Campaigns ahead of the presidential elections February 25 get hotter with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, pledging to open borders and give $10 billion dollars revolving loan to business communities if voted into power.
He said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government’s policy on borders closure had brought untold hardship and crippled business activities in Nigeria.
Atiku, who spoke in Sokoto while flagging off the PDP presidential campaign in the state, also said he would tackle security challenges currently ravaging the country.
“If there’s no peace, there ‘ll be no progress. I promise Nigerians if they vote PDP come February 25 election, I will tackle security challenges currently ravaging the country.
“I will return Nigeria back to its former self, peaceful nation, where one can travel to anywhere and at any time without fear of bandits, kidnappers, or any lawless group,” the PDP candidate promised.
The PDP presidential candidate who has been in Sokoto since Saturday pledged to dualise the 200 kilometers Sokoto Gusau road if elected.
Atiku thanked the people of Sokoto state for their overwhelming support to the PDP, urging them to translate same to victory in next month’s election.
The PDP candidate had earlier on commissioned the multi-billion Naira Runjin Sambo flyover conceived and constructed by Tambuwal administration and inspected the multi-billion Naira state University Teaching Hospital also conceived and constructed by the Tambuwal administration.
In his remarks, the PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyochiya Ayu said he was comfortable with the mammoth crowd that attended the rally, saying it’s a clear demonstration of the PDP victory in all the elections.
Speaking highly of Sokoto people, Ayu said: “When they say yes it is yes and when they say no nobody will change them.”
In his remarks, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who is also Director General PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, assured the national chairman that with help of God, PDP would clear all the elective positions from the presidential candidate down to state assembly.
Tambuwal said the people of Sokoto state had divorced the APC since 2019 and no new marriage was contracted.
In his remarks, the PDP governorship candidate, Malam Sa’idu Umar Ubandoma, urged the electorates to demonstrate their love to the party on the election day to vote for all the PDP candidates both at the national and state levels.
Tinubu in Anambra
In a related development, the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged the electorate to massively vote for him at the poll.
Tinubu spoke Tuesday in Awka, Anambra state, in continuation of his nationwide rally.
Addressing the gathering alongside his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, Governors Hope Uzodinma and Ganduje of Imo and Kano states respectively among others, he said his administration, if voted into power, would support the state to realise her industrialisation status.
According to him, “Anambra is a progressive state with both human and material resources, and her people have capacities to dissemble and assemble different auto spare parts and others for positive use.”
He added that his administration would help secure the future of Nigeria, making the investments of her populace to become 100% times better than before.
“I will create jobs for youth. I will make your life better. My administration will help secure your future, and make your investments 100% better. Anambra state is an industrialized state. I will support your state to realise her industrialisation status. This is one state where people can turn different auto spare parts into good use.
“Your people are very industrious. Vote for me as you voted for Governor Chukwuma Soludo. I will not disappoint you. Your governor will be part of my economic team as he served in the President Buhari’s administration,” he stated.
He also enjoined electorate to reject the candidature of his Labour Party counterpart, Mr Peter Obi, as according to him, “Peter will deny his campaign promises as the biblical Peter did three times.”
“Don’t mind those coming here to lie for you. When they bring their lies come, tell them na lie lie. For Peter Obi, you remember how Peter in the bible denied Jesus three times before cock crow, na like that he go deny his campaign promises…” he said.
Earlier, Governor Uzodinma had urged leaders of APC in Anambra state to become united and organise their populace to vote massively for APC, while the coordinator of the Presidential campaign council in Anambra, Senator Margery Okadigbo assured Tinubu of victory.
Police on pro-Tinubu rally
Meanwhile, the Niger state Police Command has confirmed that it stopped a pro-Tinubu rally in Borgu local government area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, who spoke in an interview, Tuesday, said the command got information that there were going to be problems so they nipped them in the bud.
He added that it was a proactive measure taken to prevent a security breach in the community.
“The police took over the venue of the planned rally as a proactive measure due to intelligence received of a likely breach of security at the venue.
“Hence, we had to do the needful to avert any possible attack or hijack by suspected miscreants to cause mayhem and breach of the peace in the community,” Abiodun added.
The rally which was tagged “Grand Lockdown” was to garner support for the APC presidential candidate and his running mate.
One of the Tinubu/Shettima supporters, Usman Shehu, stated, “The rally was billed to hold at the Borgu Township Stadium at 11am on Tuesday only for supporters to arrive the venue to realise that the police have taken over the venue and its environs.
“We had already concluded arrangements on everything we needed for the rally. We had done our decorations, sound checks and everything required to hold the rally.
“Only for us to come early this morning to see that the police have barricaded the venue and they told us to go back that the rally wasn’t going to hold.”
