The national coordinator of Be Atikulated, Mr. Ime Victor Akpan on Sunday called on the people of Akwa Ibom State to come out en masse to welcome the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Atiku Abubakar at the flag off of the party’s presidential campaign in Uyo on Monday (tomorrow), October 10.
He said in a statement issued on Sunday that Atiku is the only one among the presidential candidates who has a well-articulated policy document to get Nigeria out of the present economic and social malaise.
He enjoined the people of the state not to be carried away by politicians who want to grab power by any means not for the benefit of the people but to fulfill their life ambition.
He said the PDP presidential candidate, in his five-point agenda, seeks to restore Nigeria’s unity, strengthen national security, foster economic prosperity, improve education delivery and re-structure the polity.
He added that the party’s standard bearer has a good understanding of the parlous state of the Nigerian economy following almost eight years of the misrule by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and he has the blueprint on how to fix it.
“In the past seven years, Nigeria has recorded unprecedented job losses. Consequently, the purchasing power of the people has declined considerably as Nigerians have little or no disposable income.
“Lack of access to basic amenities has pushed more than 90 million people below the poverty line and created more misery for the poor, especially in the rural areas.
“Prices of the so-called Giffen goods like wheat, potatoes and rice garri, yams, cassava, beans, tomatoes, plantains, etc have risen astronomically. The middle class is extinct. It is either you are rich or you are poor. This is the tragedy of Nigeria under the APC government.
“Fortunately, Nigeria has a man in the person of His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who has stated in no mistaken terms that he is on a rescue mission. As vice president to President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999-2007, His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the chairman of the national economic council. He knows the working of government. His mission is to turn Nigeria around for the benefit of all,” he said.
He quoted Atiku as saying that the PDP’s economic growth and development agenda seeks primarily to stimulate the growth of the economy.
“It envisions an economy that is modern, dynamic, and competitive, capable of taking its rightful place among the top 20 economies of the world Nigeria has the potential to double its gross domestic product by 2030 and achieve a per capita income of approximately $5,000. Re-building infrastructure and reducing infrastructure deficit will enhance the carrying capacity of the economy and unleash growth and wealth creation.”
He also said the presidential candidate will carry out significant reforms to restructure the economy and to support the private sector to unleash its growth potential and play a key role in the economy.
He also quoted the presidential candidate as saying that “a strong, productive, and pro-growth private sector is needed to create wealth, generate employment opportunities, and help fight poverty. Nigerian businesses are significantly impacted by business environment constraints and cannot, therefore, realise their full potential.”
Victor said it takes a visionary person to outline sound and workable economic programmes to get Nigeria out of the woods.
“I therefore call on the people of Akwa Abasi Ibom State not only to come out and welcome His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the kickoff of the presidential campaign in Uyo tomorrow. I also call on the people to vote massively for the PDP on February 25 and March 11, 2023 during the presidential/national assembly and governorship/house of assembly elections respectively,” Victor added.
Meanwhile, party stalwarts who have arrived in Uyo for the event include the vice presidential candidate and governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Mr. Douye Diri, former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke, Mr. George Sekibo, former Rivers East senator, Mr. Lee Maeba, among others.
