Atiku launches marketing campaign, books, aggrieved govs boycott occasion

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Celebration, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, inaugurated the celebration ‘s Presidential Marketing campaign Council consistent with the 2023 elections timetable of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee.

That is because the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and the Labour Celebration presidential commonplace bearer, Peter Obi, had postponed the inauguration of their marketing campaign councils, citing numerous causes.

Nonetheless, the PDP’s PCC inauguration which was held on the Worldwide Convention Centre, was marked with the launch of three books written in honour of the presidential candidate, Atiku.

The occasion was attended by PDP governors, ex-governors and high chieftains of the celebration, amongst others.

Talking on the unveiling of three books in honour of Atiku, former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, described the previous Customs boss as a person who knew the pathway to rescue Nigeria

“You possibly can’t learn this ebook (Atiku: The Story of Atiku Abubakar) with out appreciating him as a political driver, who not solely has the expertise to drive on the political highway but in addition is aware of the rule on methods to rescue Nigeria.

“It is rather vital that from right now, because the marketing campaign commences, all arms are on deck in order that we will work collectively to get the victory on the finish of the day,” he admonished.

Atiku berates FG

Delivering his speech shortly after the inauguration of the marketing campaign council, Atiku lamented that the Nigerian federation shouldn’t be working, citing the myriad of challenges bedeviling the nation because the PDP handed over energy to the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2015.

Alleging that the PDP was cheated out of its electoral victory in 2019, Atiku mentioned the nation had since descended into anarchy because the APC took over energy.

He said, “For the reason that loss on the polls of 2019 until now, and beneath the watch of the present APC authorities, our pricey nation has witnessed a daunting descent into anarchy.

“Our nation is at present within the throes of a multidimensional disaster encompassing insecurity, financial meltdown, disunity and mutual distrust, to say a number of.

“To begin with, the present authorities has failed on the very essence of what makes a authorities: the safety of lives and property of its residents.  Our safety challenges are legion, and I don’t have to bore you by rehashing them right here.

“Our economic system is in shambles, progress has stagnated, and our persons are dealing with huge existential challenges day by day.  Starvation is the norm right now in our nation.

“Our nation is in disarray. The material of unity that binds our nation is, right now, being torn aside by mutual mistrust, ethnic and sectarian strife and we are actually extra disunited than we’ve got ever been in our historical past, together with even after we fought a civil struggle.’’

The candidate additional cited the disaster within the schooling sector, excessive variety of out-of-school kids and the unhealthy economic system as the peak of the failings of the Main normal Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) regime.

He added, ‘’Our system of presidency is damaged. Our present system is unfair, unwieldy, skewed in direction of favouring the Federal Authorities on the expense of the opposite federating models, and has in itself, change into a keen instrument for underdevelopment.

‘’This type of system of presidency is now not suited to the challenges of a twenty first  century economic system that works for everybody and that’s wanted to carry growth nearer to our folks.

“However all hope shouldn’t be misplaced. We have now a plan to deal with these points and to arrest the drift of our nation. These plans have been specified by the doc titled, ‘My Covenant with Nigerians’.’’

Talking additional, Atiku pledged to revive Nigeria’s unity by fairness, social justice, mutual collaboration and consensus among the many citizenry.

He equally promised to construct a powerful and efficient democratic authorities the place the protection and safety of the folks and their property could be the first and singularly most vital duty.

Emmanuel lauds members

The Chairman of the PCC and the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, mentioned the PDP has all it takes to win the election.

He additionally dismissed these he described as doomsayers, noting that the PDP was nonetheless a powerful celebration regardless of the disaster assailing it.

Emmanuel said, “I need to say right here that we should not thoughts the doomsayers. I learn all over the place all these doomsayers saying the PDP right here, PDP there, however I need to guarantee you that the PDP is a stable rock and we all know that irrespective of the wind, it won’t transfer the rock.

“So, no matter the wind that you just see across the rock, it won’t transfer the rock. The rock stays as stable as ever. Please don’t thoughts the doomsayers.

“We need to guarantee you that we’re campaigning to win. Nothing is appropriate to the PDP outdoors victory for the PDP, however this may even require that each one of us should additionally work.

“This time, there is no such thing as a sitting in Abuja. All people should work laborious and carry the message dwelling. The PDP shouldn’t be an Abuja celebration. You win out of your unit, your ward and never by sitting in Abuja. The marketing campaign council will take the message to the models.

“If we had made errors up to now, we can’t flip again the clock. We can’t recall what handed yesterday however we will transfer ahead within the spirit of oneness, unity and progress.”

On his half, Sokoto State governor and Director-Basic of the marketing campaign council, Aminu Tambuwal mentioned PDP is the celebration to beat within the forthcoming election.

‘’It is just for us to work and with God on our aspect, we will ship this victory to our celebration and to Nigerians. We have now the help of Nigerians and we attraction that INEC conduct a free and honest election,’’ he submitted.

Ayu stays away

Talking on the programme, the Deputy Nationwide Chairman (North), Iliya Damagun, who represented the embattled Nationwide Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu gave causes for the latter’s absence.

“I need to give the excuse of my nationwide chairman who’s unavoidably absent. He’s distant in Europe addressing some well being challenges, however he despatched his goodwill message to all of you,” he mentioned.

His temporary deal with learn partially, “The legacies of our celebration whereas in authorities converse volumes. We are able to now not keep by the aspect and blow our trumpet.

“Whereas we’re making each effort to unify all aggrieved people or teams arising from the primaries, we all know that the PDP is extra targeted than now.”

