As part of efforts to woo Ondo state electorates, Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar has said that youth empowerment will be his priority if he becomes the next president in 2023.
Atiku further pledged to set aside 10 billion US dollars to make sure that young men and women are empowered through small and medium enterprises so that they can have brighter future for themselves and their families.
The PDP flag bearer made the pledge on Wednesday at Akure in Ondo State during flag-off South West PDP Presidential Campaign Rally.
Atiku said that his policy document captures the entire gamut of empowerment for women and youths.
He said, “I have undertaken to make sure that our young man or woman, you are the one who are gathered here today. You are the one who are suffering in the sun today. You are going to vote for us and protect the vote for us, we promise you, we will set aside enough money to make sure that we empower you for jobs, for security and for your families.
“That is why in our policy documents, we said we are going to set aside 10 billion US dollars to make sure that we provide small and medium enterprises for young men and women, to create jobs and to empower themselves. This is our number one priority. We must empower our young men and women so that they can have a brighter future for themselves and their families”.
The Presidential Candidate lamented that Universities were under lock and key for several years due to the non-commitment of the ruling party on the education sector. He pledged to revive the educational sector and ensure that it becomes a priority of his administration.
“We will provide enough funding for education so that our universities can continue with their work, not what the APC are doing today. For more than eight months, our universities closed simply because they don’t care about your education. They don’t care about your future. We promise it will not be the same again”.
While thanking the Ondo electorate for giving the PDP its highest vote in 2023, he said that he will ensure that the roads linking Ondo state with other states in the South and the north are made motorable.
“By giving us the highest votes in the Southwest, we will never forget you, that is why if you repeat the support again, we promise we will definitely deal with insecurity. We will eliminate it.
“We will also make sure that all the Federal roads linking Ondo state and other parts of the country are made very motorable”.
National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu said that Ondo electorate should not be discouraged by the riggings that took place in the last election. He said that Atiku is coming to unite the country and put it back on a progressive path.
”Don’t be despaired that they rigged the last election. PDP is coming back to rule Ondo state but for us to come back, we as a party must remain united in Ondo state, there should be no divisions. Work together to win the Presidential election and in Ondo state, give us the highest vote. The return of PDP at the National level is the return of PDP in Ondo state”.
He added that Atiku is a detribalized candidate vast in economic reconstruction.
“When we came in as a party in 1999, the economy was very bad but the PDP under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo, ably assisted by the Vice President who is the chairman of the economic council, fixed this country. He is coming back today as the next president and he will do exactly what he did in the past, identify the right talent, stick together with them, find solutions to the problems of this country.
“He is somebody who is a national figure, who is detribalized, who will unify this country. He will not only recognize people who are from his local government but he will know people from every part of the country. He will unify the country and he will make life better for all of you. There will be jobs, there will be prosperity, there will be security and Nigeria will come back not only as the greatest country in Africa but rest of the world”.
The Director-General of the Campaign Council and governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal said that Atiku’s policy document on restructuring is the best solutions to the issues around devolution of power in the country.
“Atiku Abubakar is one man I believe that have the capacity, the experience to restructure Nigeria whereby we can have federalism, devolution of power and the resources for sub-national at the state level and local government level for them to work for the people of this country.
“I have seen as a lawyer and a parliamentarian the document for the restructuring of Nigeria by Atiku and I believe that document has no equal with that of any of the presidential candidates that we have running in Nigeria today.
“I, therefore, appeal to the politically independent-minded and sagacious people of Ondo State to vote for Atiku and all the candidates of the PDP in the 2023 general elections for the rescue, restoration and security of Nigeria and indeed for Nigeria’s development”.
The rally was attended by the newest governor in the PDP family and governor of Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Chairman of PDP Presidential Campaign Council Gov. Udom Emmanuel, other party stalwarts, members of the National Working Committee and other teeming supporters of the party.
