2023 : Atiku/Okowa Ticket, Best Bet For South-West, Says PDP Youth Leader

By BENJAMIN OMOIKE

A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Youth Mobiliser for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential ticket in Lagos and the South-West, Mr. Elliot Imoloamen, has stated that under the prevailing circumstances in the South-West, and indeed the country today, the best choice for the citizens will be to vote in the Party’s candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Imoloamen made the remark recently in Lagos, while shedding light on the numerous advantages of an Atiku/Okowa ticket.

According to him, a vote for the PDP ticket would mark a significant departure from the present situation in the country, which according to him, is very unpleasant to say the least.

Imoloamen is of the opinion that today in Nigeria, there is so much pain and suffering; so much anguish among the people. He says the citizens are lamenting the precarious situation the present APC government has put the nation in.

He, therefore, calls on the people to put their money where their mouth is, as it were, by joining the PDP to vote out the current government run by the APC at the 2023 polls.

The youth mobiliser stressed that in the South-West especially, the youths need to rise up and use their votes to change the narrative and create a proper and hopeful future for themselves.

“The youths in the South-West, just as those in the entire nation, have been lamenting and crying foul. Many are joining the bandwagon of the “Japa” syndrome. None of them wants to stay back in the country because they have totally lost faith in the country. They see no hope and no future in this country. This is what the APC has done to our youths and people.

“They have brought this nation to it’s knees. Our young people are all over the world doing great things. All our professionals…doctors, nurses, engineers, now teachers, etc., are leaving in droves and many are still on the queue to leave. This, for me, is highly embarrassing.”

“It is time for us to join hands together to send this evil government packing and create an enabling environment for our youths to thrive, restore their confidence in the country and give them a glorious future. 

“It is unfortunate that the APC has subjected our people to this level of unprecedented suffering.

“There is no area you can point to where this government has scored high. They have failed woefully in security – Nigerians have been kidnapped, maimed, tortured and massacred under this government. Communities have been overrun, women and girls have been raped, children have been slaughtered. We have more IDPs probably more than any nation in the world today. There is serious hunger, pain and suffering in the land. Unemployment is skyrocketing by the day and inflation rate is at its unprecedented peak. It’s really sad indeed.”

“I’m using this medium to call on the youths, especially those of the South-West, to ensure that they get their PVCs and come out en-mass to vote out this apology of a government.

“The track record of Atiku and Okowa is second to none. First, look at what Okowa has achieved in Delta. His government has continually restated its commitment to educational development in the state. During his time, teachers have been trained and are being retrained on a continuous basis.

He stated that only a few days ago, the state Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mrs. Rose Ezewu, reiterated the resolve of Okowa’s government to empower teachers with the necessary technological skills needed to function effectively in the emerging digital society.

“She stated this at the Teachers Professional Development Centre (TPDC) Owa Oyibu, in Ika North East Local Government Area, while declaring open, a week long training for teachers on Technology and ICT in Education.

“She noted that the teaching profession was critical to nation building, adding that the state government would continue to train teachers on emerging fields, ranging from methodology to technology in education.”

Imoloamen said with respect to revenue generation, Okowa’s government was committed to meeting revenue targets and increasing IGR.

He added that the Delta State Internal Revenue Service has assured the State Government of its commitment to expanding the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, base of the state, through a continuous process of innovation and motivation of its workforce for optimum performance.

“Let me also tell you that Delta has become the most solvent state under Okowa. Delta State is the richest and the most solvent state in Nigeria. When you talk about richness, you talk about solvency, you need to find a way to first, pay up your debt and see whether you will still be afloat or not.

“In terms of volume, quantum, Lagos State will have a very big Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and has so much to do but by the time you do what we call, ‘Analysis of Debt Profile’ you will then know who is richer or solvent. So, basically, Delta couldn’t have achieved this, without the sound and constructive leadership of Okowa. And this is what he’s bringing to the fore of voted in.

“With regards to the person of Atiku Abubakar, I will say, and I know many Nigerians too know this, that he is a unifier, a bridge builder, very energetic and enthusiastic about the project called Nigeria.

“Atiku is a preferred choice any day anytime. We a saw what he did as Vice President to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was an able ally and Nigerians would recall how stable the economy was in their time. Security was top-notch, Nigerians were not hungry, people could sleep with their two eyes closed. How much was the exchange rate at their time in office? 

“How were claimed doing back then compared to now? You be the judge. Atiku is a master planner, an industrialist who engages the private sector in mutual development strategy. He understands the issues plaguing the country. 

“Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, understand the issues more than other party candidates and have articulated a policy document “My Covenant With Nigerians” to address the myriad of challenges bedeviling the country. 

Imoloamen stated that Atiku was bringing on board his wealth of experience as a successful businessman, a former Vice President and Chairman, National Economic Council, to bear on the job if elected President in 2023. 

He said Atiku Abubakar represents a whole lot of positives for the country because he is that candidate that towers far above all the candidates in terms of capacity to govern, understanding of the issues and mental alertness. 

“He has the requisite experience to deal with insecurity, economy recovery, bringing back jobs, infrastructural development and of course the need to unify the country. 

“We believe that Atiku is that man who has all the capability to function effectively and sufficiently equipped to reasonably address all the issues plaguing the nation. 

“If you look at the many issues he has put on the table you will know that he understands the issues, because when he commenced his campaign, Atiku was very much prepared on what he intends to do to better the lives of Nigerians. 

“He has clearly identified the issues of hunger and poverty, insecurity, disunity, a dysfunctional economy and he is very much prepared to tackle them,” he said. 

He said Atiku-Okowa would win overwhelmingly across the country because of the party’s ability to field candidates in all the state and federal constituencies, as well as Senatorial districts in the 2023 general election. 

“Atiku ranks very high in assembling experts to solve the nation’s challenges and the support and enthusiasm for the Atiku-Okowa ticket is much more than we anticipated and we are grateful to Nigerians for the massive support,” he concluded.