We need pan-Nigerian leader, not ethnic personality – Atiku

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has said that the credential of national inclusivity, not ethnicity should be an ideal that the northern part of the county should examine in electing a new President for the country in the 2023 elections.

According to a statement made available by the Media Adviser to Atiku, Paul Ibe, on Saturday, the PDP standard bearer made the remarks when he was featured as a guest at the Arewa Joint Committee interactive sessions with various presidential candidates of political parties on Saturday in Kaduna.

He noted that with a political career that spanned more than three decades, he stood shoulder-high as a northerner who had built bridges of unity across the country.

Atiku said, “I have been in politics for more than three decades and I am a northerner. So, if you ask me why I am the best candidate to lead Nigeria in 2023, I will simply say that what Nigeria needs is a pan-Nigerian President, not whether he is Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa-Fulani.”

The session, which took place at the Arewa House, was attended by high-ranking leaders of various north-based socio-cultural bodies.

Atiku, while delivering his speech at the event, highlighted the key policy agendas which he sought to pursue if elected President to include promoting national unity through deliberate actions that would secure mutual trust and confidence amongst all tendencies.

He also enumerated reforms in education, agriculture and reversing the economic downturn of the country.