Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo and Ndubuisi Orji,Abuja
Nigeria’s former vice president and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has promised to complete the Mambilla Dam, if elected as president in the forthcoming presidential election.
Abubakar made the promise, yesterday, while addressing party faithfuls in at the presidential campaign of the party in Jalingo.
He noted that the current administration is paying lip services to the project and has failed to even pay compensation to the indigenous people, let alone mobilise contractors to site.
Abubakar, who promised to pay attention to federal roads in the state, also urged security agencies to remain neutral and provide a level playing field for all participants, to avoid a chaotic situation.
He said: “Give me your votes, come February 16, and I will turn things around in our home state of Taraba. Unlike the scam that this government is exhibiting with the Mambilla Dam, I’ll complete the project and provide all the good things that come with it. I’ll also reimburse the state with regards to the federal roads that the state government constructed which the Federal Government has refused to pay them because they are from opposition party.
“At this point, every Nigerian desires the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice. As such, let me call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to remain neutral and allow a level playing field for all participants in the forthcoming elections.”
The PDP National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, urged the people to vote PDP for all the elective positions, so they can experience massive employment, peace and economic growth and stability.
He asked the people to not only vote, but make sure they remain watchful and no one tempers with their votes, as that is the only way to make sure their votes count.
The rally was massively attended as the Jolly Nyame Stadium was filled beyond capacity.
Meanwhile, the PDP has said Nigerians will not succumb to blackmail in their resolve to vote out President Muhammadu Buhari.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that the Presidency, through the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has resorted to blackmail and threats against the opposition and law abiding Nigerians, so as to heat up the polity.
Mohammed had, on Monday, accused the opposition of working with “hostile foreign intelligence services to undermine” the general elections.
However, PDP alleged that the ultimate aim of the government is to demonise and cow the opposition, as well as instil fear in the citizens.
It added that Nigerians will neither be blackmailed nor cowed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) into relinquishing their rights to freely chose their leaders, no matter the threats.
The PDP said: “It is now clear to all that the target of the APC is to demonise and cow the opposition, instill fear in Nigerians, undermine our democratic institutions, attempt to subjugate the citizenry and pave the way for the actualisation of a self-succession plan for president Buhari.
“The PDP, as a political party with the highest demography of members and supporters, in their millions, across our nation, therefore, states, in unequivocal terms, that Nigerians will never allow themselves to be blackmailed, intimidated or cowed by the APC into relinquishing their constitutionally guaranteed rights, to freely chose their leaders, no matter the threats.