2023:CUPP endorses Atiku-Okowa presidential ticket

By Nosa Àkeñzua

Ahead of the February 25, 2023 presidential election in the country, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in South South and South East Geopolitical zones has endorsed the Atiku/Okowa presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The position of members of the CUPP was contained in a six point communique made available to journalists on Thursday at a press conference held in Asaba.

Reeling out the communique, the spokesperson of the group, Prince Henry Eze said the endorsement of the candidacy of the joint ticket of Atiku and Okowa was because the PDP joint presidential ticket has the capacity to reposition the country for sustainable growth and development.

Prince Eze pointed out that the candidates of the PDP joint presidential ticket believe in restructuring, adding that they have versed wealth of experience needed to transform and reset the country on the path of growth.

According to the communique, Atiku and Okowa believe in multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation, stressing that the choice of Okowa for Vice President was a clear indication that Alhaji Abubakar loves the Ibo people and has a penchant for excellence.

The Coalition took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government for failing to address the teething problems of insecurity, economic downturn, inflation, poverty and fuel hike among others.

Prince Eze maintained in the communique that the coalition drawn from the 11 states of the zones was convinced that Atiku Abubakar was the most qualified candidate to preside over the country from May 29, this year.

He, therefore, urged members of the coalition to massively mobilise their supporters to vote enmasse for the Atiku-Okowa presidential ticket on the February 25th presidential election.

“The CUPP in South South and South East, arising from a critical assessment meeting, therefore, gladly endorsed the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa joint ticket as our consensus choice for the 2023 presidential election for the following reasons:

“The South South and South East geopolitical zones of Nigeria have always joined the rest of our compatriots in the country to advocate for restructuring as a means of our continued existence as a nation.

“Atiku Abubakar is one presidential candidate that has always stressed the need for restructuring and has firmly promised that if he becomes President, he is going to champion the devolution of powers to the federating states and local governments in order to downsize the precariously over burdened federal government structure.

“Atiku Abubakr is the most experienced of all the presidential candidates having been the Vice-President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and handled governance at the Presidential level. Besides, since
2007, he has played central roles in the Nigeria political scene and understands what it takes to salvage Nigeria from its tottering condition and move the Nation from decay to prosperity.

“Atiku Abubakar’s choice of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as a running mate is an indication that the PDP presidential candidate cares for excellence and also loves the Ibo people. Atiku Abubakar demonstrated his preferences by choosing his running mate from
the South-East in 2019 and has now chosen a man from the Ibo speaking area of Delta State as a further proof of his love for Ibos.

“Both Atiku and Okowa are proven and tested unifiers, and Atiku noted it when he said “I opted for Okowa because I wanted someone that could deliver on the policies of the party and also to
unify the country.”

“As it were, Delta State is often referred to as microcosm of Nigeria and anyone who can successfully govern Delta State is a fit material for the Presidency.

“For nearly eight years, Dr. Okowa has successfully unified the different ethnic nationalities in Delta State through equitable distribution of resources to them.

“Both Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Okowa are also lovers of education. Whilst Atiku Abubakar has demonstrated his love for education by establishing a world class American University at Yola, Adamawa State, Dr. Okowa has demonstrated his by establishing three new state universities to complement the existing Delta State University, Abraka.

“Dr.Okowa has also renovated six moribund Technical Colleges and building nine new ones in order to establish a paradigm shift from conventional education to technical and vocational education as a way of tackling youth unemployment.

“In view of Atiku Abubakar’s strong views on restructuring, education, his experience and maturity on politics, the CUPP in South-South and South-East believe he is the best amongst the 2023 presidential candidates of political parties.

“We urge all the presidential candidates to support the presidential bid of Atiku Abubakar for the 2023 presidential election.

“We equally urge all political stakeholders, opinion leaders and elders of the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones and all Nigerians of good conscience to support Atiku Abubakar in order to rescue Nigeria from the hands of an APC government that has brought misery, despair and frustration to more than 200 million Nigerians from 2015 till the present day,” the spokesman of the CUPP added in the communique.

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Members of the group also commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his exceptional performance in all sectors and enjoined him to replicate his achievements in Delta when he emerges as vice president of the country.

Prince Eze who said that the Coalition was an alliance of 40 political parties in Nigeria including the PDP, therefore, advocated for a peaceful electoral process before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.