Atiku in Abia, promises to earmark $10 billion for businesses in South-east

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakarhas pledged to set aside $10 billion to expand business in the southeast.

Atiku stated this at the party’s campaign rally in Umuahia, Abia State.

“My vice-presidential candidate (ial candidate) has announced that we will set aside $10 billion to ensure that we support businesses, especially in this part of the country,” he told a crowd of Igbos at the Umuahia Municipal Stadium, venue of the rally.

“I remember in 2019 when I came here, I spoke to a group of businessmen from Southeast in general because Aba is the capital of Southeast in terms of business,” said Mr. Atiku.

“I remember I told all Igbo businessmen and promised that I will support them and provide a lot of money for the rehabilitation of businesses in Aba. So, it is still there.”

The PDP candidate also promised to address “other needs” in the region, such as the rehabilitation of federal roads and the provision of railways, if he is elected president of Nigeria in the February 25 polls.

Nigeria’s former vice president has appealed to the people of Abia State not to be “distracted” by other political parties, which he said are playing the religious and ethnic card to win elections.

He also urged the people to stay with PDP for the progress of the country.

“I have seen some of the demands you have made here and I want to say that they are all legitimate and are in our policy which is tagged: ‘Our agreement with Nigerians’ means our promise to Nigerians.

“We in the PDP will be ready to give what Abian wants. This is not an issue of ethnicity, not an issue of religion, but an issue of good governance,” Atiku said.

The PDP candidate expressed his determination to provide an enabling environment for business in the country. He recalled that he was part of the team that secured the approval for the Abia Dry Port.

“It will only be a pleasure to ensure that the dry port functions and operates,” he added.

Atiku mocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that Nigeria was better when the PDP was in power between 1999 and 2015.

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is a member of the APC. Mr. Buhari defeated the former president, Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, to emerge as the country’s president in 2015.

“You can all testify that when PDP was in power, Nigeria prospered. That was when Nigeria became the biggest economy in Africa.

“We are creating more jobs; we are creating more prosperity for everyone in this country. We are bringing peace and bringing unity,” said Atiku.

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He called on the people at the rally to vote for PDP in the 2023 general election to put the country back on track. He is confident of winning the February 25 polls.

Ikpeazu is absent

Despite Atiku’s visit, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State was absent from the rally.

Although the governor was represented by his deputy, Ude Chukwu, at the rally, observers attributed the absence between the G5 governor and the PDP national leadership.

G5, a group of aggrieved PDP governors, is led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Apart from Messrs Ikpeazu and Wike, other members of the group include Governor Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde.

The grouping happened after the PDP presidential election, where Atiku, defeated Mr. Wike and others to become the party’s presidential candidate.

The group demanded the resignation of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to pave the way for a southerner to lead the party to achieve “regional balance”.

The governor’s argument is that Messrs. Ayu and Atiku are from northern Nigeria.