Atiku: Why the Southeast should support my presidency

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People's Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate and former vice president Atiku Abubakar has said he is a 'stepping stone' to the realization of an Igbo-born president, promising his administration will restructure the country.

Atiku, who spoke in Enugu State yesterday at a meeting with South East PDP stakeholders following his consultation with stakeholders from the six geopolitical zones, noted that was optimistic about winning the general election in 2023 and was ready to change things for the better for the people.

He said he was interested in repositioning Ndigbo to play a vital role in the survival and development of the country, emphasizing that he would respect and honor the people of the area at all times.

He noted that his love for the region influenced his choices of Senator Ben Obi and Peter Obi as running mates in his previous two outings as presidential candidate, adding that he had chosen another Igbo for the third time as running mate.

He said: "As you know, the South East is close to my heart. You have supported me through thick and thin and I will always remember that. Your sons and daughters have played a very positive role in the development of our country; they were key people who played an important role in the government of the PDP in which I was vice-president. And they continued to excel in other roles around the world.

"You are a key contributor to the economic activities of this country and a government that wants to revive our economy and provide opportunities for our people must lead the Southeast. I am a businessman and I know that businesses need enabling environments to thrive and when they thrive, the country thrives."

He assured people that his program would benefit them and they would not be left behind.

“We must fight against the feeling of marginalization which serves as an excuse for separatist agitation in this area. National unity will benefit the people of this area who need a broader platform to operate. A restructuring that devolves powers from the federal government and gives the states the power to set their priorities is better for this area than what we have now.

"Furthermore, insecurity is now pervading the Southeast as much as other areas and without security people cannot go about their normal lives. I am aware of how the economy of this area and the livelihoods of its inhabitants are being destroyed by the Monday sit-at-home imposed by a misguided youngster from this area.

“It is hard to understand how you liberate a people by destroying their economy. This must stop and we will address all political grievances not just with words but with deeds,” he added. Also speaking, Atiku's running mate, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa lamented that Nigeria has never been so polarized and disunited as being noticed under the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Okowa said the only solution to the current insecurity and other problems facing Nigeria was the inauguration of the PDP administration which would be headed by an experienced politician like Atiku. administration (BoT) of the party, Adolphus Wabara, said that the South East would mobilize votes for the PDP to win the presidential election.He said that the participation in the event was an indication that the PDP remained the dominant party in the region.

However, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and some Southeast leaders were absent from the meeting. Ikpeazu, a strong ally of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, is among those calling for the resignation of PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu. The host, Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was however present.

Besides Ikpeazu, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, representing the senatorial area of ​​Enugu East, was also conspicuously absent. The former governor was listed as a member of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the APC, a development that unsettled PDP members in Enugu.

As Atiku met with PDP stakeholders in Enugu, Nnamani was still showing his admiration for APC presidential candidate Ahmed Bola Tinubu on his social media pages.

He wrote: “Tinubu is my friend, brother and colleague. I have great respect for him, his political record and his advances in governance. And I'm very proud and very happy with him. Anyone with a stomach ache should go…themselves. »

On Tuesday, a campaign poster of Nnamani and Tinubu appeared on social media. The poster bore a prominent inscription: "Ebeano 4...