Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, has said that, if elected, his administration will set aside $10 billion to promote small and medium-sized businesses, create jobs, and support youth and women’s employment.
The former vice president lambasted the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) government for the lack of security in the nation, claiming that Buhari and his party had failed Nigerians in both the areas of economic growth and security.
Atiku lamented the nation’s lack of security and deteriorating infrastructure during the PDP presidential rally on Thursday in Illorin, Kwara State. Citing Kwara as an example, he said the state connects the south and the north but that poor roads have hampered development within the state.
When addressing the audience gathered to greet the party’s campaign train, the PDP flagbearer declared that if elected in 2023, he will completely restructure Nigerian.
In an earlier speech, PDP vice presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa expressed his satisfaction with what he had observed in Kwara. Okowa claimed that the sizable throng receiving the PDP demonstrated that people are extremely hungry and prepared to end their hunger.
According to him, “The PDP is ready to create employment and won’t allow our children stay 8 month without going to school.”
He added that “the PDP will win in all six geo-political zone of the country. We will work with the people and rebuild Nigeria.”
Speaking at the rally, the Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyiorcha Ayu, said, “The PDP is one big united family, we are on our way back to victory. PDP has come back to rescue Nigeria and put it back on development track to rescue all families.
“Don’t allow anyone to deceive, we are hungrier than we were in 2015. Bring out your voters card, come out en-mass and vote all PDP candidates especially Atiku in the general election”.
Ayu afterwards, presented the PDP’s flag to Shuaibu Yema, the state governorship candidate of the party.
The former President of the Senate and ex-governor of Kwara State, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, urged the party’s supporters to vote massively for all candidates of the party in the next year’s election, saying the people can trust him and the party’s leadership.
Saraki said, “I stood and fought for democracy, APC came and lied to you and noe you knw the difference. It is time for Nigerians, starting from Kwara to kick out APC.
“When PDP was in power exchange rate was 200 and now it is 800, we are all tired.” He told the mammoth crowd.
“Atiku loves Kwara since the days of my father, other candidates don’t love you, they merely want to exploit you.”