The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign kicked off yesterday in Sokoto, with the opposition party promising to rescue Nigeria from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Chieftains of the opposition party, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus were at the rally.
Addressing the crowd of supporters from the Northwest, they took turns to list what they described as the many failures of the APC and concluded that their party was on a rescue mission.
Secondus said that President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC had failed the people “woefully” and that the APC-led administration cannot rig the election with security operatives.
According to him, the PDP has chosen a credible and experienced candidate in former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi, to lead the rescue mission.
Secondus, who doubles as the chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, said the performance records of the duo of Atiku and Obi reassured that Nigerians will be in good hands after next year’s election.
“Atiku has what it takes to turn the economy around, create jobs for our teeming youths and unite the country,” Secondus said, claiming that Nigerians had turned their back on the APC-led administration.
The PDP chair cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies not to undermine the country by attempting to rig the elections.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan said Atiku and Obi would show Nigeria the way forward and urged the people of the Northwest to join the PDP in showing the way forward.
Jonathan said: “From 1999 till date, we have seen four presidents – from Obasanjo to Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua, to myself and the current President (Buhari). You have seen how the various presidents and the various parties have worked, and one thing is very clear, PDP is still the number one party.
“There is something that all of us see as human beings. Everybody, everyday must eat; and if you cannot eat well, then you are not happy. PDP is the only party that can make sure that all of us eat very well in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.