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Tag: atiku

  • Atiku promises Katsina people’s jobs, security

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubabar has promised the people of Katsina State that he will create more jobs, security of lives and property, if elected President.

    Speaking at the party’s presidential campaign rally yesterday, Atiku said he would not lie to the people the way the All Progressives Congress (APC) did during the 2015 electioneering campaign.

    He said: “Now, let me promise you all, everyone knows any promise I make, I fulfill them. My first promise is that I will return peace to Katsina by God’s grace. Secondly, our youths that are jobless, by God’s grace, they will get jobs. Once we create jobs, is that not the end of hunger?

    “Let me remind you all; be careful with the APC. Since about three and half years, they came to lie to you all. They said they will create wealth and improve the economy. Have they created wealth? Is the economy better now? They said they will solve the security challenges, have solved insecurity?”

    Atiku urged the youth population to actively participate in the upcoming elections, saying he and others in the PDP were there to mentor them.

    “What I want to tell you all is that, this election is for the youths. As for us, we will only show you the way, we are done with ours. Once you vote, be patient for them to count and announce the results. Don’t let them cheat you, the vote is yours not for anyone else.”

    The PDP candidate restated his admonishment to the military, police and other security agencies to ensure peace during the polls and not to allow themselves to be used to manipulate election results.

    PDP National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, who also addressed the rally, urged the people to vote for PDP to chase away joblessness, insecurity and hunger from the land.

    According to him, Atiku remained the only candidate that has the capacity and competence to get the country working again, adding that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the country.

    Secondus said: “You know the APC government, they are confused. They are worried and they are adopting all sorts of measures to make sure that they rig this election. But you know APC, their plan is to destabilise this nation.

    “Their plan is to kill and to harm. This was the statement that came out from Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, that there will be body bags.

    “But let me remind him and other APC leaders that in 2015, the same el-Rufai and other leaders of APC travelled several times to the United States, to United Kingdom and brought in consultants and international observers that came and witnessed that election.”

    The party chair described Atiku as a symbol of unity and urged the people to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.

  • Atiku campaigns in Katsina, promises jobs, security

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubabar, has promised the people of Katsina State job creation and security of lives and property if elected President.

    Sparking at the party’s presidential campaign rally on Thursday, Atiku said he would not lie to the people the way the All Progressives Congress (APC) did during the 2015 electioneering campaign.

    He said, “Now let me promise you all, everyone knows any promise I make, I fulfill them. My first promise is that I will return peace to Katisna by God’s grace. Secondly, our youths that are jobless, by God’s grace, they will get jobs. Once we create jobs, is that not the end of hunger?

    “Let me remind you all; be careful with the APC. Since about three and half years, they came to lie to you all. They said they will create wealth and improve the economy. Have they created wealth? Is the economy better now? They said they will solve the security challenges, have solved insecurity?”.

    Atiku urged the youth population to actively participate in the upcoming elections, saying he and others in the PDP were there to mentor them.

    “What I want to tell you all is that, this election is for the youths. As for us, we will only show you the way, we are done with ours. Once you vote, be patient for them to count and announce the results. Don’t let them cheat you, the vote is yours not for anyone else”.

    The PDP candidate restated his admonishment to the military, police and other security agencies to ensure peace during the polls and not to allow themselves to be used to manipulate election results.

    Read Also; Kano ready for Atiku, says PDP chair

    The national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus who also addressed the rally, urged to people to vote for PDP in order to chase joblessness, insecurity and hunger away from the land.

    According to him, Atiku remained the only candidate that has the capacity and competence to get the country working again, adding that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the country.

    Secondus said, “You know the APC government, they are confused. They are worried and they are adopting all sorts of measures to make sure that they rig this election. But you know APC, their plan is to destabilise this nation.

    “Their plan is to kill and to harm. This was the statement that came out from Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, that there will be body bags.

    “But let me remind him and other leaders of the APC that in 2015, the same el-Rufai and other leaders of APC travelled several times to the United States, to United Kingdom and brought in consultants and international observers that came and witnessed that election”.

    The party chair described Atiku as a symbol of unity and urged the people to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.

