From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar on Saturday in Lokoja promised to resuscitate the Ajaokuta steel company in Kogi State to serve as a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution for the country.
Atiku made the pledge in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital on Saturday in continuation of his campaign rally ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The PDP Presidential hopeful described Kogi as a PDP state and urged the people to rise to the occasion by voting for the party in the coming election to enable him complete the inland ports in the state.
He maintained that “if elected I will support the state to pay salaries, set aside $ 10 billion for job creation and tackle incessant strikes in the nation’s Universities.”
The presidential hopeful expressed satisfaction with the turnout of people to receive him and described the mammoth crowd as an indication of a people yearning for change, a positive change that would improve their quality and standard of living.
Atiku described the party as a light over the ruling APC and expressed dissatisfaction with the dwindling standard of living, acute poverty, and gross insecurity across the country.
He promised to include more citizens of the State in governance if elected and assured that the Abuja Lokoja road and other federal roads would get presidential attention.
He also promises to harness and revamp the agriculture, tourism potentials, natural and human resources that are abound in the State for the benefit of the people,
Governor Udom Emmanuel, and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, said with experience, the will of the people will be respected through the building of massive infrastructures that will make lives bearable for the people.
In the same vein, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State said Kogi has all the potential in natural and human resources, but lamented ineffective leadership, and urged the people to vote for PDP to rejuvenate the economy.
In a remark, former Kogi Gov. Ibrahim Idris described the hardship facing Kogi people under the APC administration as unprecedented in the annals of the State and assured that the PDP would win overwhelmingly in the coming general election.
Receiving the defectors, Dr. Iyorcha Ayu, National Chairman of the Party, urged the returnees to work collectively towards ensuring victory for the PDP.
Those that defected to the PDP include; Ex.Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, Former Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Alfa Imam and Hon. Yahaya Karaku, former Chairman, of Okene LGA with their 148,000, supporters defected from APC to PDP
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Simon Achuba, said their return to PDP is occasioned by the failed promises made by the APC to Nigerians in 2015 and 2019, lamented that the country is worse off under APC administration.
