Atiku Assures South-East of Presidency After his Tenure in Enugu

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday said that the South-East will have to tarry awhile on the presidential queue and take their turn after he must have completed his tenure.

Atiku who was upbeat on his prospects in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, however, did not say whether the wait will be for four or eight years.

But he harped on his longstanding relationship with Ndigbo which transcended politics.

“I have three Igbo children and I am saying this for the very first time in public. So, my relationship with Ndigbo did not start today,” Atiku said.

On the political front, he said, “I’ve had close relationship with the Igbos and this influenced my choices of Senator Ben Obi and Mr. Peter Obi as my running mates in my two previous outings as presidential candidate. Again, I have chosen another great Igbo here (Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa) for the third time as my running mate.”

The PDP candidate, who insisted that he would win the 2023 presidential poll, said his great relationship with the Igbos would continue until they assume the presidency after his tenure.

Atiku, who was addressing Southeast PDP stakeholders in Enugu on Tuesday ahead of the official flag off of presidential campaigns on Wednesday, said: “I am the stepping stone for Igbos to become President of Nigeria.”

But before then, he vowed to prioritise developmental projects in teh Southeast and other regions when elected, saying that any project in any State is a favour to Nigeria.

While promising to prioritise projects in Southeast, Atiku took a swipe at the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration for segregating some parts of the country with the paucity of projects.

“The second Niger Bridge in Onitsha is not a favour to the Southeast, rather it is or should be seen as a favour to Nigeria. This is because it is not only the people of the Southeast that use the bridge,” Atiku said.

He also expressed concern over the ongoing sit-at-home in the region which he said had dealt a big blow to the economy of the region and the country at large, calling on elders in the region to speak out against it.

He said his administration would pay close attention to tackling insecurity, economic and other challenges bedeviling the country.

The former Vice President, arrived at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport on Tuesday morning for the Baze Event Centre, Independence Layout Enugu, venue of the event.

The event is aimed at uniting the Igbo for PDP and presenting their son, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the party’s vice-presidential candidate. Okowa is Delta State Governor.

This is coming after the South-East failed to get the party’s presidential ticket despite calls for the ticket to be zoned to the region.