It was the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos, once again.
With a crowd surging from all around the environs into the bowl of the new look stadium, a traffic gridlock that treated motorists to comfort in hell, colourful gallery seemingly overflowing with enthusiastic supporters, a well decorated State Stand bearing abundance of dignitaries and political juggernauts, and security and protocol personnel in full swing duty, the business of the day was unmistakable: a powerful presidential campaign rally was afoot, and the town was at stand still.
Amidst burning of brooms in symbolic taunt and denunciation of the All Progressives Congress by members of the jubilant crowd, Atiku Abubakar – no doubt the reason for the event and toast of the day, wasted no time in making huge political capital of the crowd that gathered more by its own sheer conviction and effrontery than by any pecuniary promptings. Reminiscing the events of the defunct Social Democratic Party Presidential Convention at the Polo Ground in Jos thirty years ago in 1992, Atiku Abubakar relished his audience with a declaration that the day’s event was a celebration of the ‘natives’ about a return to base and coming home of their very own.
Unfolding his address further, Atiku reached for the emotions and conscience of the Plateau citizen by lamenting the underdeveloped and vulnerable economy of Plateau State which, in his opinion, should not be at its current low ebb because of the location of the State intrinsically as the gateway to the rest of Nigeria for most of the States in the North, especially the North East, and a major melting pot and regional clearing house for high volume commerce and commercial exchanges, Atiku said it is sad that all the roads interfacing Plateau and neighbouring States have been abandoned and left in a state of disrepair, with unfavourable consequences on the flow of commerce, mobility of labour, and social intercourse in the region.
The high point of the PDP presidential candidate’s address was a pledge to not simply assist to grow the State economy; he said all the roads traversing Plateau to other States will be a priority issue if he is voted in as the President of Nigeria comes May 29, 2023.
In that direction, the national chairman of the Party, Iyorchia Ayu, urged Plateau people to keep a date with history, and should ensure that the Presidential candidate pulls no fewer than 2,000,000 votes from the State in next February’s presidential election.
Ayu reminded his host that the wrong decision to abandon the PDP in 2015 has cost the State dearly, especially in terms of infrastructural development, and challenged Plateau citizens to use the window of the next elections to restore the State to the path of its destiny, and launch the citizens to the course and era of prosperity and self actualization.
Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Udom Emmanuel, expressed sadness that Plateau State has not realised its place in the diary of global economic havens and destinations. Pointing at the huge Irish Potato production profile of the State, which he noted as sufficient for the demand of the West African market.
Udom Emmanuel said Plateau State should have been industrialized at least along the line of Irish Potato processing for which it has absolute (not comparative) advantage on a national scale, advising the State to mobilize and enthrone an Atiku presidency towards economic transformation of the State.
Director General of the PDP presidential Campaign Council and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Bello Tambuwal, told the crowd in the Stadium that much is expected from Plateau in the forthcoming presidential election because Plateau is historically a PDP State, and the records show the PDP has always fared well in the State since its inception in 1999. Noting that there is no other time than now, he urged the people to come out en masse in February and vote for the PDP and an Atiku Abubakar Presidency.
Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, PDP’s gubernatorial candidate for Plateau State, reiterated his campaign philosophy and slogan that “the time is now!”
He noted and commended the people of Plateau for the massive turnout and worm reception, as he said the people of Plateau have a duty, and are anxious to use the next elections to restore the glory of the State by ending the affliction and disaster that the APC unleashed on the State.
Mutfwang said former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, could not attend the rally because he was out of the country on medical grounds.
The Plateau State Chairman of the PDP, Chris Hassan, who recalled the purveying and pacesetting role of late illustrious son of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Daushep Lar and others, said the people of Plateau are ready for the PDP, and they will demonstrate this by voting the party from the Presidency down to the State House of Assembly elections.
Veritably and verifiably, from the quality of the crowd to the zero record of violence to the cream and array of politicians on call at the occasion, the Atiku rally in Plateau synched with the raving emotions and momentum of the people in search for a lost heritage and restoration of hope.
