He also urged the people of Lagos State to do away with a family government that has been ruling the state for the last 23 years, and vote for a government they can call their own.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the PDP presidential campaign rally held at Tafawa Balewa Square, in Lagos, on Monday, Atiku said he would raise the $10 billion by privatising the Warri, Kaduna and Port-Harcourt refineries.
The rally was attended by the Chairman of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign, Udom Emmanuel, who is also the Governor of Akwa Ibom State; Atiku’s running mate, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa; Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri; the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu; Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishiaku; former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timi Alaibe, former Governor of Rivers State, Celestine Omehia; wife of the presidential candidate, Titi Abubakar and Alhaji Muktar Shagari.
Others are former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Ben Bruce etc.
Atiku explained that he would restructure the country if elected president of Nigeria, whereby States and Local Governments will have autonomy and control their resources.
He, therefore, charged the people of Lagos State, to take their destiny into their hands by electing a government they can call their own, and put an end to the family government that has been ruling the state for the last 23 years.
Atiku said the party in government in Lagos State has been lying to people that it turned Lagos into a modern State, saying that was a lie and that he could bear witness to that.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the campaign, Emmanuel, commended the party supporters for surmounting all hurdles of fuel scarcity and buses to attend the rally.
He noted that, the economy of Lagos State was buoyant some years back, before the party ruling the state came on board, and that the economy of the State was far better than the economy of West African countries put together, saying all those industries that boosted the economy of the state have left the country.
He explained that under the PDP government, when Atiku is elected president of Nigeria, he would restore the economy of Nigeria.
“If Atiku Abubakar is the president of Nigeria, the economy of Nigeria will bounce back, we are here because of the economy, if you restore the economy of Lagos, economy of Nigeria will bounce back”, he said.
Okowa, in his speech, said Atiku is the only acceptable presidential candidate to Nigerians, and that he is well accepted across the six geo-political zones.
“He is tested. He meant well for the country. We want a Lagos State that works for all, not working for the rich and the poor getting poorer. Atiku is the only candidate of all contesting that will return the lost glory of Nigeria”, Okowa said.
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
