Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has called on all former presidential aspirants including Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and Sokoto State governor Aminu Tambuwal, as well as his supporters and party members to unite and achieve the second leg of the victory which is the sack of the All Progressives Congress, APC from the Presidential Villa in 2023.
Atiku who thanked party members for their support during the just concluded convention said that the event was just for the party to bring it’s best foot forward. He said that his victory at the convention was the victory of the party.
Atiku Abubakar who made the statement after receiving his Certificate of Return as the Presidential candidate of PDP also urged party members not to take APC for granted despite the visible misrule and destruction of the economy by the ruling party.
While commending Iyorchia Ayu led National Working Committee for transforming the party and Organizing a very credible National convention, Atiku stated, “The NWC assured me that it would be fair and will provide every aspirant a level playing field. I was also assured that once a candidate emerged from our primary election, you will all support that candidate and work very hard to ensure our victory in the presidential election.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this certificate of Return haven emerged as our party’s candidate in our just concluded special convention. This victory is a victory for all of us, for our party, and for the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the misrule of the APC. It was a collective effort, and I’m very grateful for everybody’s contributions.
“I am particularly grateful that you kept your word and gave us contestants fair treatment, despite what might have been a difficult situation”.
The former Vice President said that the National Convention was a family contest and called on all stake holders to come together and work for the defeat of the ruling party.
“While I’m excited and happy for this opportunity to bear our party’s flag again, let us all remember that what just happened is a contest within a family to decide how to put our best foot forward. The main contest is the one to win the presidency of our country for our party.
“It will require the entire PDP family and other supporters and sympathizers. We must pull everyone together. Nobody should be excluded, I beg of you. I have already visited some of those who contested against me, as a way to lead in that effort to unify the party so that we can face our real opponents, defeat them in the elections and begin the process of rescuing and rebuilding this country from the callous and dangerous APC misrule over the past seven years which is there for everyone to see.
“However, we should not take that or their defeat for granted. We must unite and work extremely hard for every single vote in this country. There is so much to do. And there is very little time to waste. So let’s get to work” Atiku charged the party.
Earlier in his remarks, National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu said that the victory of Atiku at the convention was a victory for the party, as there was no victor and no vanquished. He called on all the aspirants to mobilize all their supporters for the party.
He said, “Within the PDP family, we had a minor contest, a small contest within the family. There were no victors, there were no vanquishes, the party won. It is the party that won. Atiku Abubakar is not yet victorious. He has only been produced as our candidate, the candidate of the whole party.
“As we marched forward, we need all of you because each one of you had a supporter and all of you plus all your supporters, we want you all to fuse together into one happy political family. It is this family that will face the battle ahead. We have only started a journey. We shall end this journey sometime next year. By the first of June next year, we should take over power from colorless and clueless government that has totally destroyed this country.
“All of you are aware of what has happened to our country in the last seven years. I don’t need to repeat issues of insecurity, total destruction of the economy, total disunity of the country. We have never been as divided as we are today as a country. Families are divided, communities are divided against each other. There is no trust among ourselves. The president that is coming in, is tested and trusted. He will lead us to reunite the country. He will lead us to rebuild the economy. He will lead us to get rid of bandits and terrorists. He will re-enforce the armed forces. He will give us respect in the international community. Today we are a parries state but in the next 12 months, the whole world will begin to respect Nigeria all over again”.
Ayu urged all party members to come together irrespective of whom they supported at the convention and work together for the success of the party.
The certificate was signed by Chairman of National Convention Committee Sen. David Mark, it’s Secretary Sen. Ibrahim Shema, National Chairman of PDP Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, Secretary Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and National Organizing Secretary Umaru Bature.
Though several other aspirants were absent however present at the event were Sen. Saraki, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Tari Oba Oliver and Sam Ohuabunwa.
Governors who were present include Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa).
Governor of Delta state, Tom Ikimi, Emeka Ihedioha,
Babangida Aliyu, former Niger state Governor, Biodun Olujimi, Ahmed Makarfi, former Governor of Kaduna state, Ndudi Elumelu, the PDP Minority Leader in the House of Representatives and former Adamawa state Governor, Boni Haruna.
