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Tag: Atiku Abubakar

  • 2019: Igbo support for Buhari still intact – Nwosu

    Former Chief of Staff to the Imo State governor, Uche Nwosu, Friday dismissed the reported endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, by a section of Igbo leaders as a ploy to create the erroneous impression that the Igbos are backing the PDP.

    He said that the support for Buhari by the Igbo is still intact.

    Nwosu stated that the endorsement by the selected leaders at the Enugu Summit does not reflect the position of Ndigbo and will not affect the chances of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Southeast.

    Read Also:PDP: Buhari, APC jittery over our candidate’s acceptance

    According to him, the Southeast has nothing tangible to show for its support for the PDP during its sixteen years in power to warrant the endorsement of its Presidential candidate or any other.

    The former Chief of Staff, who is also a stronger contender for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), assured that despite the post primary crisis rocking the party (APC) in the zone, President Buhari will still record landslide victory.

    In his words, “we are not losing sleep over the recent endorsement of Atiku by some Igbo leaders; the action will not change the reality on ground. The Southeast will deliver Buhari in 2019 because it is our best option. We cannot be distracted with the PDP’s Greek gift of Vice President, our focus as a people should be Igbo Presidency in 2023.

    “One important question we should be asking ourselves as Ndigbo is what did we benefit from the PDP for the 16 years it was in power to warrant the endorsement of its candidate, as against what we have recorded within the three years that President Buhari is in power”.

    He continued that, “most of the political decisions of some of our leaders are self-serving and not in the overall interest of the Igbo but this time we are committed to pursuing the best political option for the Igbo, which is supporting President Buhari’s second term.”

    Nwosu also added that, “the fact that majority of our party members are not happy with the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole over the manner he handled the party primaries across the zone does not affect our support for President Buhari. In fact it is beyond personal considerations, it is about the interest of Ndigbo and we will deliver President Buhari in 2019. The support for President Buhari is borne out his unequalled integrity and uprightness, which is what the country needs most now”.

  • PDP: Buhari, APC jittery over Atiku’s acceptance in S/East, other zones

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the spontaneous and overwhelming acceptance accorded its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the South East is a manifestation of the trajectory that awaits him in all the geo-political zones across the country.

    The opposition party said the acceptance demonstrated the settled resolve of Nigerians across board to vote out the President Muhammadu Buhari administration because for what it described as its manifest failures in governance.

    A statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the PDP was aware of how the acceptance of its candidate has sent jitters to the APC and President Buhari, adding that it has having belied claims that Mr President and the APC were making inroads into the Southeast.

    Read Also: PDP, a damaged product, says APC

    The statement said, “With the assemblage of all leaders of note in every sector from all the five states of the Southeast receiving our candidate, it is settled that President Buhari and the APC do not have any support in the zone.
    “This acceptance could not have been less significant because the Buhari-led APC administration has no achievement, of any sort, in the entire zone.

    “The PDP commends the people of the Southeast and Nigerians in general for their courage in collectively resolving to rally with Atiku and our other candidates to rescue our nation from shackles of the Buhari administration and return her to the path of good governance, national cohesion and economic prosperity”.

  • Atiku support group urges vigilance

    The Atiku Abubakar Support Group has called on supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate nationwide to be vigilant ahead of the 2019 presidential election.

    The National Coordinator of group, Dr. Nath Iduma challenged members to ensure that Atiku wins convincingly in all polling units, saying that the ruling party would rig the election at any slightest opportunity.

    This is coming on the heels of similar call by the National Youth Leader of the PDP, Mr. Udeh Okoye, who charged the support groups to dominate the Social Media and counter the All Progressives Congress (APC) propaganda against Atiku.

    The duo made the call on Thursday in Abuja during an interactive session by a coalition of support groups with the theme: Turning the popularity of Atiku/Obi into Electoral Success

    While addressing the coalition, Iduma explained that Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Mr. Peter Obi are successful businessmen and intend to govern the country with businesslike approach. He stated that Nigeria will succeed when governance is run like business.

    Iduma said, “Atiku and Obi came together by providence and they are tested persons. I believe that if we have people that can run government as they run business, then that government is going to succeed.

    “In Yola, Atiku has several investments and when both of them come together, the problem of unemployment will be handled. Both of them who are business minded people will run businesslike government. Unless we win this election with massive votes, it is likely they are going to rig us out”.

    The coordinator of the group challenged PDP and its presidential candidate to invest massively in the youth, even as he reminded the coalition that Atiku pledged to allocate 40% of positions to the youths, urging them to work hard and grab the opportunity.

    “It is high time that the party and candidates invested in the youths. They are the ones to go down into every part of the country to canvass for votes and protect our votes,” he said.

