Atiku vows to relocate N’Delta Ministry if elected President 

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said if elected, he would relocate the Niger Delta Ministry to the Niger Delta region. 

Speaking during a breakfast meeting with Abuja business community, Atiku said locating the ministry outside the Niger Delta has affected its performance and delivery to the people of the area. 

He said, “The ministry should be situated in the Niger Delta. Whether it is Port Harcourt or any other place, the responsibility is to develop the infrastructure and human capital among others in the region.” He lamented that the bulk of money allocated to the ministry since it was created had gone into pockets.

The PDP candidate said Nigerians have tested the PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations and know which one is better, “You have tested PDP, you said you wanted change, you voted for change and you have seen what the change brought for you: Poverty, insecurity.

“It’s clear there is a record for you to look at. You cannot compare PDP with APC,” Atiku added. He also promised to put together, a multi national force that would tackle insecurity and root out insurgents from the West African Sub-region. 

He continued: “I have visited some West African countries in the last few months, what I told them is Nigeria will be back. Nigeria has been retreating in the past seven years. Did you hear about Nigeria again in the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS)?

“I told those presidents that I would bring back ECOMOG and ensure multi national forces to ensure regional security, peace and stability. So that is all we need to deal with this insecurity decisively.”

In his submission, the Governor of Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa and running mate to Atiku said as vice-president and Vice Chairman of the Economic Council, Atiku came into power when the GDP after the military regime was just about 0.6 percent and by the time they were leaving, they have taken the GDP to 8 percent.”

He told the group that Atiku was the right person for the job, “You have the right person; Nigerians must make the right decisions. We need a man with experience ready to work with the young ones ready to work with the women, and particularly together with all Nigerians to take us out of where we are, to recover and take us on the right path, that person is Atiku Abuabakar.”