Atiku promises to make the southwest's industrial hub if elected president next month

FORMER vice president and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has declared that he will make the southwest geo-political zone the nation's industrial hub if elected president next month.

On February 25, Nigerians go to the polls to elect a new president, state governors, members of the National Assembly and members of the 36 state houses of assemblies. In the presidential race, the frontrunners include former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar, former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Speaking in at the PDP presidential campaign at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday, Alhaji Abubakar said he will industrialise the southwest if elected president. While appealing to citizens in the state to go out enmasse to vote for all PDP candidates in the election, Alhaji Abubakar expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for creating the enabling environment and providing the needed support for the peaceful rally.

Alhaji Abubakar said: “The southwest is going to be a business centre, that’s why in our economic programmes, we are committed to making sure that industrialisation of the southwest is achieved and has the support of the federal government. There are five major commitments to the people of this country.

"We must make sure there is unity, we must make sure there is inclusion. Every part of this country will be represented in our government, not like what the APC government is doing. We will also make sure we take control of our security situation so that there is peace, law and order in every part of this country.

"These are commitments unlike the commitment of the APC in the last seven to eight years. They have failed in every areas of their commitment and you’re all key witnesses. This is an opportunity for you to vote out APC, vote them out completely from top to bottom and replace them with PDP all the way from top to bottom.”

He alleged that the current government at the federal level has failed to restructure the country, despite the fact that the people of the region have been clamouring for it over the years. Alhaji Abubakar told the audience the type of restructuring he will introduce would give more powers to states and local government areas.