    He called on them to vote and to also defend their votes, to ensure that they are not shortchanged by compromised officials and security personnel.

  • Ezekwesili’s group declares support for Atiku

    The Red Card Movement (RCM), a civil society group founded by Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar for the February 16 presidential election.

    The endorsement was a departure from the group’s initial position under Ezekwesili whereby the RCM issued a Red Card to the PDP and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ezekwesili resigned from the group to contest the presidential election on the platform of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) but withdrew from the race a few days ago.

    At a public declaration in Abuja Thursday, co-chairman of the RCM, Dr Tony Akabuno, said the decision to endorse Atiku was informed by the failure of the APC to fulfill its campaign promises to Nigerians.

    Akabuno said the group would mobilise 20 million votes for Atiku to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari as the APC were defeated in the upcoming elections.

    The group described the PDP presidential candidate as the “best option” for now, saying however that the RCM will not merge with the PDP.

    Read Also: ACPN to Ezekwesili: Return our money or face court action

    Akabuno said: “Some co-conveners were of the opinion that we should not get into any arrangement with PDP. These ones suggested a ‘siddon look approach’.

    “They appealed to me, as one that is very close to the state champions, to persuade our leaders across the federation to desist from supporting the Atiku/Obi ticket.

    “But as a pragmatic political strategist and the peoples’ general, I had no choice than to reject the inferior argument of some co-coveners and strongly aligned with our state champions, who are in sync with the grassroots”.

    Akubono said the coming election will be a defining moment in the political history of the country, adding Buhari has failed in all his cardinal programmes of improving the economy, provision of adequate security and fighting corruption.

    He accused the President of playing politics with the fight against corruption, saying the nation cannot afford to perform experiment with the Presidency.

    “This is not about Buhari but about the future of the country. The question is if we want the status quo to remain or if we want a change.

    “We the leaders of RCM are not in doubt that the Atiku/Obi ticket is the most efficacious brand that can send Buhari back to Daura.”

  • APC has failed Yobe, Borno people, says Atiku

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the people of Yobe and Borno states.

    Atiku, who stated this yesterday during the PDP presidential rally in the two states, listed security, job creation, health, education and other social amenities as key  areas in which the APC failed the two states.

    Addressing the crowd at the rally, Atiku said: “People of Yobe, over three years ago, you voted for APC; please I want to ask you all, what has APC done for you?

    “APC promised security. Is there security now? APC promised to create jobs. Are there jobs now? APC also promised to revive the economy. Is the economy better now?

    “Today, you are poorer, there is hunger everywhere, and insecurity everywhere. People of Yobe State, what I want to tell you is that, these people have destroyed everything. Don’t let them take us backward; don’t vote for APC. This is not a party. They will not create wealth.”

    Atiku restated his promise to reserve 70 per cent of appointments for women and youth population, if elected President.

    Appealing to sentiments, Atiku reminded the gathering that it’s the first time one of their own from the Northeast geopolitical zone would be vying for the Presidency and urged them not to allow the opportunity slip off their hands.

    He said: “The entire people of Nigeria said this time around they want the President to come from the Northeast. Do you all agree? Will you all vote PDP?

    “If you vote PDP, I want to promise you all, that we will bring about lasting peace to the Northeast and the entire Nigeria. All those who know me know that I don’t lie and am not afraid. We will return peace and after that, I promise every one of you, you will return back to your local governments.

    “Also, there will be jobs for the youth, schools will be open, hospitals will treat the sick and the poverty that is disturbing us will be stopped.

    “Initially, they said the Northeast is the centre of poverty in Nigeria. We will put an end to that poverty. We shall create wealth, businesses will grow, there will be peace everywhere.”

    He told the electorate in Yobe and Borno not to allow anyone steal their votes on election day, as he urged them to wait for their votes to be counted and results announced before departing their polling centres.

