As the nation marks her 62nd Independence Anniversary, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, have congratulated Nigerians, assuring them the country “will rise again.”

PDP, in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Friday charged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country as the “misrule of the vicious, corrupt and anti-people All Progressives Congress (APC) would soon come to an end.”

The party noted that it was “regrettable and heartrending” that Nigerians “are celebrating yet another Independence Anniversary under palpable bondage and harrowing stranglehold of the suppressive, coldhearted, insensitive and inhumane APC which relishes in inflicting pain and anguish on the citizens.”

The statement read in part, “In the last seven years the APC has foisted and supervised a reign of terror and subjected Nigerians to the worst form of suppression that have turned a once cheerful and prosperous nation into the poverty capital and the third worst governed country of the world.

“In the last seven years, the APC has balkanised and dislocated the unity of our country, promoted mutual distrust among the once happy and harmonious people; created a mass of internally displaced persons; the worst since the Civil War in our country.

“Since 2015, when the corrupt and treasury-looting APC, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) fraudulently crept into our nation’s political landscape, Nigerians have witnessed life-discounting experiences with hyper-inflation, escalated unemployment, collapse of the nation’s currency and economic meltdown arising from poor and uncoordinated fiscal and economic policies of the APC administration.

“This gloom in the state of affairs of the country is revealed by official statistics which shows unprecedented 20.9% inflation rate, 30% unemployment rate, high cost of food and medication, over 20 million out of school children, university shutdown for almost a year, collapse of the productive sector, weakened naira to abysmal N720 to a Dollar and over N40 trillion external debt without corresponding evidence in infrastructural and human capital developments in the country.

“In spite of the above the PDP salutes the resilience of the Nigerians people in their “never say die” spirit which is further emboldened in their determination to return the PDP to power in 2023.

“Our Party is mindful of the confidence Nigerians repose in the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in our mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation and return her to the path of peace, national cohesion and economic prosperity.”

Atiku in a statement by his media office in Abuja Friday said the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day expresses hope that Nigeria will surmount all challenges.

According to Atiku, the celebration is another opportunity to re-awaken Nigerians’ consciousness towards the consolidation of unity amongst the diverse people of the country.

The Wazirin Adamawa who noted that Nigeria has come a long way after independence said democracy has the requisite antidote to the current challenges the country is going through.

The statement read in part, “The Wazirin Adamawa notes further that though Nigeria is beset with challenges that range from inadequacies of our economic plans to cover a large percentage of our people who live below the poverty line; to security skirmishes that daily threaten the safety of lives and property of Nigerians, the root cause of these problem is traceable to the increasing lack of unity amongst us.

“He, however, assures that as One people and under the canopy of one country sharing in one future, we will surmount our challenges and enthrone the Nigeria of our dreams.

“And as we go into the general elections next year, Atiku Abubakar urges all Nigerians to give the issue of building national unity primary attention.

“Nigerians should elect leaders who are individuals with proven track records of being protagonists of unity and peace.

“I believe that when we fix the issues that continue to compromise our national unity, we would invariably fix issues that upset our peace and security and subsequently create an environment that can encourage economic prosperity.”