Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has officially declared his intention to vie for the office of the President of Nigeria in the 2023 elections under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The presidential hopeful made this intention publicly known during the presidential declaration event which held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Among the dignitaries at the declaration were former Vice President Namadi Sambo; Adamawa State Governor Umaru Fintiri; Former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, Chief Tom Ikimi; Senator Dino Melaye, among several others.
Speaking during the event, Atiku — a serial presidential candidate — noted he’s contesting for Nigeria’s highest office one more time despite several past defeats, to give Nigeria an answer.
According to him, the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari has failed Nigerians, adding that his leadership would give electorate the chance to aspire to greatness.
Atiku also added that if elected into office, his administration would focus on five key areas: Unity of Nigeria, Security, Economy, Education and devolving more resources and powers to the federating units.
In his words: “I am here today to give you an answer. The 2023 elections is not just like the usual elections. It is a referendum, to decide whether we want greatness or continuous destruction. It is a choice between two paths, the path of unity and progress or the path of division and backwardness. We need a new kind of leadership that will see us to a positive path in 2023. We want a president who has ideas on how to fix Nigeria. 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 or religious lines so that we forget to blame them for rising inflation. They want to distract us from holding them responsible for the insecurity and rising poverty, they want us to be facing each other and hating one another.
“I have contested for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria two times in the past. My enduring persistence is bore out of my passion to rekindle the Nigerian society that I was privileged to live. Nigeria is full of possibilities. There is no challenging background that will make any Nigerian give up. I am a living witness to what is possible in Nigeria.
“And let me tell you my brief story. Who could have ever imagined an 11 year old village orphan who had rear other people’s cattle to raise money to feed his family would have the opportunity to go to school for free, raise through the ladder of a decent profession, established successful businesses to become the Vice President of this great country.
“That is the Nigerian dream and that is my story. That is the possibility I want to pass to you and your children. That no matter your current circumstances that should not limit your success in life.”
The New Diplomat reports that Atiku, who has been eyeing the highest seat in the land since about three decades now, had unsuccessfully contested five times for the office of President of Nigeria. He first contested in 1993 and ran again in the 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 presidential elections respectively.
In 1993, he contested in the Social Democratic Party(SDP) presidential primaries losing to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe. He also contested in the 2007 presidential election under the platform of the Action Congress and was defeated by Umaru Yar’Adua of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He contested the presidential primaries of the PDP during the 2011 presidential election losing out to former President Goodluck Jonathan, who later went on to win the election. In 2014, he joined the All Progressives Congress(APC) ahead of the 2015 presidential election and contested the presidential primaries where he lost to Muhammadu Buhari, who also went to emerge as the president.
In 2017, he returned to the PDP and was the party’s presidential candidate during the 2019 elections, which he lost to Buhari.