    Read Also: Atiku takes campaign to South Africa

    Adding his voice, the National Youth leader of the PDP, Ude-Okoye urged the youths to occupy the social media space, confront the propaganda narratives of the APC and highlight the values of the PDP presidential candidate.

    Ude-Okoye said, “We have to divide ourselves into two and confront the attackers and the promoters. One group must be attacking the APC, telling how the APC has destroyed the country while the second group will be promoting the achievements of Atiku and Obi.

    “Our product, Atiku, is a good market, so we have to sell him to Nigerians. Larger number of voters are not in the social media but their influencers are in the social media. We should influence our people who have registered to get their PVCs.

    “We also need to influence voters who are in the villages to get Android phones so that they can join the discuss. Atiku is an employer but we have a President who have a stunted business, it does not grow, it does not reduce.

    “A president who has failed to protect the lives and properties of his people has failed”.

    Also speaking at the event, the chairman of the Atiku Care Foundation, Ambassador Aliyu Abbas, said that with Atiku, citizens cannot continue to suffer hunger and starvation.

    “Atiku Abubakar is not only a politician but an international businessman, an educationist, a farmer and a philanthropist”.

    Also, the National Convener of of the coalition of Atiku the four largest support groups, Ike Bishop Okoronkwo said that the groups have mobilised over 10 million youths across the country for Atiku.

    He added that before the 2019 general elections, the groups will mobilise about 20 million voters across the 774 local governments for the PDP presidential candidate.

  • Buhari must go, Atiku tells Igbo leaders

    Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar stormed the venue of the Igbo elders, religious and traditional rulers just as they were about rounding up.
    He came with a message  “Whether I am president or not, Buhari must go in 2019. Our economy must be fixed.”
    He arrived in a large entourage that was led by the national chairman of the party, Uche Secondus. In the entourage were the senate president, Bukola Saraki , Babangida Aliyu, Gbenga Daniel, Dino Melaye and other party chieftains.
    Atiku ‎told the full house of Igbo leaders that he and Peter Obi would correct all the anomalies visited on Nigeria by the Buhari administration.
    He pointed at the security apparati in the country and decried the situation where all the security chiefs were from one part of the country.

    Read Also: Buhari, Osinbajo lash out at restructuring advocates

    “It aches ‎my heart when I receive texts listing the lopsided appointments of security chiefs. The appointments do not reflect federalism. This is not federalism,” he said.
    He promised to bring back to life the coal industry, regretting that coal which use to power the whole of Eastern Nigeria before the war was abandoned.
    He promised to give all it takes to make Nigeria a united and progressive country.
    “A combination of Peter Obi and I, you can trust will fix the economy.”

  • Igbo endorse Atiku/Obi ticket

    Igbo leaders comprising elders, traditional and religious leaders as well as women groups, yesterday endorsed the joint presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

    In a five-point resolution issued at the end of the summit with the theme “Ndigbo 2019 and Beyond” held in Enugu, the leaders said that the position was based on the restructuring agenda put on the table by Atiku/Obi, which four zones of the country had agreed on.

    The resolution was read by Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

    It states inter alia: “The Igbo people of Nigeria held a 1 day non-partisan and inclusive Summit convened by Elders, Traditional and Religious leaders on Wednesday 14th November 2018 to consider Ndigbo’s place in the polity especially in light of the forthcoming 2019 elections.

    “The summit deliberated on the State of Ndigbo in Nigeria today especially after years of exclusion from the center.  This country has never been so divided as it is today.  We Igbos have always yearned for a level playing field with justice, equity and fairness.

    Read Also: Search of Atiku’s plane routine, says Fed Govt

    “The Summit recognized the nomination of His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi Former Governor of Anambra State as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP and fully endorses this nomination.  It was acknowledged that this nomination puts Ndigbo back in the center of governance.  It is therefore important that Ndigbo should rally behind the Atiku/Obi ticket.

    “We identify with the Atiku/ Peter Obi ticket on the restructuring agenda as has been reiterated by 4 zones of the country namely: South South, South West, North Central and South East.  We believe that as long as the federating units remain weak the center will continue to be weak.  We equally move to appreciate the position of the Atiku/Obi ticket in promoting national unity.

    “In conclusion, the Summit reiterated that the time is now for Ndigbo to mobilize and organize effectively to realize the Atiku/Obi ticket.  We are not campaigning against anybody, we are simply campaigning for our very survival.  Igbo votes must count wherever Ndigbo live in Nigeria.”

  • ‘Keep to your word on N30,000 minimum wage’

    The Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to keep to his words on the N30,000 minimum wage agreed upon by a federal government-led tripartite negotiation team.

