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PDP’s candidate will be president, Ango Abdullahi insists

By Saxone Akhaine, Abdulganiyu Alabi (Kaduna) and Kehinde Olatunji (Lagos)
07 February 2019   |   4:21 am
Leader of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, has said the Northern elders endorsed presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar because they believe he will deliver the nation from misrule and economic woes. Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria who restated this in…

Wife of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential candidate, Aminat Titi Abubakar (left); Director General, Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation (APCO), Gbenga Daniel; wife of Lagos State PDP gubernatorial candidate, Abiola Agbaje and deputy governorship candidate, Haleemat Oluyemisi Busari, at a town hall meeting in Lagos…yesterday.

Leader of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, has said the Northern elders endorsed presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar because they believe he will deliver the nation from misrule and economic woes.

Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria who restated this in an interview with journalists yesterday said the groups were backing Atiku based on his competence, insisting he still stood with Atiku.

But Professor Abdullahi’s statement on Atiku at the gathering organised by the Arewa youths did not go down well with some supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari

According to him, he was among those who supported and fought for Buhari to be elected President in 2015, but regretted that he (Buhari) has failed to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

But Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, has argued that Atiku’s endorsement may not change the outcome of the presidential elections.

Factions of Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PAN Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Middle Belt Forum and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) had endorsed Atiku on Sunday.

He explained that factions could not possibly represent a whole people, let alone regions.

The ACF scribe said the endorsement was nothing new, as the groups, except the NEF, endorsed the PDP candidate in the 2015 general elections, but APC won.

Meanwhile, Atiku’s wife, Titi has advocated restructuring of the country saying, this would aid the development of Nigeria.

According to her, when the states are strengthened, the rate of unemployment, which has caused poverty in the country, would be reduced.

She spoke yesterday in Lagos at a meeting organised by the party, which was attended by former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel and other party leaders.

“We must devolve more powers and resources from the Federal Government and de-emphasise federal allocations as the source of revenue for states. We need to start producing again and earn taxes to run our governments in a more sustainable way with greater transparency and accountability.

“Some parties said they are not in support of restructuring, but I say it will better the lot of Nigerians. There is too much power at the centre and it should be reduced,” she said.

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