Ahead of the February 16 Presidential polls in Nigeria, the candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, says he will promote an inclusive government if elected.

 

 

Atiku said this on Sunday while reacting to his endorsement by leaders of five top socio-cultural organisations in the country, on Sunday.

 

 

The organisations, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) and Middle Belt Forum (MBF), said the former VP has shown that he will restructure the country if given the mandate.

 

Reacting shortly after, Atiku said the endorsement is “a loud statement that there is hope for our country”.

 

 

“I am moved to tears that in the midst of deep divisions and deliberate use of instrumentalities of state to set our people against themselves in the last three and a half years, responsible and respected leaders across Nigeria have agreed to come together for the purpose of endorsing my candidature for the February 16th, 2019 Presidential elections,” he said in a statement.

 

 

“Today we put aside all our prejudices to elect a President with religion and ethnicity playing no role in our elections.”

 

The 72-year-old former vice-president added that he is buoyed to lead a pan-Nigerian team if elected, and that he has been chosen to unite our people “and exactly that I will.”

 

 

“I will run a properly federated Nigeria through constitutional reforms to bring out the best from ALL sections of Nigeria to make Nigeria work again like in the past when the Saudi Royal family came to Nigeria to access Medicare,” he said.

 

“We will promote an inclusive Nigeria based on productivity that every section of Nigeria will bring out the best under their soil, and in their brain to make Nigeria assume its position in Africa and the global community.

 

 

“It would be 100% for every section of Nigeria as I would not understand any arithmetic outside that.”

 

Earlier, Atiku pledged to ensure autonomy for local governments, if elected in the February 16 presidential election.

 

 

Abubakar made the pledge in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi capital, when his presidential campaign train made a stop at the North-Eastern state. He said, “If elected on February 16, I will make sure the local governments in our country have autonomy and joint accounts between states and local governments will be scrapped. I will not allow any governor to take a penny from local governments’ coffers as the money are meant for LGAs and their development”.

 

 

He also promised to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and empower women to start up businesses in order to make the economy more stronger.

 

“I will also make sure that poverty is chased away and hunger decimated in the country. When we do this we are, at the same time strengthening the security of our country and fighting insecurity,” Atiku said.

 

Atiku is seen as President Muhammadu Buhari’s main challenger in the election.

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