita Ogbuewu
12(Edo) Chief Tom Ikimi
13(Ekiti) H. E. Dr. Ayodele Fayose
14(Enugu) H. E. Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
15(Fct/Abuja) Mohammed Abdulrahman
16(Gombe) H. E. Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo
17(Imo) Chief Fidelis Izuchukwu
18 (Jigawa) H. E. (Dr.) Sule Lamido
19(Kaduna) H.E. Sen. Mohammed Ahmed Makarfi
20. (Kano) Amb. Aminu Wali
21(Katsina) H. E. Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Shema
22(Kebbi) Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, San
23. (Kogi) H. E. Ibrahim Idris
24(Kwara) Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje
25(Lagos) Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, CON
26. (Nasarawa) H. E. Mike Abdul
27(Niger) Prof. Jerry Gana
28(Ogun) Hon. Daisi Akintan
29.(Ondo) Dr. Omotayo Dairo
30(Osun) Prof. Adewale Oladipo
31(Oyo) Sen. Hosea Ayoola Agboola
32(Plateau) H. E. Jonah David Jang
33(Rivers) Rt. Hon. Austin Opara
34(Sokoto) H. E. Attahiru Bafarawa
35(Taraba) H. E. Darius Ishaku
36(Yobe) Alh. Adamu Maina Waziri
37(Zamfara) H. E. Barr. Mahadi Aliyu Gusau.
Said Atiku at his declaration in Abuja: “I have contested for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a couple of times in the past.
“My enduring persistence is borne out of my passion to rekindle the Nigerian dream that I was privileged to live.
“Nigeria is a land of possibility. There is no challenging background that will make any Nigerian give up. I am a living witness to what is possible in Nigeria.”
He, however, said that the dream was not possible without credible and visionary leadership, adding “that is what I want to offer to Nigerians.”
He said that presently Nigeria was in dire need of visionary leadership, saying the fundamental principles and purpose as a nation had never been challenged as it was today.
“I offer myself to rescue the sinking ship. Under my captainship, this ship will sail to a brighter course by the grace of God.”
He described the 2023 election as a referendum to decide whether Nigerians want greatness or continuous destruction.
“It is a choice between two paths: the path of unity and progress or the path of division and backwardness.
“We need a new kind of leadership that will steer us to a positive path. In 2023, we want a President who has ideas on how to fix Nigeria. We want a president who understands, who inspires and is empathetic.
“As the election is fast approaching, we should not be distracted from the devastating conditions we are in now.”
Abubakar advised Nigerians to be united and fight their common enemies: the lack of unity, insecurity, poverty, inflation, and unemployment.
Abubakar said that if elected, under his presidency, he would focus on five key areas: Unity of Nigeria, Security, Economy, Education and devolving more resources and powers to the federating units.
Describing himself as the unifier coming to create bond for the broken union of Nigeria, Abubakar said that his administration if elected would operate an open door for dialogue to hear the grieving voices of all Nigerians.
“Under my presidency, there will be a new Nigeria, where everybody has an equal voice and is heard.
“Throughout my life, I have never looked at Nigerians as divided people.
“In my eyes, all Nigerians are the same. When I see you, I don’t see Yoruba or Hausa or Igbo or Fulani or a northerner or southerner; when I see you, I only see a Nigerian, and I expect the best from you.
“All Nigerians are equal and should be seen and treated equally. There is no unity without justice and fairness. That is why I will deliver leadership of justice and fairness.”
He also pledged to increase the welfare and number of all security forces as well as use of modern technology and intelligence to combat insecurity.
He added that if elected, he would create alternative sources of foreign exchange supply to Nigeria and reduce importation to increase the value of the Naira.
“We will provide access to mechanized farming systems and develop the agricultural value chain. We must diversify our foreign exchange sources through exports of processed agricultural products.”
Abubakar also promised to reduce government borrowing, saying too much borrowing comes at the detriment of future growth.
“We will operate a liberal economy that allows small businesses to grow through lower taxes and charges for small businesses and low-income earners. We will encourage the expansion of the private sector to spur economic growth.”
Speaking on the current fuel crisis in the country, Abubakar said that Nigerians could not afford to pay high petrol prices.
“This is why we must ensure sufficient refining capacities within Nigeria. If we do that, petrol will be cheaper because it is locally produced.
“In the meantime, we will protect Nigerians from higher petrol prices through a new comprehensive energy policy.
“To provide an adequate and affordable electricity supply for every Nigerian, we will ensure sufficient investment in the sector. We will leverage renewable energies to power homes and commercial centers.”
Abubakar added that his administration would be guided by a consolidated and timely policy document by working together with Nigerians to update and review my existing policy document.
He also said that his style of governance would deliver inclusive governance, while urging every well-meaning Nigerian to join him in rescuing Nigeria.
“My administration is going to be a transition of power from the senior generation to a younger generation.
“We will cut down the cost of governance because leaders must sacrifice first for the benefit of the people.
“We will set our fiscal budget within a realizable and realistic level so that we can reduce government debts. We will support and actively engage the private sector in building infrastructure and creating more job opportunities.”
▪︎ Additional report by NAN