ONYEDI GABRIEL, Port Harcourt
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said that Nigerians want the Peoples Democratic Party to return to power in 2023.
He stated this after a fence-mending meeting with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Speaking in Government House in Port Harcourt, Atiku said Nigerians were waiting for PDP to return to power at the federal level in 2023.
He said he had a fruitful deliberation with the governor saying they spent time reconciling touching issues in the party.
He said their discussion centered on the unity and stability in the PDP, which he said were critical for the party to emerge victorious in 2023.
“Well, I came here to reconcile with the governor on party affairs and how we can ensure that there is unity and stability in the party. So, that we can take over the government in 2023. I believe that Nigerians can’t wait for 2023 to come so that PDP will return,” he said.
Speaking on the current insecurity challenges overwhelming the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, describing the prevailing situation in the country as bad.
He urged Nigerians to wait for the appropriate time for the PDP to unveil its policies of addressing the insecurity across the country.
He said: “I have never seen it (insecurity) this bad. I am 70 years plus, I have never seen it this bad in terms of security challenges, in terms of economy, in terms of unemployment. This is the worst.
“Why can’t you give us time. We will come up with our policies. We will present them to Nigerians when the time comes.
“We have done that before. Under PDP, we recorded the highest economic growth, the best foreign reserves, we reduced unemployment. You know that we can do it?
The former vice-president also acknowledged the tremendous leadership success recorded by Wike, whom he described as a topmost governor among his peers in the party.
“I think he (Wike) is the topmost governor we have in the party. There is no doubt about that in terms of projects, youths and employment, in terms of security. Yes, we have security challenges all over the country”, he said. He further commended the governor for his outstanding leadership and sterling performance in office.