The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, says he picked Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election based on his sterling qualities.
According to Atiku, his running mate must have the capacity to be president and be someone who understands and can speak his mind on national issues.
Atiku announced his choice of Okowa as a running mate on Thursday at the PDP national headquarters in Abuja.
The former vice president said he reached his decision after wide consultations with party stakeholders.
Delivering his remarks while announcing Okowa, Atiku said it was a difficult decision for him considering the quality of those that were recommended.
“Party unity is critical not only for us to prosecute a winning campaign but also to provide good governance that our country seriously deserves and our people earnestly yearn for. The task of winning the coming elections will be a tough one and we must not take anything for granted.
“In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our Governors, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom. In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a President-in-waiting,” he said.
On his choice of running mate, Atiku noted that “the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understand the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.
“The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalized world.
” My running mate must understand that without security, the development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy. Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as an I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.
“As you know, the APC government went to sleep as huge swathes of our country’s territory fell into the deadly hands of gangs of criminals, including those masquerading as freedom fighters or pastoralists, while our farmers and genuine pastoralists are unable to go about their businesses. The costs of precious human lives and properties have been enormous. My running mate must also not only symbolize the imperative of reuniting our country but also be able to work with me to achieve that objective. This is because a united Nigeria is a potentially stronger, more prosperous, and more secure country able to lead Africa and give hope to the Black race.
“In addition, my Running Mate has to be someone who is not afraid to speak his mind and give honest advice, and, be by my side as I work very hard to reverse the destructive impact of the past seven years of the APC government.
“It is a difficult decision that I am called upon to take. But, as someone hoping to lead a complex country such as ours, tough decisions would remain a part of my everyday life.
Let me, therefore, start this momentous journey with a crucial decision about who, among the eminently qualified shortlist, would be my Running Mate.
“Accordingly, let me state that the person I have chosen as my Running Mate possesses all those identified qualities. He personifies not only the seriousness the current moment represents for our country but also the future that our young people yearn for and deserve. He is a serving State Governor who has demonstrated, in his State and through his conduct, that governance is about service to the people.
“I know that he will not only add excitement to our already energized ticket and campaign but will also help to bring focus, discipline and stability to our government, come 2023. I am pleased, therefore, to announce here my choice of Running Mate who will help to lead us to victory next year not only in the Presidential election but also in the governorship and legislative elections. And he will be by my side as I work hard every day to provide our people with security, revive our economy, improve education and unite our country. He has both Legislative and Executive experience. Please join me in welcoming to the ticket the next Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Governor Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa.”
On his part, Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, appreciated the PDP’s presidential candidate for picking him as his running mate.
Okowa promised to work with Atiku to ensure PDP returns to power in the 2023 presidential election.
Okowa said, “I appreciate the party for having a successful convention. The convention produced a very experience candidate who could rescue Nigeria from the terrible situation. I know it was a tough decision to pick me like you said this afternoon.”
“I understand there is great work ahead of us, and I know God designed this, and we will work hard for the party’s victory.”
“Every one of us must support our principal to ensure the party wins in a landslide victory, and in doing so, we must be committed in our various wards. We need PDP to return to power; we have the answers to the questions of the country.”
“By the grace of God, we will take on the president and win in a landslide, and I wholeheartedly accept the offer.”
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