Atiku in Rivers, declares intention to run for President in 2019

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has finally broken the ice as he declared his intention to offer himself to contest for the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Abubakar made his presidential ambition known on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when he spoke at the Government House, during a visit to Rivers State to consult with Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Leaders.

The former Vice President said that he was offering himself to set the country on the path of growth after the alleged serial failure of the APC.

Atiku, the Turaki Adamawa, said that since 2015, the APC Federal Government has destroyed the education, health, and infrastructural sectors through poor budgetary allocations and releases.

He said: “Since 2015, we have not seen a 100 kilometres constructed by the APC Federal Government anywhere in the country.”

He said that the APC Federal Government has destroyed the foundation of unity and cohesion of the country.

“I have never seen Nigeria so divided along religious, ethnic and regional lines. This division is as a result of the mismanagement of the APC,” he stated.

The PDP presidential hopeful called for the unity of the country, saying that no component part of the country could progress alone and called on Rivers PDP Stakeholders to support his ambition to emerge as the party’s Presidential candidate.

Speaking at the occasion, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike declared that all Nigerians must take up the solemn responsibility of sacking the non-performing APC Federal Government in 2019.

Governor Wike urged all PDP members irrespective of their status to ensure that the march to the Presidential Villa was not truncated by disunity.

He urged all PDP presidential aspirants to contest within acceptable limits as the race was not a do-or-die affair, but a movement to oust a failed APC Federal Government.

Governor Wike said, “Every presidential aspirant must see himself as a member of the larger PDP family. We must do everything to ensure that PDP returns to the Presidential Villa in 2019.

“Only one aspirant would become a candidate. We will do everything to ensure that the party comes out with a candidate that has a track record to upstage the APC.”

The governor said that he has received former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and now Atiku Abubakar, noting that other aspirants would be offered the platform to consult with Rivers PDP members.

“God will make sure that the right candidate emerges. When the right candidate emerges, we will team up and remove this bad government.

“There is no benefit that Rivers State has gotten from this APC Federal Government. All the APC Federal Government is doing is plotting to rig the 2019 elections,” Governor Wike said.

He said that the former Vice President has the right qualification to fly the PDP flag, noting that he should extend his consultations.

Also speaking, former Enugu State Governor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, said that Atiku Abubakar was a detribalised Nigerian, with the capacity the rescue the country.

Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel during the visit, said Nigeria needed Atiku Abubakar to revive the country.

Atiku Abubakar was accompanied to Rivers State by Gbenga Daniel, Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa and Senator Abdul Ningi.

The former Vice President also met with State and Federal Lawmakers, Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Local Government Areas and party leaders from within and outside the state.