  • Choosing between Buhari and Atiku

    Sir: The ever interesting world of Nigerian politics has been busy in past few months with different contenders to the positions of power and influenceemploying different campaign strategies to ‘buy’ votes and voters to make their political dreams come true. From local to national levels, the approaches are similar since our political history has featured similar actors who have become less innovative. Consequently, the campaigns have been more of a comic relief than an inspiration. We have witnessed sponsored rallies and counter-rallies; purchased endorsements; mobilisation of people to attend political campaigns to show a false image of a candidate’s popularity; distribution of food and monies at campaign grounds; abusing personalities rather than addressing issues; utilisation of social miscreants across parties; campaign violence and deaths. They all speak less to our problems—roads remain bad, poverty and unemployment occupy major prayer points in churches and mosques; insecurity (terrorism, robbery, kidnapping) is on the increase even as local ‘science students’ have made scientific discovery of ‘printing’ money from ladies underwear and sanitary pads.At the national level, the pre-election confusionshas now been narrowed to two possibilities—Atiku or Buhari.

    Perhaps the only way to stay healthy and sound in Nigeria in this build up to electionsis to stay away from the emerging binaries—buharists/atikulates; hailers/wailers; next level/getting Nigeria work again.

    Hailers are supporters of the incumbent while a critic of the present government is labelled wailer. But there are also insider wailers in Ogun, Imo and some other states where internal displacement has occurred through the instrumentality of the Oshiomhole national leadership.

    If Nigeria is to remain hopeful of having a life and not die, the voters must vote wisely and think of who between the ‘two devils’ will meet their needs and connect with them—both (Atiku and Buhari) now represent known devils who are not likely to be threatened by “new angels”.The electorates must ask which of the devils will boost their standard of living. Which government will give our children quality schools? Which one of them can give us life centres as against death centres as health institution? Which of these will provide jobs and assure national security?

    INEC must remain impartial umpire and not declare concluded polls inconclusive. The air of tension blowing across the country is much to the extent that theslightest provocation and error may trigger violence. Similarly, the behaviour of the security agents will make or mar the polls. Their loyalty should be to the country and not the office holders as presently experienced. Voters should also be empathetic by voting compassionate – and not avaricious – characters.

    In the end, there are only two post February 16 possibilities: electorate can either re-electBuhari for another four years or vote him out of power. These two possibilities must be allowed to happen without let or hindrance and without the manipulation of the electoral process to give legitimacy to the winner.

     

    • Dr OludayoTade, dotad2003@yahoo.com

  • Tinubu: PTDF cash stolen under Obasanjo, Atiku

    I’m not seeking third term, says Buhari, You can’t blackmail Nigerians, PDP tells President

    NIGERIANS were yesterday urged to remove the cancer of corruption from Nigeria by renewing the mandate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for another four years.

    The counsel was given by APC leaders during the party’s campaign rallies in Ekiti and Ondo states.

    At the rallies were President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Co-chairman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, governors, including Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo) and nonagenarian Second Republic Senator Ayo Fansanmi, among others.

    They told Nigerians why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar should not be trusted to steer the country’s affairs.

    Tinubu, who took a swipe at Atiku and his former boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for running the nation’s economy aground when they held the forte, said the country deserved a leader like Buhari, who has used the nation’s resources for the common good in the past three years and seven months.

    According to the APC chieftain, former President Obasanjo and former vice president Atiku owe Nigerians an explanation on what happened to the Petroleum Trust Development Funds (PTDF).

    The PTDF was managed by the Office of the Vice President during the Obasanjo administration from 1999 – 2007.

    Cautioning the electorate against making the mistake of returning the PDP to power on February 16, Tinubu urged Nigerians to reject the PDP and its candidate. He said they had nothing to offer but to auction the nation’s commonwealth.

    In a sarcastic manner, he said: “People’s Destruction Party (PDP) has come again from all the nooks and crannies to lie to you. Poverty Development Party (PDP) is here again to tell you lies.

    “One who is always busy with contentious business says he is running it. What does he know? What he has propagated is their container economy.

    “They want to come back and sell our commonwealth. They promised to create two million jobs for you and nobody has asked them how.

    Read also: Political jobbers endorsed Atiku, says Fasanmi

    “The questions we should ask are: When they were there with Obasanjo, how many jobs did they create? How many times did Obasanjo say Atiku stole PTDF’s money? The answer he always gave was that his former boss too stole money. Is this the kind of person you want to vote for?” Tinubu asked rhetorically.