True to their determination to not be a part of the PDP Presidential Marketing campaign Council, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Oyo and Benue counterparts, Seyi Makinde and Samuel Ortom, shunned the inauguration of the marketing campaign council which was held in Abuja.

Others who have been conspicuously absent have been Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Prof Jerry Gana, ex-Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose and former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang.

The checklist of high celebration chieftains who didn’t attend the celebration’s presidential marketing campaign inauguration additionally consists of ex-Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, Chief Bode George, and former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko.

However readily available to lend help to the celebration’s presidential candidate have been the governors of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State); Duoye Diri (Bayelsa State); Godwin Obaseki (Edo State); Darius Ishaku (Taraba State) and the Delta State governor and vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.

Others embrace former Senate Presidents, Adolphus Wabara (additionally the present PDP BoT chairman) and Bukola Saraki; former governors Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and a bunch of different celebration stalwarts.

Atiku had deployed his particular envoy and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki to attraction to the Wike’s group, which penultimate Wednesday pulled out of the marketing campaign council, citing the refusal of the nationwide chairman of the celebration, Iyorchia Ayu, to step down.

A member of the NWC had earlier within the week instructed The PUNCH that Saraki’s intervention was yielding outcomes, attributing Ortom’s determination to again Ayu to Saraki’s reconciliatory efforts.

Nonetheless, Ortom, a recognized Wike ally boycotted the occasion, a growth his associates attributed to the remedy allegedly meted out to him by Atiku.

Talking with our correspondent in confidence, an ally of Governor Ortom mentioned, “The group His Excellency (Ortom) belongs to determined to not attend. He’s a workforce participant and so they determined they weren’t going to be a part of it. That’s it.”

An aide of the Benue State governor, nevertheless, linked the event to a purported bitter relationship between Atiku and Ortom, saying, “Atiku’s camp didn’t just like the reception Ortom gave them when Atiku visited Benue. again then, what dominated the information was that Ortom blasted Atiku for not visiting Benue when Fulani herdsmen attacked Benue communities.

“We have been made to present broad publicity to that accusation such that it overshadowed all the pieces Atiku visited Benue for. However Atiku felt Ortom was not honest to him. He reportedly gave the governor some funds in the course of the re-run elections when Ortom was financially spent and afraid of the Federal Authorities’s plans to take away him.

“Then, additionally after they all left the PDP for the APC in 2014, Atiku allegedly gave the governor some cash to help him along with his election. Atiku feels Ortom is indebted to him however Ortom doesn’t really feel the identical. That is the reason for their drawback.”

Additionally giving an perception into the absence of the 5 governors on the PCC inauguration, a member of the Nationwide Working Committee, who selected to talk on situation of anonymity mentioned, “There isn’t any manner Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu and others would have attended that occasion. Their demand for Ayu’s removing has not been met. Some folks suppose they personal the celebration however they don’t. They might study their lesson the laborious manner.”

Requested why Makinde didn’t attend the PCC occasion, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Oyo State, Mr Akeem Olatunji, mentioned he couldn’t present a proof however added that the celebration was in complete help of any step taken by the governor whom he mentioned meant effectively for the celebration.

He mentioned, “His Excellency is a person of his phrase and he has instructed them his thoughts and what he mentioned is within the curiosity of the celebration, so it’s left for them to take a look at it. We’re in help of all the pieces he does as a result of he means effectively.

“We don’t have any presidential candidate other than Alhaji Atiku Abubakar so they need to take a look at what Governor Makinde mentioned in order that all of us can rejoice in 2023.”

Efforts to get reactions from Ikpeazu and Ugwuanyi by their aides didn’t yield any outcome as of press time.

Neither the Chief Press Secretary to the Enugu governor, Mr Chuks Ugwuoke, nor the Particular Adviser to the governor on data, who oversees the Ministry of Data, Mr Steve Oruruo, picked up their calls or reply to textual content messages.

Nonetheless, the spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar Marketing campaign Group, Senator Dino Melaye, dismissed fears that the withdrawal of Wike and his loyalists could threaten Atiku’s possibilities within the election.

In response to the previous Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, those that boycotted the flag-off of the PDP marketing campaign are free to hitch the marketing campaign prepare at any time.

He mentioned, “My response is that the marketing campaign has taken off and anybody who didn’t be a part of us on the take-off level ought to flag us down on the highway and we’ll cease and choose him up. The automobile has taken off and anybody who didn’t be a part of us should flag us down.

“It isn’t a risk, we’re okay. The marketing campaign is happening effectively. You possibly can see the meeting of individuals there right now. All these distinguished people and governors are bodily current.

“The elections aren’t about people however about collective pursuits. Nonetheless, it’s not too late for them to hitch the prepare.’’

Requested if Atiku was upset by the governors’ boycott of the occasion, the previous lawmaker mentioned, “We’re not upset in anyone. Atiku is a magnanimous character. PDP is their home and they’re welcome anytime they’re keen to hitch us however the marketing campaign is concentrated and Nigerians are completely happy.”

‘Atiku not unifier’

In the meantime, a PDP chieftain, Chris Finebone has mentioned the absence of Wike and his allies on the PCC inauguration ceremony didn’t come as a shock.

Finebone, who’s the instant previous Publicity Secretary of the APC  expressed dismay that the requires the resignation of the PDP chairman was taking too lengthy to deal with ‘’as a result of some powers that be have been ignoring the necessity and agitation for balancing the celebration construction on the nationwide degree.’’

On his half, a PDP chieftain and former member of the Nationwide Meeting, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke submitted that the boycott of the occasion by Wike and different celebration bigwigs confirmed their disapproval of Atiku’s scheme to advertise a Northern agenda.