Nigeria’s former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, says his passion for the country’s progress is what is driving his quest for the presidency in 2023.
In a meeting with the PDP’s House of Representatives Minority Caucus in Abuja on Tuesday, March 1, Atiku officially declared interest in the presidency as he sought the lawmakers’ support.Atiku said he has the mental and physical energy to serve the opposition party and Nigerians as president.
Speaking further, the Adamawa-born politician said he will work in harmony with the National Assembly and protect constitutional independence and freedom if he becomes president.
“Most of the changes we want to bring require constitutional adjustment and that can not happen without cooperation with the national assembly,” the former vice president said.
“I want to ensure a smooth and careful legislative process. I will give my best and work with politicians and great resource people in our party, I have the mental and physical energy to serve our party to the fullest.
“Above all, it is my passion for the progress of this country that drives my quest for the Presidency of this country.”
Meanwhile, the director-general of Face of Waziri-Nigeria (FOWN), Ade Bukky, said that those who believe the former vice president Atiku Abubakar is old to govern Nigeria do not understand the enormous task ahead of the country.
Ade was reacting to the comments by some youth that the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar should jettison his presidential ambition and support a younger aspirant to become the standard-bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.
The FOWN director-general said it is uncalled for, illogical and undemocratic for a section of youth to be asking the former vice president to step down for an aspirant because of his age.
According to him, Atiku is a politician of note who has been contesting elections since 1992 as a youth, saying that no elder stepped down for him to achieve his ambition in those years.
He emphasised that it only amounts to wishful thinking on the part of the youth if they believe that Atiku would forego his age-long ambition to govern Nigeria and turn the country to Eldorado.
Ade also noted that the race is open for the youth who wants to slug it with the older politicians, saying that real experience of governance and understanding of polity is needed to save Nigeria from her present situation, not social media comments.
He further stated that Atiku has rededicated himself to serve Nigeria selflessly in order to bring back her old glory and make life enjoyable for the entire citizenry.
Ade accused a former spokesman of Atiku Abubakar campaign 2019,Kassim Afegbua of instigating Nigerian youth against his former boss and ex-vice president of the country.
He said Afegbua is the one championing the move, saying that the former aide should rethink and advise his fellow youths since he is now the “mouthpiece who has been bought over by those he is working for to malign Atiku.”
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