Wike, allies absent as Atiku campaign kicks-off

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday kicked off its campaign for the next year’s presidential election in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, without the presence of Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and members of his camp.

Wike and his allies —Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) —had similarly boycotted the inauguration of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on September 28.

They have peeved with Atiku and PDP leadership for not keeping to the principle of equity by allowing the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu to remain in office in contravention of the party’s constitution.

The flag-off of the campaign at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, however, was witnessed by Ayu; the presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar; his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa and three former Senate Presidents — David Mark, Anyim Pius Anyim and Bukola Saraki.

Governors at the event were the chairman of the PCC, Emmanuel Udom, Akwa Ibom, Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa).

At the ceremony, Atiku said the PDP would rescue Nigeria from insecurity, poverty, disunity, economic woes, youth unemployment, and falling education standard.

He said that the PDP lifted Nigeria from “bottom to top” when it came to power in 1999.

His words: “When PDP came to power in 1999, we made Nigeria the best in Africa. But today, all that has been destroyed. Today, the PDP is on a rescue mission.

“We are ready; we will rescue Nigeria from hunger and insecurity. If you vote for PDP, it will be a return to safety, good governance, and a united country.”

Atiku, who thanked Nigerians for the confidence reposed in him and the PDP, lamented that the gains made by his party in the 16 years it held power had been eroded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in seven years.

Okowa, governor of Delta State, said Atiku has “the capacity and experience to address the security and economic challenges of the nation.”

He said: “While other parties are presenting lieutenants, the PDP is presenting a well-tested general. We need experienced people like Atiku to rescue and rebuild.

“He is comfortable with all the zones in Nigeria. His track record of achievements from 1999-2007 attests to this. Nigerians are happy that we are presenting the best of the lot.”

While handing over the PDP flag to Atiku, Ayu described the PDP as a moving train, adding that Nigerians were looking up to the opposition party to rescue the country.

In a veiled reference to Wike and others, Ayu said: “The train of the PDP has moved and while the train has left the station, we will be ready to stop the train to take in new people who, for one reason or another, are not here with us today.

“The PDP is a whole big family and we shall be entering this campaign as one entity”.

Ayu said the opposition party would revive the economy and rebuild the country.

Emmanuel, who lamented the state of the nation, described Atiku as the only presidential candidate with the required experience, energy, and capacity to lead the nation.

His said: “Our movement to Aso Rock begins today. Nigerians have suffered untold woes under the APC.

“Atiku Abubakar has the required experience and capacity to rescue and rebuild our nation. He knows and understands the nuances of the nation and he will carry every part of the nation along.

“We must elect people who have the capacity to manage successful businesses. If you cannot manage a kiosk, you cannot manage the economy.

“As we flag off our campaign, we want to tell Nigerians that the plane to a successful nation is taking off today. Today, we are flagging off hope and the mission to rescue Nigeria.

“We call on Nigerians to support all our candidates from the Presidency to Houses of Assembly. The people of Akwa Ibom in one voice will join other Nigerians to move our country forward.”

Tambuwal, who is the director-general of the PDP Campaign Organisation, described the flag-off as “historic in our country and democracy.”

He described Atiku as the “most competent among those willing to preside over the country.

APC derides campaign take-off

But the APC had a ready response for the PDP. It described the Uyo campaign take-off as “a disaster waiting to happen.”

The ruling party derided the party for the absence of Wike and his group from what it called “Uyo jamboree,” and asked rhetorically: “how can a party that cannot unite itself promise to unite Nigeria?”

’Uyo crowd, reflection of a weak PDP’

A stalwart of the PDP in Rivers State, Ogbonna Nwuke, expressed dissatisfaction with the crowd of PDP members and supporters at the Uyo campaign take-off.

He said when juxtaposed with the crowds marching the streets for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP), the Uyo event was a child’s play.

According to him, the crowd at the stadium was a reflection that the PDP is weak.

“They cannot say that the PDP has attained full-blown looking at the crowd that gathered at Uyo today.

Frankly, it means that a segment of the party was not there. The wise thing to do is for PDP to look at itself and bring the whole house together under one roof,” Nwuke told The Nation in Port Harcourt yesterday.