Emmanuel Thomas l Saturday, May 28, 2022
ABUJA, Nigeria – Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State today stepped down for the Turaki Adamawa, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and asked his delegates to vote for the former Vice President.
Tambuwal stepped down few minutes after he addressed delegates at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. He was not the only person that stepped down.
Dr. Hayatudeen earlier stepped down for what he described as Dollarization of the primaries. Unconfirmed reports say delegates got as much as USD 50,000 each, putting together bribes from all the delegates.
A social media activists, Akinsola Akin said on Twitter that “Each Delegate Of Opposition Party, PDP Gets Over $50,000 Bribe As Atiku, Wike, Others Compete In Corruption-ridden Presidential Primary.
“One delegate will collect; Atiku ~$20,000 Wike ~ $15,000 Saraki~ $10,000 Tambuwah~ $10,000 & Vote 1 person”, he alleged.
Dr, Nwakwukwu Anakweze also stepped down during the convention. Remember that Peter Obi, earlier withdrew from the primaries and defected to the Labour Party. He has also condemned Dollarisation of the Nigerian economy.
Earlier, all the 16 candidates were given five minutes to address all the delegates.
In his address, former President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Pius Anyim explained that if given the mandate of the party, he will unify the country, fight security and bring the party together.
“ Nigerians expect PDP to come back to power rebuild Nigeria”, he said.
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel said he has the capacity to recue Nigeria, rebuild the economy of Nigeria, adding that he is a man with integrity and sincerity of purpose to rescue Nigeria.
“I have solution, which I have provided at sub-national level. A vote for me is a vote to return Nigeria to past glory. To rescue and restore Nigeria”, he said.
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Ayo Fayose described him as the Oshokomole, “I have defeated two incumbent governors, that means if given the chance, I would defeat Buhari with landslide victory”, he said, adding that Buhari has nothing to offer, adding that APC will remain a party that never meant well for Nigeria.
He added, “We should be ready to work with whoever becomes the candidate of the party, power belongs to God. If given the power, I have a chance of 10 ten times defeating the incumbent”, he bragged.
Bauchi State Governor, Mr. Bala Abdirkadir Mohammed said he is offering himself to serve and that there is need for introspection since the delegates are representing the candidates and 200million people.
“I am offering myself as somebody with a modest background, a journalists, a civil servant and former minister. I have gone through the mill of preparedness. With little resources in Bauchi we have done a lot”, he said, adding that insecurity and economy remain major problem of Nigeria.
“We need to restore our national esteem. Look at those with capacity, those that can do it, I have won election at the most difficult circumstances, you need somebody who can win election, I am one of those candidate”, he said.
Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Mr. Dele Momoudu said it takes a strong man to get to this stage because of the Dollar rain. “I am a child of diversity, father from Edo and mother Osun with parents who are Muslim and Christians.
“I come from a family of teachers”, he said and that his passion is to develop education. “Education is key, most of the problems in Nigeria will be solved if we have leaders who are well educated and believe in education. I have been going round for security speaking to critical stakeholders.
“You cannot give what you don’t have, if you have not been able to manage resources, how can you manage Nigeria. Twenty-nine 29 years ago, I stood in Jos during the SDP primaries between Babagana Kingibe and the late Cheif MKO Abiola, and that day, dreamt that I will context. Today my dream has come to past, I am standing with former Vice President, Atiku Abukar. I believe if you believe it, it will happen. I am a man of humility, a man with utmost exposure”, he said.
Mazi Ohabunwa: “ I will work with party leaders to take the country from its conundrum to development”, he said, adding that Nigeria is held down by four demons, corruption, and insecurity, injustice and underdevelopment. “ I will work with PDP to implement policy document, domestic investment that will create businesses and projects.
“ Nigeria has treated many unjustly, today people cry about maginalisation”, he said, adding that he will work with the party to take away poverty, compound integrated export drive to make Nigeria safe and secure.
“ I invite delegates to look at the future of Nigeria, we need to introduce new culture, culture of performance, culture of accountability and raise the level of Nigerians from the level of poverty and insecurity so that Nigeria will become the living light of Africa and face of Africa”, he said.
Former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki tasked delegates to elect a candidate that can unite the country and a candidate that knows what he is doing.
“ I have worked in private and public sector. You need someone who knows about government. A Nigerian for all Nigerians, a Nigerian that is a bridge builder, between Christians and Muslims, the youth and the old”, he said, adding that he, Saraki will lead Nigeria to a brighter future.” Let’s fix Nigeria, enough talk”, he said.
For the Governor Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, “lets work together to rescue this country”, he said, adding that he accepted to throw himself into the race after wide consultation.
He described himself as lawyer with requisite experience and member Body of Benchers.
“With my character, temperament, I believe I posses leadership quality for this country at a time when Nigeria is divided and confronted with insecurity, poverty and infrastructural decay. I am the bridge between the young and the old. Shy away from sentiment and do the right thing, vote for the leadership of the country to introduce, intellect and vigor into running of Nigeria”, he said.
Ugwu Charles Okwudili, a lawyer and businessman said he wants to lead charge to interrogate basic governance structure, “why we cannot develop energy from coal deposite in Enugu, from materials and abundant sun allover Nigeria”. He said he wants to lead a government that will put in place a federal and state police.
River State Governor, Nyesom Wike thanked all the delegates, adding “ I will support anybody who emerges today to the fullest, because I love this party. Since 1998, I have worked for this party, I am not going anywhere, this is my party. If I emerge today, every body in the party will be united so that we can win the election in 2023”, he said, adding that the problem with Nigeria is leadership and that therefore, PDP must not make mistake.
“Elect a courageous leader, a fearless leader who can withstand APC, please send me to APC, I will win APC for the progress of Nigeria”, he promised.