    He said that the PDP was responsible for fake tariff and estimated billing.

    “Their actions to share the electricity company into GenCos and DisCos caused the hike in tariff and estimated billing,” he said, adding: “What is Atiku’s response and PDP’s? He said, ‘what is wrong if I share Nigeria’s resources with my friends?’ Is that what you want them to come back to do?”

    On why Nigerians should re-elect Buhari, Tinubu said the President revived the agriculture sector and introduced the Anchored Borrowers’ Scheme, noting that both programmes generated over 5.8 million jobs.

    He urged the Ekiti people to vote massively for Buhari on February 16 to enjoy more benefits of good governance.

    Buhari also addressed the crowd of supporters and residents who thronged the 12,000-capacity Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. He renewed his promise to take Nigeria to loftier heights.

    Admitting that fighting corruption has been difficult, the President vowed not to be dissuaded to rid the nation of graft in line with the promise he made in 2015.

    Buhari said he was quite conscious of the promises he made while contesting four years ago, particularly the ones that had to do with corruption, insecurity and resuscitation of the economy.

    The President said: “We are fighting corruption but it has not been easy. But we told the security agencies to keep watch and ensure that those who have cases to answer do not escape justice.

    “As part of our promises, we are building roads, rail lines, fighting corruption. We introduced the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and increased power supply, so Nigerians can have their own businesses.

    “I want to be grateful to Ekiti voters because the two times I came here, I achieved success. I came here in 2014 and I also came here to campaign for Fayemi; he won the governorship election. So, I’m here today to campaign for myself. I believed you are going to give us the vote to consolidate on our laudable and people-oriented projects.”

    He sought the support of royal fathers for sustainable peace in Ekiti State and beyond.

    To Oshiomole, Buhari remains the candidate to beat, owing to his achievements since 2015 in security, economy diversification, anti-corruption battles, job creation, agriculture and infrastructure among others.

    The APC chair said: “Atiku has told us that if Nigerians mistakenly elect him, he would put Nigeria on sale. I believe Nigerians have made up their minds to return President Buhari, who they can trust, not the one whose business partners are in prison. William Jefferson, Atiku’s business partner is in prison for corruption charges …

    “The problem we have had as a nation is lack of policy consistency and coherence. So, changing government every three and half years can only lead to confusion.

    “Let us sustain it so that together Nigeria can move from a consuming country of imported product to a country that virtually consume what it produces,” he said.

    Prof Osinbajo, who spoke in Yoruba, said: “$383 billion was realised from oil between 2010 and 2014 under Dr Goodluck Jonathan. That was when we had the highest but nothing was done with it.

    The vice president said: “If that money had been utilised judiciously, all the roads, rail lines and employment we are creating would have long been in place for Nigerians.

    “Buhari built three refineries as minister of Petroleum under the military era. No government has ever added one, not even during the 16 years of PDP.

    “Don’t let them deceive you, vote for a President you can trust, that is President Buhari.”

    Fayemi promised: “Our president will get 90 per cent of the votes on February 16.

    “The government is planning to dualise Ado-Akure road, complete the federal housing units, the federal secretariat and the Lagos-Kano rail line. So, we have no option than to return President Buhari because Ekiti people are progressives.”

    The highlight of the rally in Ekiti was the presentation of PDP defectors, including some members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

    The lawmakers, who were led by Speaker Ebenezer Alagbada, are: Cecelia Dada (Ilejemeje State Constituency) and Olanrewaju Olayanju (Emure State Constituency.)

     

  • Political jobbers endorsed Atiku, says Fasanmi

    NONAGENARIAN Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Fasanmi broke his silence yesterday on the reported endorsement of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar by some groups, including a faction of the pan-Yoruba organisation led by Chief Reuben Fasoranti.

    The Second Republic Senator spoke at the 12,000-capacity Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) held a rally for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole dismissed the Fasoranti-led group as “fake”, recalling how Yoruba leaders stood their ground against former military Head of State Gen. Sani Abacha and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Oshiomhole said: “Pa Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who conquered the Ota farmer in 2003 and 2007 political battle, are the authentic Afenifere who have been elected by the people of Yoruba land.

