2023:  I’ll take message of hope and unity to the people – Atiku

 

. Asks Nigerians to reject  APC

.Tinubu, Obi  welcome Atiku to presidential contest

.As Umahi vows to defeat Atiku if given APC ticket

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja and By Clement Nnachi (Abakaliki)

 

Former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2023 general elections has urged Nigerians to join him to ensure that they uproot the vestiges of bad governance that the ruling All Progressives Congress represents.

 

Atiku in a letter he personally wrote to Nigerians and particularly members of his party also said it is his prayer that come this day, 29 May, next year, “we shall get to work together in a government that will accommodate all Nigerians, especially the youth.”

 

According to him, “Last night was a momentous episode in our march to reclaim our dear country.

“Although I am not unaware that there was so much apprehension about the direction that the election could go, I was confident that with God on our side and based on the enormous work that everyone has put into this, we should record a resounding victory. And so it was!

“But this victory is not enough. Indeed, it is a further call to duty. Now that delegates of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party have done their bit, the challenge now is on you, and I, to present as ONE to get the job done.

“Let me remind you, once again, what this job is all about, dear compatriot. The job at hand for us is to ensure that we uproot the vestiges of bad governance that the ruling All Progressives Congress represents and begin to plant our UNITY SEED that will birth the New Nigeria of our dreams.

“Last week, I revealed an abridged version of my policy document, which contains details of my 5-point UNITY SEED agenda.

“Dear compatriot, I will take it for granted that you’ll ingrain the content of this policy document. Ours shall be a disciplined and issue-focused campaign, and I will urge you to get prepared for the task ahead, as we set forth.

“The victory last night is yet another chapter in our historic the journey to redeem our country. It is my prayer that come this day, 29 May, next year, we shall get to work together in a government that will accommodate all Nigerians, especially the youth.”

 

Atiku defeated Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike and Former president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki  to clinch the ticket of the party.

Atiku scored 371 votes while Wike and Saraki polled 237 and 70 votes respectively.

In his reaction, Atiku said: “Today, the march to rebuild and unite our great country moves forward.

“I am honoured to be named the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. I look forward to speaking with Nigerians across the country, taking the message of hope and unity as we build one future for one people,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

 

In his acceptance speech, Atiku who described the process as free, fair and credible said:

“Today, we are making another history, a history we believe will bring about fundamental changes in governance and political processes.

“Today marks another process to the march in the process to our democratic gains.”

Atiku promised to unify the country as a unifier, stressing that “the government of the All Progressives Congress, APC has divided the country across ethnic lines.”

He went further to pledge to confront the security and economic challenges of Nigeria.

He called on his fellow contestants to work with him and commended them for the keen contest they provided. He appealed to all the aggrieved members to return to the party as efforts will be made to resolve all disputes.

He also thanked the electoral committee and the leadership of the PDP “who have worked day and night to ensure that this convention holds.”

 

 

Meanwhile, National Leader of All Progressives Congress and frontline presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for emerging as the flag bearer of the opposition  Peoples Democratic Party, following the primary conducted at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.

 

Tinubu commended  Atiku for his patriotism and commitment to Nigeria’s progress.

 

Tinubu also congratulated the other contestants for the orderly and peaceful way they conducted themselves and for pledging to rally round the winner, in the true spirit of democratic sportsmanship.

 

Director, Media & Communication Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga in a statement said Tinubu expects the former Vice-president , who was also the 2019 presidential candidate of the PDP,  to be his  worthy opponent, by the Grace of God and the support of APC delegates, in the coming 2023 President election.

 

The APC National Leader said  Atiku’s victory  didn’t come as a surprise to Nigerians because of his vast experience as a statesman and veteran of many presidential contests from 1993.

 

While welcoming the PDP candidate to the race, Tinubu added that the coming election should be about issues that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians; bring peace, progress, political stability and solve myriad of sociopolitical challenges and insecurity  currently facing the country.

 

“I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary. I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.

 

“ As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across Party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.

 

“We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will uplift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.

 

“Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be  burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show”.

 

“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administration and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP Candidate”

 

“ Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary.”

 

Also ,Presidential aspirant, Peter Obi has congratulated former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on his emergence as the flagbearer for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming presidential election.

 

Obi who was Atiku’s running mate in the 2019 election, took to Twitter on Sunday to share a warm message of compliments for his associate.

 

“On behalf of my family, I sincerely congratulate my leader and dear elder brother, H.E @atiku, on his emergence as the 2023 presidential flag bearer of the

@OfficialPDPNig.

 

“I pray that the Almighty God who sees your goodness will continue to bless you now and always. -PO,” the former Anambra Governor’s tweet read.

 

On behalf of my family, I sincerely congratulate my leader and dear elder brother, H.E @atiku, on his emergence as the 2023 presidential flag bearer of the @OfficialPDPNig. I pray that the Almighty God who sees your goodness will continue to bless you now and always. -PO

 

 

Obi was one of the PDP’s frontline presidential aspirants but resigned his membership from the party on May 24. He later joined the Labour Party, as one of its presidential aspirants, describing it as a route that he considered to be in line with his political aspirations.

 

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has  also joined the league of Nigerians  in congratulating  Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on his victory at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential primary election.

 

In his message, the governor hailed other aspirants who submitted themselves to transparent democratic exercise that has set the PDP as a worthy example to all other political parties in the country.

 

He said, “I heartily congratulate His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar (GCON) on his victory at the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential primary election.

 

“The keenly contested process of picking a flagbearer for our great party has again shown the PDP as a party that has enthroned a transparent internal democratic process which is what our nation now desperately needs for its much-desired rebirth.”

 

Obaseki hailed other aspirants in the election, noting, “I also hail all the other aspirants who have submitted themselves to this transparent democratic exercise that has set the PDP as a worthy example to all other political parties in the country.”

 

“The beauty of it all is that the party has put in clear display it’s maturity, strength and poise and this is now the time for all aspirants and other stakeholders in the party to pull together as we embark on this all-important mission to rescue Nigeria. Congratulations,” he added.

 

However, As political activities gather momentum ahead of 2023 general election, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has vowed to defeat the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, if he clinches the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential ticket.

 

Umahi made the assertion in abakaliki the Ebonyi State capital  on Sunday, while  playing host to members of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) on a two day visit to the State.

 

The Governor reiterated that his administration has constructed many projects cutting across Health, Education, Infrastructure, Education, Empowerment and welfare of the people.

 

Umahi restated that the PDP made

a mistake by fielding Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

 

He opined , ‘Let the APC give me this presidential ticket of the party ,I will defeat Atiku before 12 noon ”

 

“If you look at the indices of development we have in Ebonyi state, if you are not considering me because of

where I come from, the south-east must be fairly treated”

 

“Journalists and Nigerians should access aspirants based on capacity, and the quality of the people”

 

“My heart bleed for Nigeria, I saw a people driven by money, it doesnt matter the fear of  EFCC, if you dont have the fear of God, nothing much will be done”

 

Earlier in a speech, the National President of NUJ Mr Chris Isiguzo, lauded Governor Umahi for the massive infrastructural development of the state.

 

The NUJ National President said that  the time has come for the Media to set agenda for political office seekers.