The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, met South South Governors, ex-Governors and party stakeholders in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, at the weekend to finalize modalities for winning the 2023 election.
But Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike was visibly absent at the meeting tagged “South-South zonal meeting of the People’s Democratic Party.”
However, Governors Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Ifeanyi Okowa(Delta), Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo) attended the meeting, urging all contending factions and interests in the party to unite.
The meeting, which precedes the official flag-off of the Presidential campaign in Uyo on Monday, also discussed other burning issues including reviving the nation’s ailing economy.
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Emmanuel, who is the Chairman, Presidential Campaign Council of PDP, harped on the need for South-South leaders of the party to demonstrate unity of purpose and strength to make a difference in revamping the economy.
“We are gathered here this evening so that we can have a common front and also negotiate strongly as a people because if we go individually we won’t be able to make an impact, but if we go as a group and a team, I want to believe that we will make a very strong impact.
“Let us be rest assured that in the next dispensation this country will go back to PDP and on PDP this country must stand. I want to believe that once we return next year we will take back the economy of Nigeria and once we strengthen the economy, hope will rise and things will fall back in pleasant places,” he assured.
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The vice presidential candidate of PDP Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, emphasised on the need for unity and cooperation of South-South Governors and leaders noting, his strength as a vice presidential candidate lies in their collective support to rescue Nigeria from its harsh economic crunch.