••• Says Atiku Healthier Than Obi, Others
| The Daily Crucible | Monday, October 3, 2022
By Heritage Odih, Abeokuta
Former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliu, on drummed support for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar declaring that only Atiku's presidency in 2023 can reclaim the nation's lands from the grip of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) in Southeast and Boko Haram insurgents in the north.
Babangida lamented IPOB, Boko Haram, bandits and other criminals were making life difficult for Nigerians, hinting that if elected, Atiku would put measures in place to tackle the grave risk those groups posed to security of life and property in the country.
The PDP leader who spoke at the flag off of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign rally in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, ahead of 2023 presidential election, also alluded that the presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) is healthier than his Labour Party(LP) counter part, Peter Obi, and other presidential candidates.
At the well attended event by representatives of the national PDP including former governor Adamawa State, Boni Haruna, former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, PDP governorship hopeful in the state, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, his running mate, Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade and over 75 separate support groups for Atiku's presidential ambition, urged the people and indeed, Nigerian electorate to vote Atiku to end insecurity, burgeoning army of - out - of school children and huge national debt profile.
Babangida said, "We need security in this country and only Atiku's presidency can reclaim our land from Boko Haram, only Atiku Abubakar's presidency can reclaim our land from bandits, IPOB and all other criminals that are making our lives difficult. It is only Akiku's presidency that can restructure Nigeria.
"There must be a state police to ensure security in local areas. Only Atiku's presidency can do that. Look at our economy, the women who go to the market every other day and when you tell your husband that you want to drink pepper soup, if you know the amount it will cost you, you will cry out. Yesterday, we were speaking to the Fulani in Ogun State and they told us that some of them who used to bring truck load of cows cannot bring more than three (heads of cow) because even the buyers, those who buy between five and ten, they are buying only one. That is what we call extreme poverty in the land.
"Therefore, members of PDP and fellow Nigerians, on the day in February, elect Atiku Abubakar as President. I think and believe that the strength and development of any nation depends on the education of that country.
"You have seen what has happened to us, today our students in the public universities have been at home for more than seven, eight months. Our secondary schools many of them are so dilapidated that they cannot serve as secondary schools. Our elementary schools, there is no country that has over 20 million children out of school and you expect to be developed, only an Atiku Abubakar presidency can help us solve this problem.
"We have become the poverty capital of the world, that should not be. We are expected to everyday produce 2.1 million barrels of crude oil, but only last month, we were able to produce 900,000, it has gone as low as 600,000. What is happening to the rest, some people are stealing it, are we saying that the current government does not know those who are stealing it? They know, therefore, voting for Atiku Abubakar is saving, is rescuing, is developing Nigeria."
He noted that the essence of flag off presidential campaign in Ogun State is to enable the PDP commence serious electioneering for Atiku since the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has not given its nod for commencement of governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns.
He urged the people to support Ladi Adebutu to emerge governor in the state next year.
Also speaking separately, Ibrahim Shekarau and Boni Haruna urged them to support the PDP candidates from the presidential candidate, governor, National Assembly to State House of Assembly candidates of PDP.
For Haruna, the campaign should now be taken to the nooks and crannies of Ogun State.
"I want to appeal to you to join us as you make a commitment towards the primaries to support him and you delivered, we want to also appeal to you that now that the campaigns have started, we plead that this campaign should go to the wards, should go to the units," he said.
In his remarks, Ladi Adebutu said Ogun PDP is now rejuvenated and strong in the state, hinting this informed why the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state is running "helter skelter" over 2023.
He also called on the South West to support Atiku's candidacy, saying "PDP is the party that can take the region to the mainstream of Nigeria.
He said, "Before the primaries, I told people that for the peace of Nigeria, let us all support Atiku Abubakar, some people were adamant, they insisted that it was the turn of Yoruba, but I told them Yorubas have ruled previously.
"But some people because of their selfish interest don't want Atiku to emerge as our candidate. You cannot lose your integrity because of a pot of porridge.
"We cannot take Yorubaland out of the mainstream of Nigeria. Yorubaland must remain in the mainstream of Nigeria and PDP is the party that can take you to the mainstream of Nigeria.
"I believe in one Nigeria. All those calling for the break up of Nigeria cannot withstand the destruction of war. We don't want war, we cannot afford to be refugees, what we want is peaceful resolutions of our problems.
"We have to move away from the concept of breaking Nigeria, we will not divorce, our children will not suffer.
"Even the countries that have stronger institutions than us cannot not afford to break up.
"From the recent developments, it has shown that Atiku is a true leader, he has put himself in the position of a true elder. We want an elder that can rebuild the party and the country."
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