Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has declared his ambition to become the next president in 2023..
In his declaration held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Atiku promised to head a government that would drive the country towards the path of greatness.
His speech was titled “As One People With One Future We Will Be One Country – Atiku Abubakar’s Mission To Rescue Nigeria.”
Atiku declared that the coming election would be special because it would be an opportunity for Nigerians to decide the way to go between a united and prosperous nation on the one hand and a divided and backward nation on the other.
He said, “We need a new kind of leadership that will steer us to a positive path. In 2023, we want a President who has ideas on how to fix Nigeria. We want a president who understands, who inspires and is empathetic.
“As the election is fast approaching, we should not be distracted from the devastating conditions we are in now. The ruling party wants to divide us; they want to divide us along the political, ethnic, and religious lines so that we forget to blame them for the rising inflation.”
Promising to work more with young people if he becomes president, Atiku said his administration would be one of transition of power to the younger generation.
His words: “Our administration is going to be a transition of power from the senior generation to a younger generation.”
Assuring that his government would be guided more by a consolidated and timely policy document and not impulse, Atiku said his existing policy document would be reviewed.
“You and I will be working together to update and review my existing policy document. We should consolidate our ideas into a unified people’s policy that will reflect the realities and possibilities of the current time. The consolidated and reviewed people’s policy document will be announced in due course. It will also serve as an input into the PDP manifesto” he said.
He added: “Under my presidency, I want to focus on five key areas: Unity of Nigeria, Security, Economy, Education and devolving more resources and powers to the federating units.
“Since the civil war, the unity of Nigeria has never been threatened as it is today. Nigerians are losing hope in the oneness of this country. My fellow Nigerians, I am the unifier that is coming to bond the broken union.
“We will open doors for dialogue to hear the grieving voices of all Nigerians. Under my presidency, there will be a new Nigeria, where everybody has an equal voice and is heard.
“Throughout my life, I have never looked at Nigerians as divided people. In my eyes, all Nigerians are the same. When I see you, I don’t see Yoruba or Hausa or Igbo or Fulani or a northerner or southerner; when I see you, I only see a Nigerian, and I expect the best from you.
“All Nigerians are equal and should be seen and treated equally. There is no unity without justice and fairness. That is why I will deliver leadership of justice and fairness.”
