Nigerians can’t wait to have PDP back in power, says Atiku

He said they were tired of the failed administration of President Muhammadu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, the APC has failed Nigerians in almost every index.

Atiku said Nigerians cannot wait to bid the APC farewell at the next general elections.

The former Vice President, however, did not state the basis of his assumption or conclusion that a majority of Nigerians want the PDP, a party that was rejected at the polls in 2015 and 2019, back.

Atiku met with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt, to reconcile their differences ahead of the 2023 general election.

Atiku’s visit to Wike was the first since he reportedly outsmarted the governor to emerge the presidential candidate in the last PDP primaries against Wike’s preferred aspirant and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

Wike and Atiku were believed to be in separate camps in the battle for the fate of Prince Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of PDP.

While Wike was said to be disposed to ousting Secondus, Atiku was reportedly in favour of retaining him as the chairman.

A statement by Wike’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, quoted Atiku as clarifying the reasons for his visit.

Atiku, who spoke in Government House, Port Harcourt, said his meeting with Wike was fruitful, explaining that party affairs brought him to the state. 

He said he spent some time with Wike over issues bordering on how to ensure unity and stability in PDP to enable it to sweep the APC away in 2023.

He said Nigerians were waiting eagerly for PDP to take over power at the federal level in 2023.

Atiku said: “Well, I came here to reconcile with the governor on party affairs and to discuss how we can ensure that there is unity and stability in the party.

“This is so that we can take over government in 2023. I believe that Nigerians can’t wait for 2023 to come so that PDP will return.”

Atiku deplored the prevailing insecurity in the country, saying the PDP at the appropriate time would unveil its policies on how it would address the issue.

He said: “I have never seen it (insecurity) this bad. I am 70 years plus, I have never seen it this bad in terms of security challenges, in terms of economy, in terms of unemployment. This is the worst.

“Give us time. We will come up with our policies. We will present them to Nigerians when the time comes.

“We have done that before. Under PDP, we recorded the highest economic growth, the best foreign reserves. We reduced unemployment. You know that we can do it.”

The former vice-president praised Wike, whom he said stands out among his peers in the party.

“I think he (Wike) is the topmost governor we have in the party. There is no doubt about that in terms of projects, youths and employment, in terms of security,” he said.