    President Buhari was reported to have agreed to the N30,000 minimum wage proposal, but a statement on Wednesday by the Presidency had denied that the President agreed to the proposal.

    In a reaction, the Atiku campaign organisation faulted the Presidency’s denial, accusing the government of double speak on the minimum wage controversy.

    The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement from the Presidency denying President Buhari’s earlier pledge to pay the new minimum wage of ₦30,000 agreed with the Nigerian Labour Congress and other labour affiliates in a signed communiqué.

    “This approbation and re-probation is characteristic of the Buhari administration and is evidence of the lack of leadership at the very top that is putting our economy in peril.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: Buhari has not endorsed N30,000 – Presidency

    “Just two weeks ago, two of the world’s largest banks, HSBC and UBS, pulled out of Nigeria citing lack of policy stability as their reason.

    “This same reason was given by Procter and Gamble when they pulled out last year. In the span of the three years that this administration has been in office, more than 500 companies have pulled out of Nigeria for similar reasons. Nigeria under President Buhari has become synonymous with policy flip flopping.

    “A government is only as reliable as its word and if its word is not reliable then nothing else about the government will be stable. This is why Nigeria suffered from a recession under this administration and is right now at risk of another recession.

    “At the risk of repeating ourselves, we urge the Buhari administration to note that Nigerian workers are the goose that lays the golden egg that top members of this government are enjoying to the detriment of those laying the egg.

    “We are aware that both President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo, despite living and feeding at the public expense, collect a hardship allowance of 50% of their annual basic salary, whereas, the long suffering Nigerian workers, who are the main sufferers of the hardship caused by the incompetence of this administration, do not have any hardship allowance and are expected to live on the unliveable minimum wage of the Buhari government.

    “It is a testament to how badly we have treated our workforce over the last three years that Nigeria was officially declared the world headquarters for extreme poverty by the World Poverty Clock and the World Economic Forum.

    “We can only change this by paying our workers a living wage as opposed to the starvation wages now paid to them by the Buhari administration.

    “We therefore call on President Muhammadu Buhari to keep faith with the agreement his government freely reached with labour and affirm the new minimum wage”.

  • 2019: Saraki confident of Atiku’s victory

    The President of the Senate,  Dr Bukola Saraki has said that he’s confident of the victory of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election.

    Saraki, who is also the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, assured that, given the mounting support by Nigerians, Atiku will coast to victory in the February 2019 presidential election.

    Saraki was said to have stated this while inspecting the Legacy House headquarters of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Read Also: Thugs chase aggrieved Atiku supporters

    A statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said Saraki made the assertion while being conducted round various offices at the party’s campaign headquarters by the PDP LNational Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

    The President of the Senate was quoted to have promised to effectively harness and coordinate all efforts and lead the party and its candidate to victory in the elections.

    “Since the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as PDP Presidential candidate, there has been renewed hope among Nigerians towards actualizing their collective quest to rescue our nation from the misrule of the incompetent, divisive and deceptive President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

    “Already, Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy has reunited Nigerians across board and reawakened our collective consciousness towards the restoration of purposeful leadership and national productivity, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and political affiliations.

    “The PDP therefore urges Nigerians to continue in mobilising for the election and be ready for an issue-based campaign that offers solutions to the myriad of security, economic and social problems the Buhari administration has plunged our nation into”, the statement added.

  • Thugs chase aggrieved Atiku supporters

    Suspected thugs on Monday chased some aggrieved supporters of the PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar who had gathered at a hotel in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja to address a news conference.

    The thugs who were alleged to have come from the Atiku Campaign Office chased away members of the aggrieved Atiku Support Group and took away the banner of the groups while trying to stop them from briefing the Press.

    However, they later told newsmen that they were not happy that the Atiku Presidential Campaign organization refers to them as mere volunteers.

    Chairman of the Group, Osaratin Godspower said they called the press conference to intimate the world with the happenings in the Atiku Campaign Office, adding that the era that some persons would work and some persons would eat had gone.

    He said: “Let it be on record that it is disparaging and the highest level of deprecatory language of such officials to disdainfully refer to Atiku support groups, who have worked for him tirelessly; who have showed him unparalleled support and solidarity; who purchased the PDP Presidential aspiration form for him; who have risked their lives traversing through our accident pruned roads from Yola through Abuja to Port Harcourt; who have defied the plot of PDP cabals and drummed support for Atiku across the length and breadth of Nigeria until he graciously defeated twelve other presidential aspirants and now the so called officials in APCO have the effrontery to refer to us as mere volunteers.

    Read Also: Atiku under fire over ‘extravagant trip’ to Dubai

    “This disparaging language used to address these men and women of proven integrity has the tendency of defecting negatively, the effective mobilization of voters for PDP towards the 2019 general elections. This unguided language is uncalled for as it can water down the zeal and moral of the teaming supporters of Atiku.

