Former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2023 general elections has urged Nigerians to join him to ensure that they uproot the vestiges of bad governance that the ruling All Progressives Congress represents.
Atiku in a letter he personally wrote to Nigerians and particularly members of his party also said it is his prayer that come this day, 29 May, next year, “we shall get to work together in a government that will accommodate all Nigerians, especially the youth.”
According to him, “Last night was a momentous episode in our march to reclaim our dear country.
“Although I am not unaware that there was so much apprehension about the direction that the election could go, I was confident that with God on our side and based on the enormous work that everyone has put into this, we should record a resounding victory. And so it was!
“But this victory is not enough. Indeed, it is a further call to duty. Now that delegates of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party have done their bit, the challenge now is on you, and I, to present as ONE to get the job done.
“Let me remind you, once again, what this job is all about, dear compatriot. The job at hand for us is to ensure that we uproot the vestiges of bad governance that the ruling All Progressives Congress represents and begin to plant our UNITY SEED that will birth the New Nigeria of our dreams.
“Last week, I revealed an abridged version of my policy document, which contains details of my 5-point UNITY SEED agenda.
“Dear compatriot, I will take it for granted that you’ll ingrain the content of this policy document. Ours shall be a disciplined and issue-focused campaign, and I will urge you to get prepared for the task ahead, as we set forth.
“The victory last night is yet another chapter in our historic the journey to redeem our country. It is my prayer that come this day, 29 May, next year, we shall get to work together in a government that will accommodate all Nigerians, especially the youth.”
Atiku defeated Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike and Former president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki to clinch the ticket of the party.
Atiku scored 371 votes while Wike and Saraki polled 237 and 70 votes respectively.
In his reaction, Atiku said: “Today, the march to rebuild and unite our great country moves forward.
“I am honored to be named the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. I look forward to speaking with Nigerians across the country, taking the message of hope and unity as we build one future for one people,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku who described the process as free, fair and credible said:
“Today, we are making another history, a history we believe will bring about fundamental changes in governance and political processes.
“Today marks another process to the march in the process to our democratic gains.”
Atiku promised to unify the country as a unifier, stressing that “the government of the All Progressives Congress, APC has divided the country across ethnic lines.”
He went further to pledge to confront the security and economic challenges of Nigeria.
He called on his fellow contestants to work with him and commended them for the keen contest they provided. He appealed to all the aggrieved members to return to the party as efforts will be made to resolve all disputes.
He also thanked the electoral committee and the leadership of the PDP “who have worked day and night to ensure that this convention holds.”
