- Promises agric/industrial revolution, reopening of borders
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s campaign train landed in Kano on Thursday with the highpoint being his refusal to endorse any candidate for the party’s gubernatorial ticket in the State.
However, the former Vice President was upbeat promising the excited crowd that his plans include reopening the borders, restoring peace and ensuring agriculture and industrial revolutions if elected President on February 25, 2023.
Conspicuously missing from the campaign rally programme was the usual podium presentation of the PDP flag to the party’s gubernatorial candidate as Atiku and the party hierarchy failed to endorse any of party’s two parallel governorship flag bearers during the outing.
Interestingly, on stage with Alhaji Atiku during the rally held at the Sani Abacha stadium, were the two factional gubernatorial candidates, Mohammad Abacha and Sadiq Wali. But to avoid being dragged into the crisis rocking the State PDP chapter over the choice of candidate, the Presidential candidate did not make reference or raise the hands of either of them while addressing the crowd.
And away from the mild drama of not endorsing any particular governorship flag bearer, the Wazirin Adamawa told the Kano people in a brief speech that voting for him is expressing their strong desire for the return of peace as well as a booming agriculture and industries, as well as the immediate reopening of borders.
He promised the cheering crowd that “only PDP administration can implement these four policies”, adding; “That’s why I am appealing to you to vote PDP from top to bottom and I promise you these policies will be implemented.”
Meanwhile, party’s insiders have explained that the PDP Presidential candidate had to avoid any misstep where he could be accused of taking sides in the leadership crisis that has been engulfed the Chapter of the PDP, culminating in the emergence of two parallel governorship candidates, Abacha and Wali.
Recalled that Wali, son of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, was acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which put his name on its list, while a court of competent jurisdiction recognised Mohammed Abacha, the son of former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha.
Offering further insights on Atiku’s non presentation of the PDP flag to any of the contending sides, a reliable source in the party, which preferred anonymity, said the party was only taking precautions, given that the Supreme Court had already fixed Friday, February 10, 2023, to rule on the issue.
According to the source; “We don’t want Atiku to raise the hands of Abacha today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday), the Supreme Court will say it is Wali that is our candidate or vice versa”.
