Atiku, PDP leaders in ‘show of strength’ in Enugu, Ebonyi

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, says the South-East geo-political zone is itching towards the presidency by supporting the party.
Abubakar disclosed this on Friday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu during the presidential campaign tour of the party.

Speaking to a mammoth crowd, he said that PDP had never disappointed the people of the region, adding that they would realise the ambition by supporting his aspiration.
Atiku declared that it would take a long time for the region to have such an opportunity if they failed to support him.
“You are itching towards the presidency now that your son is my running mate. Vote for the PDP because it has never failed you,” Atiku said.
National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, said that the rumour of the party ceding 25 per cent of votes cast in the presidential election to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not true.
Secondus said that the mammoth crowd that came to welcome Atiku was a clear testimony that the state belonged to PDP.
He called on members of the party to be vigilant during the polls to ensure that votes from the region was not tampered with.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said that the PDP campaign was an opportunity for the people of the area to rededicate themselves to the party.
“This is daybreak for us and we are committed to the PDP. They gave us everything in the past and this is time to regain them,” he said.
Ekweremadu urged the people to return all PDP candidates.

The Director-General of the PDP Campaign Organisation, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that the state would support Atiku.
Saraki said that there was no more rumour of compromise by the leadership of the party in the state.
“This crowd we are seeing is a sign of commitment. There are no more rumour mongers around because Enugu belongs to Atiku,” Saraki said.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State said that residents of the state had always voted for the party in previous elections and would continue along that line.
Public primary and secondary schools in Enugu were shut to honour Atiku.
Students of the various public secondary schools were seen going home as early as 10 a.m. as a result of the campaign visit by Atiku’s train.
One of the students said that his teacher told him and others in the class to go home because of Atiku’s visit.
It was the same situation in other public schools in Enugu town.
The students, however, said they were not mandated to attend the campaign rally at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Major roads leading to Nnamdi Azikiwe venue of the rally were cordoned off while traffic was diverted to alternative routes in the coal city.
Business activities in the stadium were shut to allow free movement.
In Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Atiku urged youths to protect their votes.
“You are agile, patriotic and determined, so make sure that you protect your votes.
“Go and vote massively for all the candidates of the party in the forthcoming general elections,” he told the youth.
Abubakar commended Governor Dave Umahi for mobilising massive crowd for the rally, and for his infrastructural strides, especially in road construction.

Abubakar’s running mate, Mr Peter Obi, said the party’s presidential candidate could turn around the economy of the country.
“He will replicate the infrastructural and related strides of your governor at the national level.
“We will ensure adequate security in the country. We will also ensure that our children are in school, because, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike would have been averted.”

Umahi said that the state was the mainstay of the PDP in the country, and would massively vote for Abubakar and other candidates of the party in the general elections.
“I warn mischief makers who doubt the authenticity of the state as the headquarters of the party in Nigeria to desist from such.
“They should leave us alone as this is the highest mobilisation of party supporters in the nation ever since, and we are intact for the party.’’
Secondus said that the mobilisation proved that the people of the state had actually accepted the party.
“Abubakar will rescue the country from insecurity and poor state of the economy, while enhancing the wellbeing of our youths and women whom he believes in,” he said.
The state Chairman of the party, Mr Onyekachi Nwebonyi, promised that party faithful would vote for all the candidates of the party in the elections.
Security was beefed up in some parts of Abakaliki.
Major roads leading to the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium were blocked to traffic while vehicles were diverted to other convenient routes.
All the markets in the city were closed for business as the people trooped in their numbers to the stadium for the rally.
The 10,000 capacity stadium was filled to the brim.
Mr Emmanuel Uzor, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Umahi said that Ebonyi as a PDP state “is fully Atikulated”, adding that the state was ready to vote for him.
“We are ready for the PDP presidential candidate. The turnout is tremendous and unprecedented. Ebonyi will give him 1.4 million votes during the February 16 presidential election.

“Atiku is our own and the government has made full arrangements for the campaign rally,” he said.
Uzor announced a total victory for PDP at the national level.
A member of `Friends of Atiku’ Ebonyi Chapter, Mr Chijioke  Agwu, noted that the people of the state and the nation had confidence in the Atiku/Obi ticket.
“We have no doubt that when he becomes the president, Nigeria will be a country all of us will be proud of.
“In Ebonyi State everybody is PDP and Atiku Abubakar is our candidate. Already, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the umbrella and apex socio-cultural organisation in the South-East has endorsed them.
“We are happy to welcome them to Ebonyi and we use this opportunity to reassure them that the state is totally for them and will cast block votes come February 16,” he said.