…To declare his Presidential ambition on Wednesday
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Business Community from the North East has procured a the Presidential Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
It was leant that the group raised about 200 million from which they procured the form with 40 million at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Presenting the forms to the Waziri Adamawa at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, the Chairman of the group,
Alhaji Abubakar Dalatu Funakaye said that they pledged to purchase the form for the former Vice President in Gombe in 2021.
He said that the group extended the gesture because of their trust that Atiku has the capacity to turn around the fortunes of the country.
Accepting the nomination form, the Presidential hopeful said that he is moved by the sacrifices made by the group to buy into his Presidential ambition and assured that no section of the country will be neglected if he ascends into office.
Enumerating some of the challenges bedeviling the country especially the North East where he came from, he said that the task of nation building will not be easy and called on all to put hands together and ensure that the task of rebuilding the country is realised.
“The challenges before us as Nigerians is enormous and in fact, I have never faced these type of challenges in the history of our country.
“Our unity is threatened, our economy is in the worst state of affairs, since the inception of this country, our security is a disaster, these are very serious challenges. These are challenges that require the unity of everybody in this country.
“These challenges cannot be solved by an individual or a group of individuals they requires all hands on deck. So my brothers and sisters, my fellow countrymen, what is before us is not an easy job, nation building ordinarily is not an easy job.
“For me, what I can promise you whether I become a president or not, differences of either ethnicity or religion is not in my household and is not in my blood. So I want to assure all parts of this country, that there will be a sense of belonging, there will be a sense of fairness, and there will be a sense of justice to every part of this country.
“Of course the North East is the most backward in all human development index. We are the most backward in Nigeria. Name it, healthcare, education, infrastructure, security at all levels, we are the worst. Does that does not give us an entitlement to lead?.
“Those challenges should motivate us to want to leave this country.
“I call on you for the unity of this country. I call on you for sacrifices, it is not going to be easy for all of us. The sacrifices has already been displayed by the Northeast business community, in this period when business is almost dead, for them to put together their money, hard earned money to buy me a form to contest, these are phenomenal sacrifices”.
I his opening remarks, the coordinator of
Abubakar Support Group, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, described Atiku as the most qualified to lead Nigeria.
He said, “the former Vice President is ready in his quest to salvage Nigeria”.
Dokpesi added that ” his concern about the economy, security, welfare and progress of our youths”
According to him, Nigerians are ready to support the former Vice President to salvage Nigeria”.
Also in his remarks, Senator Dino Melaye described Atiku as a general who services is most critical in a situation like the one Nigeria is facing.
“Atiku’s mandate was stolen on the war and the North East business forum put money together for him to recover his mandate” he said.
The event was attended by the Vice President of the North East Business Community Sen Abdul Ningi, former Adamawa State governor Boni Haruna and other friends of Atiku.
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