    “As we speak today, we are proud that those who can speak as representatives, not self-proclaimed or self-appointed of the Yoruba nation are the governors who are all seated.

    “They were elected by the people of Yoruba race to guide the present to the future on behalf of the Yoruba people.”

    Senator Fasanmi described the Reuben Fasoranti-led faction of the group, which endorsed Atiku, as political jobbers, who shouldn’t be ignored.

    He was echoed by former Osun State governor and former APC interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.

    Pa Fasanmi said: “All Yoruba race across Southwest are solidly supporting the President Buhari candidature, except a group of dollar and naira called fake Afenifere who endorsed Atiku Abubakar.

    “They are people with no electoral value and credence in their respective polling units not to talk of the Yoruba land.

    “By the grace of God, come March 6 when we would be celebrating 110 years post-humous birthday of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, we would also be celebrating the victory of President Buhari and other APC candidates at the national and state levels.”

     

  • Atiku to military: don’t dabble into elections

    PEOPLE’S Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flagbearer Abubakar Atiku yesterday cautioned the military against dabbling into the general elections slated for February 16 and March 2.

    Atiku gave the warning in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, during the PDP presidential and governorship rally.

    He said: “The military signed to defend and protect the country, not to defend an individual, as no person is a god.

    “Their (military’s) quick response should be to tackle Boko Haram in Borno and the entire northern region, where they are terrorising Nigerians.

    “Muhammadu Buhari, please don’t use the military to terrorise the states you don’t like. The military are to protect the territorial integrity of the country.”

    Atiku also told the police, the Department of State Service (DSS) and other security agencies to be neutral during the polls.

    He said: “The police and the DSS are been reformed. So, we believe they will be neutral during the general election; they will not side any individual.

    “The job of the security is to protect us and ensure there is law and order in the land. They are not to interfere in electoral matters; so, they shouldn’t tell us bullshit.”

    The PDP candidate said his rally in Taraba State was just “homecoming,” adding it was the first time the people of the northeastern region would be having a presidential candidate.

    “Will you go and vote someone from another region?” he asked.

    Atiku said the major problem of Taraba and the northeastern states was insecurity.

    “I will provide security,” he pledged.

    He promised to complete the hydroelectric power project on the Mambilla Plateau, Sardauna Local Government Area.

    “Everything about the Mambilla hydropower project so far is a scam. I will reconstruct it and every Nigerian will benefit from it, if you elect me as Nigeria’s president,” Atiku said.

    He added that “the federal roads shall be taken care of; the natural resources in the country shall be tapped for job creation.”

    PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a credible election, without taking sides.

    “With the crowd I have seen here, Taraba State is 100 per cent PDP. All the people watching this rally on the television, Instagram, Twitter, Google and WhatsApp will agree that Taraba is PDP.

    “INEC should be very careful in their responses. This election cannot be rigged. If you rig it, you (INEC) will invite crisis, and we don’t want crisis.

    “If INEC can conduct free and fair polls, the people will accept whoever emerges, and the country will be peaceful, and that is what we want,” Secondus said.

    Governor Darius Ishaku, who is the Taraba PDP governorship candidate, assured Atiku of victory, saying: “Taraba is for Atiku.”

    “I have toured the nook and cranny of Taraba for my re-election campaign. And everywhere I went to campaign, the people all know Atiku. This is because he had traversed the state during the Gongola days.

    “Atiku will give the people jobs, tackle poverty and revitalise Nigeria’s economy. The APC has failed Nigerians and Atiku is the answer. Atiku, carry go,” Ishaku said.

  • Alleged bribe to enter U.S.: APC urges Atiku to clear himself

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to come clean and explain to Nigerians circumstances surrounding his recent trip to the United States (U.S.).

    Media reports quoting Reuters news agency claimed that the former vice president paid heavy bribe to secure a temporary waiver of his alleged travel ban as a result of alleged corruption charges.

    In a statement signed by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, the party also accused the PDP and its presidential candidate of elevating falsehood and crying wolf in an attempt to discredit the forthcoming general election, even before it is conducted.

