2023: Atiku in Ibadan, promises devolution of more powers, resources to states

From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

Former Vice President of Nigeria and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Thursday promised that his administration will ensure devolution of more powers and resources to the 36 states of the federation under his restructuring programme, if he is elected as president on February 25, this year.

He made the promise at the Oyo State Presidential Campaign Rally for PDP held at the popular Mapo Hall Arcade, Ibadan. The rally led to standstill in some parts of Ibadan, including Mapo, Beere, Oja’ba, Agbeni, Orita-Merin, Idi-Arere, Labiran, and Oranyan.

But indication emerged during the rally that Governor Seyi Makinde is still a member of the G-5 Governors of the PDP, contrary to speculation that he has dumped the group ahead of the presidential poll. He was absent at the rally, which showed that he is still probably and strongly a strong member of the five PDP governors that are calling for resignation of national chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to maintain purportedly national balance in the distributions of political offices in PDP.

Apart from Makinde, the other four members of the G-5 Governors are Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). They have said they did not have issues against Atiku and the vice presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, but the Ayu on the grounds that the presidential candidate of the party hails from the north and that the party’s national chairman is also from the northern region. They are agitating that a southerner should replace Ati as PDP national chairman.

The Deputy National Chairman of PDP (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, who is a former deputy governor of Oyo State, was also absent at the rally. But the PDP chairman in the state, Dayo Ogungbenro and his executive members were in attendance. The welcome address on the occasion was delivered by Ogungbenro. But it was said repeatedly by speakers at the rally that Makinde was behind the success of the programme. They acknowledged his support. It was speculated that some elder statesmen had brokered peace between Atiku and Makinde, prior to the rally.

Atiku, in his address, thanked Governor Makinde and the PDP for ensuring that the rally was well-organised. He reiterated his commitment to restructuring of Nigeria, such that more powers would be devolved to the 36 states as well as more control over resources acruable in each state of the federation, saying: “We wi restructure Nigeria, which means we will give more powers to states and more resources as well.”

He promised that, if elected, his administration would ensure “there is no more strike in our schools so that there won’t be disruption of academic activities. He added that he would unify the country, tackle insecurity, and ensure economic prosperity for the nation.

Atiku also contended that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed Nigerians. According to him, APC did not implement everything it promised during electioneering prior to 2015 and 2019 elections. He enjoined Nigerians to replace APC with PDP from top to bottom for the progress of the country.

Wife of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaja Titilayo Atiku-Abubakar, who hails from Osun State, said she got married to Atiku 50 years ago. She urged the Yoruba in the South West to vote for her husband because “among all the presidential candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the only one that knows the road. My people, I urge you to follow those who do not know the way. My husband has what it takes to be president of Nigeria. He banish hunger from Nigeria, which she said was brought by APC to the country within the past eight years.

The vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, said Nigerians have suffered too much within the past eight years. He noted that there was insecurity in the land and that people have been getting poorer. He said the only way Nigerians could show that they are not happy with APC is through the right use of their permanent voter cards (PVCs). He added that the right use of the PVCs is for eligible voters to cast their votes for all PDP candidates from top to bottom.

The PDP national chairman, Ayu, in his address, described Governor Makinde as his ‘good younger brother’ and ‘a strong member of PDP’. He acknowledged the rift between the G-5 Governors and him, describing the development as internal issue that would be settled. He, however, enjoined aggrieved members of the party to come back to the main fold, because, according to him, Atiku would winz and other candidates of PDP’ would also win.

He stated that within the past one year, the National Working Committee of the party,nunder his leadership has worked hard and returned PDP to the people, such that no single person has control over the party, but the people.

Highlights of the rally included endorsement of Atiku by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South West Zone, led by Adegboye Emmanuel. The certificate of endorsement was presented to Atiku during the rally. He said over 25million Nigerian students have decided to support Atiku of PDP because they have suffered under the APC administration because of disruption of academic activities, with the latest strike that lasted for eight months, during which all Nigerian public universities’ students were forced to stay at home.

Goodwill.messages were also presented at the rally by the Chairman, Oyo State Governor’s Advisory Council, Senator Ayoola Agboola; former Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide; former deputy governor of Oyo State, Hazeem Gbolarunmi; Senator Dino Melaye, who is the Director-General, Publicity, PDP presidential campaign council, as well as Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State. They all appealed to electorate in the state, South West and Nigeria to vote for all PDP candidates from top to bottom.

The PDP chieftains in Oyo State that also attended the rally included a former editor with some national dailies, Prof Abiodun Rauf; and former Minister of Special Duties, Elder Wole Oyelese.

Also, the Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, was in attendance.

The Director-General, Campaign Management Committee, and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Chairman, National Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, also thanked Governor Makinde for his support, and solicited support fot all PDP candidates from top to bottom.