The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, said he and his running mate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, were not contesting out of desperation for power.
Atiku stated this during his endorsement by the Council of National Students Presidents of Nigeria.
The PDP presidential flag bearer who was represented by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said his aim is to unite the country, tackle insecurity and cure the economy from total collapse.
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The CNSPN is an organisation whose membership cuts across the National Association of University Students, Postgraduate Students Association of Nigeria, National Association of Polytechnic Students and National Association of Colleges of Agriculture Students.
Dogara said,
“They (Atiku/Okowa) asked me to come and appreciate you for the faith in them and to remind you that they are not running because they are hungry for political offices.
“They are running because they believe they have been tried and tested and proven that what is delivered in their hands does not shake and the destiny of this country will become steadied and stabilised.
“They are more determined seeing that Nigeria has been left behind on the starting blocks of the race, they will ensure that they deliver the promise of this great country.”
Speaking in his personal capacity, Dogara commended the president Muhammadu Buhari, for his policy on naira redesign.
He noted that the naira redesign would checkmate vote buying and enhance credible elections.
He further pleaded with Nigerians to endure the temporal pains as the gains would be great.
“Whatever pains we are passing through in relation to the Naira redesign policy, some of us may not have the cash but I urge you to consider this pain as part of the sacrifice that will give us a transparent election in which we will elect a leader that we deserve”, he said.
Also speaking, the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Philip Aduda, said
“Our incoming President Atiku is an educationist, somebody who has a university, his university has never been on strike, he is somebody who is tested and trusted.”
Earlier, the chairman of CNSPN, Obaji Uchenna Marshal after their examination said the working document of the PDP is the only document that goes beyond making political promises to actually providing a blueprint on how to have those promises achieved.
He said,
“It is pertinent to note that, more than ever before, students are paying genuine attention to the processes of electing leaders that will see over the affairs of governance of this country for the next four years, hence our unwavering commitment to be part of the process by exercising our constitutional franchise.
“On this note of the foregoing and sequel to the above, the CNSPN has taken her time to follow all the frontline candidates closely, gone through their policy working documents (manifestos) and after keen scrutiny, the CNSPN have come to the conclusion that the manifesto of the People’s Democratic Party which carries the Atiku/Okowa tickets is the most reliable, realizable.
“They are the only ones that provide answers to Nigeria’s quests and above all, the most educationally friendly.”
