Wike, allies absent as Atiku campaign kicks-off
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday kicked off its campaign for the next year’s presidential election in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, without the presence of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and members of his camp.
Wike and his allies —Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) —had similarly boycotted the inauguration of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on September 28.
They have peeved with Atiku and PDP leadership for not keeping to the principle of equity by allowing the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu to remain in office in contravention of the party’s constitution.
The flag-off of the campaign at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, however, was witnessed by Ayu; the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa and three former Senate Presidents — David Mark, Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki.
Governors at the event were the chairman of the PCC, Emmanuel Udom, Akwa Ibom, Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa).
At the ceremony, Atiku said the PDP would rescue Nigeria from insecurity, poverty, disunity, economic woes, youth unemployment, and falling education standard.
He said that the PDP lifted Nigeria from “bottom to top” when it came to power in 1999.
His words: “When PDP came to power in 1999, we made Nigeria the best in Africa. But today, all that has been destroyed. Today, the PDP is on a rescue mission.
“We are ready; we will rescue Nigeria from hunger and insecurity. If you vote for PDP, it will be a return to safety, good governance, and a united country.”
Atiku, who thanked Nigerians for the confidence reposed in him and the PDP, lamented that the gains made by his party in the 16 years it held power had been eroded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in seven years.
Okowa, governor of Delta State, said Atiku has “the capacity and experience to address the security and economic challenges of the nation.”
He said: “While other parties are presenting lieutenants, the PDP is presenting a well-tested general. We need experienced people like Atiku to rescue and rebuild.
“He is comfortable with all the zones in Nigeria. His track record of achievements from 1999-2007 attests to this. Nigerians are happy that we are presenting the best of the lot.”
While handing over the PDP flag to Atiku, Ayu described the PDP as a moving train, adding that Nigerians were looking up to the opposition party to rescue the country.
In a veiled reference to Wike and others, Ayu said: “The train of the PDP has moved and while the train has left the station, we will be ready to stop the train to take in new people who, for one reason or another, are not here with us today.
“The PDP is a whole big family and we shall be entering this campaign as one entity”.
