Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Senator Dino Melaye said the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has an edge over other contestants because he has more experience contesting the presidential elections.
Speaking during the public declaration for Atiku and induction ceremony by the Diamond Ladies in politics over the weekend in Abuja, Melaye said there is no basis for comparing Atiku with the presidential candidate of the ruling All progressive congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu nor those of Labour Party, Peter Obi.
The former lawmaker stated that Atiku and Tinubu are frontrunners for the presidential seat adding that Obi and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankwaso would not spring surprises at the presidential poll.
Said he: “Out of all the presidential candidates, he is the only one with Presidential campaign experience. All of them are running for the office of the president for the first time. From Kwankwaso, to Obi to Tinubu and others. Atiku has led this route before. He understands it and he will emerge victorious by the Grace of God.”
While he noted that Atiku and Tinubu have some similarities, he however added “Atiku is a billionaire with enterprise while Tinubu is a billionaire without enterprise. Atiku is a billionaire with enterprise because he has a history of physical business in agriculture, education, oil and gas, media, manufacturing and banking.
“But the other side (Tinubu) has money without enterprise. Atiku Abubakar Has met the constitutional requirements of the federal government that anyone who wants to contest for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must be physically and mentally fit. I cannot say the same of the other person (Tinubu).”
In an apparent reference to Obi supporters, Melaye said there is no voting centre on social media.
“Atiku discovered Obi before keyboard warriors discovered Obi. Unfortunately elections are not going to take place on social media. It is going to take place at the polling units. And those that would vote are the people here. So it is now operation votes must count.”
Atiku who canvassed the support of the teeming population of youths and women in the country promised to reposition the country if voted into power in the 2023 poll.
Represented by his daughter, Hajia Mariam, he said: “His excellency Atiku Abubakar is all about the youths. So all the women and youths must get involved in nation building and most especially get involved in the forthcoming election. Atiku would take the country back to where it is supposed to be.”
Convener of the Diamond Ladies in politics, Princess Maimunat Wada pledged to mobilise no fewer than two million votes for Atiku in the presidential poll.
“We are going to mobilise, and encourage not less than two million Nigerians who are real voters to vote for him because he would definitely tackle poverty, insecurity, unemployment and the infrastructural decay in the country.”
Meanwhile, a United States-based Professor of Medicine, Prof. Emeka Umerah, in a keynote address at the occasion, said it behooves the electorate to elect Atiku to address the economic and worsening security challenges in the country.
He thereby enjoined aggrieved stalwarts of the PDP to put their differences aside and work in concert to ensure the defeat of the APC at the presidential poll.
Chairman of the Paschal Oluchukwu Foundation, Ambassador Pascal Oluchchukwu, who was decorated as the Grand Patron of the Diamond Ladies in Politics, said Atiku is the only candidate with experience to end all forms of insecurity in the country.
Among those conferred with awards over their roles on the emergence of Atiku as the presidential candidate of the PDP were Senator Dino Melaye, Chairman Paschal Oluchukwu Foundation, Ambassador Pascal Oluchchukwu, Ebonyi PDP governorship candidate, Chief Odii Ifeanyi, Kogi Central Senatorial candidate, Barr. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Others are former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, Hajiya Maryam Atiku, PDP National Youths Leader, Prince Mohammed Kadade Suleiman, Director General, Atiku 100%, Kazeem Tanimu, Director General, PDP Ward 2 Ward, Hon. Ada Frederick Okwori and United States of America based Professor of Medicine, Prof. Emeka Umerah.
