Ex Vice-President and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, weekend in Lagos said the North would not vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 presidential election, claiming PDP had done nothing to attract votes from Nigerians.
At an interactive session with selected youths, he insisted that he would support whoever emerged presidential candidate of APC if he did not get the ticket, but expressed doubts on the ability of the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC, to conduct a free and fair election.
According to him, ‘’Asking me to not contest is asking me to give up on Nigeria. The North will not vote for the PDP because the party has failed everybody. This period presents an opportunity for change. Before now, the PDP was big and the absence of a viable opposition then allowed the party to become monstrous. But now with the APC there is choice. There is no way Nigerians can vote for the PDP in 2015. PDP has failed everybody. We all yearn for this change. We have got an opportunity to change but nothing came out of it because we had one big monster party. Today we have two equal parties. One good thing about it is that the APC provides an opportunity.’’
Continuing, Atiku said “a number of reasons have been adduced as responsible for insurgency. Some said the region was the most backward region in the country, with widespread poverty and illiteracy. But these are not reasons why people should take arms and start killing innocent Nigerians. There is poverty everywhere in this country.
There is unemployment everywhere. I want to recall that a similar situation arose in Yobe State while we were in office. It did not take us more than a month to crush that insurgency. I think the mistake we made after crushing the insurgency, was not going back to the people to know why they took up arms against the country. We failed to listen to them and provide solution to whichever grievance they had. Today, there is a recurrence. There is failure of leadership in the war against terrorism in terms of capacity.’
“I also believe that the armed forces should be well provided for. I come from that region and know that our armed forces are not well equipped. If you watch their encounter with the insurgents on YouTube, you will agree that the insurgents are better equipped. There is also failure of intelligence gathering among our neighbouring countries.
”The President visited Chad and Cameroon recently, what I expected was a meeting with the service chiefs of the countries and their military commanders. I think we have a number of factors that have contributed to the growth of insurgency. That is why we believe that there must be a change.’’ Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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@atiku should go and sit down. He has nothing to offer Nigeria and Nigerians. Can he point to one main difference between PDP and APC, in terms of ideology and membership. I don't blame all these brainless people. It is Nigerians that allow all Tom, Dick and Harry to be determining their fate
ReplyDeleteAre you in the mind of all northerners? Keep your vote and leave others to cast their votes the way they like it.
ReplyDeletenot notherners.atiku him self will not vote for pdp.
ReplyDeleteShame on you , people didn't want you , you are forcing yourself on us! I will vote for GEJ come 2015. Because I don't want to vote for BH
ReplyDeleteThat is one problem with you Northners, one person will open his mouth and say non sense to show that you are united but the north are now divided with BH speaking another language ''Terror''
ReplyDeleteThis atiku of a tin don 4get say christians full 4north abi? Well sorry 2 disappoint u, In asmuch as I wuldnt want 2mergenalise it based on religion. Many northerners wuld still prefer jona, dan 2 any of u put 2geda. Nd bsides u're fightin a lost battle, nd as such I wuld advise u 2 invest ur money in sumtin profitable instead of campaigning if no b so, northern youths go jst chop ur money nd at da end u go lose.
ReplyDeleteMr North has spoken! All a presidential candidate whose main concept of a nation begins and ends with the North, whatever that means. Can't we for once have a true nationalist?
ReplyDeleteAtiku not only Notherners sef we westerners are not also voting for dat slogish wicked idiot
ReplyDeletewhat v u done compare to Gej administration to the north, no allow northernerns here u oo
ReplyDeletewhat v u done compare to Gej administration to the north, no allow northernerns here u oo
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE GRADUALLY TURNING YOUR FORMER POWER AND INTEGRITY INTO DUST AND EMPTINESS BY THIS ARROGANT WORDS OF NORTH, NIGERIA DOES NOT BELONG TO THE NORTH. IN FACT WHICH NORTH? THE KANEM BORNO NORTH, THE SOKOTO CALIPHATE NORTH OR THE MIDDLE BAT (SORRY, BELT) NORTH. STOP FOOLING YOURSELF. YOU ARE AN EXPIRED MILK BECAUSE OF YOUR OUT DATED OBSESSIONS WITH THE NORTH. THAT'S YOUR UNDOING. CHANGE, PLEASE CHANGE. JAY- 2, Abuja.
ReplyDeleteold wine in new bottle, go and sit down sir
ReplyDeleteLook at who wants to be a president dividing Nigeria into North and South, You are telling us that if you win, you will become president of only North.
ReplyDeleteAnother presidential candidate whose concept of Nigeria begins and ends with the North. What a shame. I always thought that Atiku was a nationalist but now I know he is no better than the foremost Northern irredentist Buhari
ReplyDeleteI really doubt Atiku relevancy in today's Nigeria politics. You cannot be voted into any office anymore so don't waste your resources.
ReplyDeleteNo to PDP in the 2015. I believe with Atiku as the APC flag bearer, Pdp will be history.
ReplyDeleteThe change is here and APC and Atiku will bring that change to Nigeria and Nigerians.
Oh my God,this this man just lost my vote.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that the has been dissembled completely. The North cannot even produce a candidate that will win the sympathy of all Nigerians (both north and south) Turakin, I will advice you and all your northern brothers go inside and do a proper soul searching so that you people would be able to present a credible candidate may be in 2019 or 2023. Because 2015 is a closed chapter.That is the truth of the matter. 2015 is a poor outing for the north. Period.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Atiku,This same PDP is the same that made you VP,if they have failed,you are also part of that failure. Even though you're no more there ,your period of membership still counts. Yes there is need for an opposition,but don't deceive yourselves that we have not realised that most of you people in the APC are mostly people whose personal interest has been one way or the other marred by the PDP, and it shows in every of your utterances and actions. I don't belong to any of the existing political parties but that doesn't mean that we don't understand the scenario. What Nigeria needs most now is not a Bigot. You believe in the nnorther right to rule & control everything about leadership in this country,. No wonder all the contestants at the APC primaries are northerners. That doesn't give the party an advantage,even if not preprogrammed. I know so many people are of this opinion.
ReplyDelete