PDP ’ll reclaim power in 2019 –Atiku
….Emerges party presidential flag bearer
… Pays tribute to OBJ
… Seeks support of other aspirants, Nigerians
Against all odds, former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, emerged the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, with a vow that the party will in 2019 displace the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from the Presidency to reclaim the power lost in 2015.
With Atiku’s emergence, the stage appears set for a titanic presidential election battle with candidate of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari, who has emerged the sole candidate of his party.
Atiku, who was overwhelmed with joy on the outcome of the presidential primary election of the PDP, announced in his acceptance speech that he was ever ready to work for realization of victory of his party next year and canvassed for full support, understanding and participation of 11 other aspirants, who contested with him in the primary election.
Apparently realizing the enormity of challenges the 2019 general elections posed for PDP to reclaim the Presidency, he told other presidential aspirants, including the incumbent senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki that he was ready to take their advice, work with them and be their partners in the overall success of the party.
Atiku told the gathering comprising over 3, 000 delegates and chieftains of the party across the country to be prepared to work with him to emerge victorious in the next year’s election, adding that presidential election is not a one-man job, but collective responsibilities of interest groups and stakeholders.
The former vice president paid a glowing tribute to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying Obasanjo made him to stand tall politically today because under his tutelage, he learnt a lot and acquired deep experience.
“With deep sense of patriotism, I am humbled and I make this pledge that you will not find me wanting. I promise not to fail you”, he promised.
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Atiku recalled his political career of almost 40 years during which he participated in five primary elections, adding however, that he was moved by the outcome of yesterday’s primary election because it was free, fair and credible in all standards.
“Today, we are witnessing a landmark event in the sense that since the rebranding of our great party and since the return of democratic rule, this is the most credible, fair and transparent election with a lesson that the interest of the party and that of the entire Nigerians is paramount than that of any individual”, he stressed.
He pledged that when PDP returns to power, it will improve in the innovative used by the convention planning committee to conduct elections.
“Let me say this with all sense of patriotism that we cannot afford to fails Nigerians at this critical moment. Nigerians are yearning to return PDP to power because they have compared security challenges and general development and are tired of gross mismanagement of government by the APC.
“History has beckon on all us to do everything humanly possible to ensure that PDP returns to power. We have enumerated and identified the challenges facing us as a nation and we are ready proffer solutions.
“This is a PDP that will do something different from the clueless government of APC. Let us not get intoxicated, we should improve on the welfare of our people”, Atiku said as he showered encomiums on the delegates.
The senate president, who spoke on behalf of other presidential aspirants, described Atiku’s emergence as a well-deserved one and promised that he and the entire Nigerians would work assiduously to ensure that on May 29, 2019, PDP flag will be flown as that of government in power.
National chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to learn from the party how to conduct free, fair and credible election without intimidation, molestation and harassment so that Nigeria’s economy can be improved upon.
“In this our PDP primary election, no victor, no vanquished. PDP is now united and we will carry out the most civilised campaign to reclaim our country.
By PRNigeria