    Onilu said the PDP’s action was a clear sign of accepting defeat, adding that the party should be aware that the country’s registered political parties have equal stake in the election and should stop making it look as if the election was being skewed against it.

    He said: “Again, in the wake of the recent Reuters report that Atiku visited the U.S. two weeks ago, thanks to heavily paid lobbyists, who aided the temporary suspension of a travel ban linked to decade-old bribery scandals and corruption indictments, we urge Atiku to come clean to Nigerians on his problems. This is the least he owes an electorate he wishes to lead.”

    The state reads: “As the 2019 general elections fast approaches, the APC has watched with consternation how the PDP in the last couple of weeks has elevated falsehood and crying wolf into an ignoble art.

    “Nigerians have also watched in disbelief how the PDP without proof has consistently and vehemently pilloried state institutions performing various roles in the coming general elections.

    “From security agencies to our election management body, the PDP has spared none in its barefaced lies. On a daily basis, the PDP has invented one lie after the other to discredit state institutions in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community. PDP’s ignoble actions are unhealthy for our electoral processes and a threat to our maturing democracy.

    “The PDP’s game plan is simple: discredit the entire process before, during, and after the elections in order to make the final outcome a ‘nullity’ in its own jaundiced eyes.

    “The PDP must understand that all registered political parties are equal stakeholders in the coming elections; hence the PDP’s tired narrative that the entire election process is skewed against it should be seen for what it is – PDP’s admittance of defeat.

    “The era of sham elections are behind us. The records of credible elections conducted since the APC took over the country’s governance are public knowledge compared to selections, impositions and fraudulent elections under the PDP.

    “We will continue in our progressive tradition of ensuring that elections are free, peaceful credible and every vote counts — The wishes of the electorate must prevail in all elections.

    “Against this backdrop, we urge INEC and other state institutions responsible for different election duties to remain firm and focused in the discharge of their legitimate roles. They must not be stampeded into taking actions that run contrary to the constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “Our free advice to the PDP is that it concentrates its energy to resuscitate its floundering campaign, which has seen majority of its governors tacitly and openly avoid supporting the presidential bid of the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”

  • I’ve no plan to step down for Buhari, Atiku, says Olawepo-Hashim

    PEOPLE’S Trust (PT) presidential candidate Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has debunked that he has plan to step down for either the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari or People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) flagbearer Atiku Abubakar.

    He was confident that the two candidates are beatable with their parties’ alleged woeful performances since 1999.

    According to a statement through his media team signed by Hassan Ibrahim, the Presidential hopeful spoke during campaign in Akure, the Ondo State capital, to solicit votes of the people.

    He urged Nigerians to support his candidacy for rapid economic growth that will lift the masses out of abject poverty.

    He said 70% of Nigerians voters are yet to decide who to vote for among the presidential candidates less than 11 days to the 2019 election.

    Olawepo-Hashim advised the electorates to reject the two political parties that had failed them and the country in the last 20 years.

    The presidential candidate, who was accompanied by his Campaign Director-General and former Transport Minister, Mr. Habu Fari, said the country was too endowed with natural resources for the citizenry to be wallowing in poverty and vowed to introduce policies that would end insecurity and economic hardship, if elected the president.

    He advised eligible voters to secure their future by voting for his People’s Trust party in 2019 election.

    Olawepo-Hashim assured Nigerians, especially youths and graduates that he would create jobs and make the environment conducive for businesses to flourish.

    The presidential candidate said his party was fine-tuning its strategy in all states of the federation on how to wrestle power from the ruling APC, adding that PT had the highest number of representation in constituency nominations.

    Olawepo-Hashim said: “Some few days to election, more than 70 per cent of the electorates are still wondering, who they are going to vote for. They have been examining the candidates they are going to vote for and what these candidates promised to offer and among all the alternative parties, the PT is the biggest. But I can tell you that this election is still very open, even though its 10 days to the election.

    Fari, in his remark, expressed delight that the people of Ondo State trooped out enmass to receive Olawepo-Hashim, indicating that the people were ready to elect the Third Force, which the PT candidate represented.