Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar yesterday said he would still remain with the People’s Democratic Party even if he fails to secure its presidential ticket on October 6th.
Speaking to newsmen after meeting with party members in Niger state, Atiku who defected from APC to PDP last December, said
“Whether I become the presidential candidate or not, I want to assure you that I will always discharge my obligations to ensure the success of the polls. I shall remaine in the party even if I lost. I am ever ready to work towards the success of the party if level playing ground is provided during the party primaries like I did in 2015”.
Speaking about the decision by PDP that all presidential aspirant under its platform must sign an undertaken never to decamp should they fail to secure the party’s ticket, he said “This is an issue that came up last night, we had our first meeting with members of the National Working Committee.
“It was agreed that before the conduct of the primaries, there will be more meetings. In one of the meetings, we will sign an undertaking to support who may emerge as candidate.
“We were assured of transparent primaries by the party,” Atiku said.
The presidential aspirant pledged that he would abide by whatever agreement reached, expressing confidence that he would emerge as the candidate of the PDP for next year’s election.
“I have participated in a number of presidential primaries. At the end of the primaries, I have always committed myself to supporting whoever emerged. I don’t think it is going to be a different case this time around,” he said.
Atiku said his ambition to become Nigeria’s president had never been a do-or-die affair, saying: “I have always been motivated by service to the nation. I am not motivated by selfishness.”
According to him, “My ability and my health will determine if I will continue to offer my service to this nation if I do not win the primaries.”
Commenting on the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, the former vice-president declared: “In the last three years of the APC, we have recorded the lowest economic growth in the history of this country since we returned to democracy
“APC has failed as far as the economic growth is concerned. That is why we are the highest country with joblessness. We have the highest poverty rate; we have been described as the headquarters of poverty in the world.”
Follow @kemifilaniblog
Juventus staff claim Ronaldo deserved the UEFA award more than Modric