…Tinubu congratulates Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday at a keenly contested People’ Democratic Party ( PDP)’s Primary for the 2023 general election emerged as the presidential candidate of the party
Atiku polled 371 to beat his closest rival, Governor Nyesom Wike, who polled 237 votes. Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki finished third with 70 votes. 767 votes were recorded as total votes cast.
The chairman of the convention planning Committee, David Mark, who doubled as the chairman of the electoral committee, while announcing the result disclosed that Akwa-Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel polled 38 votes and was closely followed by the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed who got 20 votes.
Anyim Pius Anyim polled 14 votes while the only female aspirant in the race, Tariela Oliva and Sam Ohuabunwa who polled one vote each. A total of 12 votes were voided after the counting.
The former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, and the other three aspirants, Charles Ugwu, Dele Momodu and Chikwendu Kalu got no votes.
In an acceptance speech after his victory, Atiku declared that it was another milestone in the effort to consolidate on the gains of democracy. “Today, we are making another history. The history, which we believe will bring about fundamental changes in governance and also in our political processes. Today, we have witnessed another one of the freest elections to be conducted by our great party.”
He lamented that the APC had destroyed all the gains recorded by the PDP administration. “I pledge to confront our economic challenges, which were all caused by the APC government. The PDP made Nigeria one of the most prosperous countries, if not the most prosperous country in the continent of Africa. We implemented economic reforms that brought about jobs and prosperity in this country. The APC came and wiped off all those gains. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why I said today is a very historic day because it is going to give us an opportunity to reverse all the misgovernance of the APC government,” Atiku said.
He assured other aspirants of his readiness to work as a team player in the task of rebuilding Nigeria and pledged to restore national unity if elected as President. He pleaded that all aggrieved members should resort to internal mechanisms in resolving issues instead of going to court.
Earlier, in what was a major highlight on the day, Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, withdrew from the presidential race and urged his supporters to vote for Atiku.
Tambuwal, who was Atiku’s most serious challenger in the 2019 PDP presidential primary election, told a bewildered crowd of delegates, leaders, and supporters that his decision arose from his belief that the PDP needed to be united to rescue Nigeria from the shackles of poverty, insecurity.
His announcement threw delegates into a frenzy. And when he mounted the podium, Tambuwal sang the gospel of unity for the party to rebuild Nigeria. He revealed that his wide consultation with leaders across the country had made him to believe that there was need for sacrifice among leaders.
In what seemed like a prophetic statement while addressing the delegates earlier, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said, “this is the last convention in the era of APC.”
Calling on the party members to unite no matter the provocation, sabotage and discrimination, Atiku said, “the most important thing for us is to unite to make sure our party wins election.”
In his welcome address, the Chairman, 2022 PDP National Convention Organizing Committee (NCOC), David Mark said that the party national convention is the first step in rescuing the nation.
Mark, who assured that the exercise will be transparent, credible, fair and just to all, added that whoever emerges from the convention will be the choice of the party and will ultimately win the presidential election for the PDP in 2023.
Lamenting the situation in the country, Mark said “our students are at home for over three months on account of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike for failure of government to address issues affecting the education sector.
“Fellow countrymen and women are today in captivity with kidnappers and our government looking overwhelmed and unable to rescue them. Sadly, the APC government has mortgaged the future of Nigerians by ceaseless borrowings with nothing tangible to show. Nigeria is now the poverty capital of the world.
“The intractable insecurity situation, rising unemployment, poverty, ineptitude and corruption, and above all the poor management of our diversity have become the hallmark of the APC administration. These have made living in Nigeria worthless.
“Today’s convention is beyond the ordinary; it is a call to salvage Nigeria from the brinks. Nigeria has had chequered socio-economic and political problems but never has it descended so low.
Meanwhile, one of the presidential aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Atiku on his emergence as the candidate of PDP and other contestants for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves.
Tinubu expressed the hope that Atiku would be his worthy opponent by the grace of God and with the support of APC delegates in next year’s presidential election.
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 around the winner, in the true spirit of democratic sportsmanship.
He expected 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 presidential 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 since 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.”
Olusola Bello