PDP pledges focus on issues as Atiku Abubakar begins campaign in Sokoto

• Berates Buhari’s attacks on candidate
• Alleges N11trillion fraud in oil sector

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds its North West presidential rally in Sokoto today, it has promised to focus on issues that will address the concerns, plights, fear and aspirations of Nigerians in the geo-political zone, in line with the policy document of its candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

A statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who doubles as the Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, made it clear that the party would use the rally “to touch base with leaders in the geo-political zone on further consultations on the national consensus to rescue the nation” from the alleged misrule of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency and the dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP noted that “the North West bears heavy imprints of neglect by President Buhari’s administration”, adding that the President and the APC could not point to any key development project articulated and completed by it in the last three and half years, despite the huge resources it claims to have channeled to the zone.

The opposition party also said that “the zone is hugely disappointed in President Buhari, who had failed to fulfill any of his 2015 campaign promises even as it is piqued by his 2019 ‘next level’ campaign mantra which shows Mr. President’s lack of remorse for his failures.”

It further noted that “the North West zone has completely lost confidence in President Buhari and is now rallying with the PDP’s Atiku, who has demonstrated an unrivaled competence and political will to reposition the nation and return her to the path of national cohesion and economic prosperity.”

Meanwhile, the party has condemned what it called continued attempt by President Muhammadu Buhari to destroy the credibility of Atiku through false and baseless accusations.

In another statement by Ologbondiyan yesterday, the PDP said “Atiku is a global figure and is not inhibited, in any way whatsoever, from traveling to any part of the world. However, he is not prepared to make the sky his office, unlike President Buhari who unleashed a widely condemned taste for very expensive and wasteful gallivanting with our national fleet, while Nigerians wallow in abject poverty for neglect and abuse of resources.”

The PDP said it had refused “ to lose sight of the fact that our campaign is on the rescue mission and that Nigerians are looking up to our candidate for direction.

“As such, we will not allow the rejected Buhari Presidency to distract us from our focus of repositioning and redirecting our nation to the path of a united, peaceful, secure and prosperous nation where all citizens are happy and free.

“We advise Buhari to note that Nigerians have moved ahead with Atiku as their next president. He should, therefore, use the remaining days of his fading administration to prepare answers for his misrule.

“President Buhari should, by now, be providing answers for the over N11 trillion stolen under his watch, particularly in the petroleum sector where he sits as minister; the alleged diversion of funds meant for the purchase of weapons and welfare of our soldiers to finance his re-election campaign as well as the neglect and insensitivity that led to the escalation of killings and bloodletting in various parts of the country under his rule.

“President Buhari should provide answers for his incompetence and harsh economic policies that plunged our economy into recession, leading to high cost of living, loss of over 30 million jobs, acute poverty, hunger, collapse of infrastructure in our country in the last three and half years.

“On our own part, the PDP will continue to focus on issue-based campaign and run with practical answers to the myriad of challenges facing our nation in line with the manifesto of our repositioned party and the policy direction of our Presidential candidate, Atiku.” the statement read in part.