    “All we want is to be recognized; we have worked and we must be recognized. There should be a meeting/interactive session with Atiku Abubakar himself to address the aforementioned short comings; that a letter of recognition is given to all support groups.

    “That the Atiku aggrieved support groups are interested into Atiku Campaign Organization and we must be saddled with responsibility to function; that an independent office should be created to accommodate all the support groups; and those necessary incentives should be accorded to all the support groups that over time have been neglected.”

  • Atiku will reduce fuel price -PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has worked out a pricing template that will immediately crash the pump price of fuel in the country if elected President in 2019.

    The main opposition party accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of insensitivity by failing to do the needful in the last three years.

    In a statement on Thursday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP raised objections to the reported increase in the official pump prices of diesel and kerosene.

    According to the PDP, such increase will bring more economic pressure on an already impoverished nation, stressing that most businesses and homes across the country heavily depend on these products for sustenance.

    The party said it has been in high level talks with top international players in the oil and gas industry.

    The PDP said results of its engagements have shown that the appropriate pump price of fuel in the Nigerian market, under the current subsidy regime of the Buhari Presidency, should be within the borders of N87 to N90 per liter as against the N145 currently being charged.

    The party said with the current price template of crude oil in the international market, the Buhari administration has no justification to keep the pump price of fuel at N145 per liter.

    Read Also: 2019 poll: Osinbajo, Atiku renew restructuring battle

    It blamed President Buhari for watching Nigerians groan under the weight of high fuel prices, while a cabal at the presidency loot the funds meant to subsidise the product.

    The statement said, “The PDP notes that for every N145 paid for a liter of fuel, the Presidency cabal diverts a hidden N58, which Nigerians have continued to pay since the fuel price was increased from N87 to presumably subsidized cost of N145.

    “Apart from failing to account for the over N1.4 trillion allegedly siphoned through sleazy oil subsidy deals, the Buhari-led Federal Government is burdened to account for the over N3.49 trillion stolen under the hidden N58 per liter of fuel on over 50 million daily domestic consumption estimated in the last three years.

    “The PDP notes that had the Buhari administration heed wise counsel to be transparent in its dealings in governance and to engage more experienced hands on petroleum issues, the nation would not have been in the dire straits we face today.

    “The party however urges Nigerians not to despair as its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has already worked out a blueprint that will end sleazes, ensure appropriate pricing template and free resources to guarantee availability of product on a national pricing regime”.

  • 2019: You’re going nowhere, Tinubu tells Atiku

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday said that the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),  Atiku Abubakar is going nowhere in the 2019 election.

    Tinubu, who was a former Governor of Lagos state, was reacting to the meeting of Atiku in Dubai over 2019 election.

    Read Also:PDP alleges smear campaign against Atiku

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, Atiku can meet anywhere to strategize but Nigerians will not vote for him.

    When asked if he was jittery about Atiku meeting in Dubai to unseat Buhari, he said “We don’t fear, whether it is in the jungle, or is in Dubai or is in Abu Dhabi, people are free to meet and strategize in any way they form but we are not going back to the illusion of the PDP.

    “It is not possible, Nigerians will not do that. They say slow and steady wins the race; we inherited that from our forefathers and knowledgeable people.

    “We can’t go back to the pit that we inherited for 16 years. They can strategies from anywhere but a leopard cannot change it skin,” he said.

    Asked if he is in support of Oshiomhole’s removal, he said “No. We all have to respect the party supremacy. You were all here when we had the Congress, we elected the new executives, the convention we had it, the NEC was formed and we surrendered to avoid conflict, to avoid domination, to avoid abuses of power, we surrendered our rights, all rights to the National Working Committee headed by Adams Oshiomohole.

    “That the National Working Committee should set up electoral bodies to supervise various state congresses and elections. ’We signed off for it’. So, if it is not in our individual favour, so be it.

    “We gave three options, consensus, where there is no consensus because if you are more than two or three and you cannot agree to one candidate, you go to the next level.

    “The next level is the stakeholders delegate and you have to be supervised by the National Working Committee of the party, national election committee of the party. That shows party supremacy or the freest option, the less cumbersome is to open direct primary, line up and count the number, 1, 2, 3.  If you win, you win and if you fail, go home.

    “Then appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals, internal mechanism for conflict resolution. It was there, you cannot turn round against that, you cannot turn against all of that.

    “No. Party is supreme, party must be respected, abuses will not do it and anger will not do it. It is party politics, somebody will win and somebody will lose, too bad.” he stated

    On the purpose of his visit to the Presidential Villa, he said, “The meeting is about the nation, the country, our people, peace, stability and economic progress.”