The presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has advised voters in the country to defend their votes in the February 16 election.
The former vice president who spoke in Akure, the Ondo state capital on Monday at the party’s presidential campaign revealed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are not campaigning but rather planning to steal votes across the country.
While advising people to go out on election day to vote for the PDP, he added that people must stand firm to defend their votes.
” We are here today talking to you, we are communicating with you, but APC and Buhari and not talking to you. They want to steal your votes ,that is why they are not campaigning.
“Don’t allow them to do what they did in Ekiti,Osun and even in Ondo states. I want to appeal to you to vote and ensure your vote counts,” he said.
Atiku ,who lamented the level of unemployment across the country with over ten million jobs lost, disclosed that he would give 40% appointment to youths and 30% to women in his government because they are important part of the economy.
His words: ” APC has failed us,our country is now world headquarters of poverty. There is no country as poor as Nigeria now according to International agencies.
“They promised to restore security but today,we have insecurity in the North-West, North-East, North-Central and everywhere in the country.
“They promised to create jobs, they have lost more than 10 million jobs. They stole your jobs.
” Another thing is to restructure this country, so that you can be in charge of your resources, you can be in charge of your development, you can be in charge of your education, and be in charge of your health. It is very important.”
The presidential candidate further said that restructuring is the only solution to mirage of problems confronting the nation,saying with restructuring Nigerians will take charge of their health and other areas of the economy.
The National Chairman of the Party, Prince Uche Secondus noted that the reason why the economy of the country is not bouyant was because president Muhammadu Buhari is sleeping everyday in government.
Secondus said Atiku Abubakar is full of energy to run a government that would provide jobs for the people,grow economy and provide security, describing him as a man that can be trusted.
He accused the APC led federal government of planning to destroy all Institutions in the country in order to have free ride in the 2019 elections.
While saying the party was not against the anti-corruption fight,the PDP national chairman maintained that the fight must follow due process.
He said: ” They are planning to destroy all Institutions in the country. You saw what they did to the legislature and now Judiciary. I want to thank the judiciary today for standing by the truth.
“Buhari has been sleeping ,that is why iur economy is sleeping, security is sleeping , everything in the country is sleeping.
” We are presenting to you a man full of energy, a man that can be trusted in government to provide employment and grow the economy.”
On his part, the Senate president and Director general of the presidential campaign, Bukola Saraki noted that the people must not make the mistake made three and half years ago by voting for the All Progressive Congress(APC).
Saraki added that Atiku would revive the economy and provide jobs for the unemployed youths in the country, noting that there is hunger in the country.
“We were here three and half years ago and we agree we made a small mistake by telling you to vote for Buhari and APC that they will do three things.
“On the issue of security,they got F9 because the level of insecurity is now everywhere in the country; on the economy,there is hunger everywhere and we have not seen it before. They promised 3 million jobs for the youth, we did not see it. They failed in all fronts.
“They said they are fighting corruption, and we told you that people around them that stealing our money ,they did not arrest them. You all saw what they did with the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Is that anti-party corruption fight ?
“My people,this hunger and poverty must stop. Let’s come out on February 16 to vote for someone that understand, someone that will give our youths jobs. We must not make any mistake this time around.
” It is time for us to show we are ready. A president that is articulated,a president that is digital, a president that has energy,a president that understand the work, a president that will bring jobs for the youth. It is time to have a president that will take Nigeria to a greater heights and move the country forward and Atiku is the man for the job,” the Senate president said.
YOMI AYELESO, Akure
