2023: Tinubu speaks on Atiku’s emergence as PDP’s presidential flag bearer

A frontline presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu has reacted to the emergence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 presidential election.

Tinubu congratulated Atiku for emerging as the flagbearer of the opposition party following the primary conducted at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.

NEWSFLASH NIGERIA had earlier reported that Atiku defeated the governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike; Ex-senate president Bukola Saraki, Governor Udom Emmanuel, Governor Bala Muhammed and others to pick the PDP’s ticket.

He scored 371 votes to defeat 12 other aspirants who contested the election held, on Saturday, at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abuja.

In a statement Sunday morning, Mr Tinubu congratulated Atiku for his victory at the keenly contested primary and praised his political experience and patriotism.

Tinubu also congratulated the other contestants for the orderly and peaceful way they conducted themselves and for pledging to rally round the winner, in the true spirit of democratic sportsmanship.

He however threw a challenge at the former vice president, saying he and his party will have to explain why Nigerians should give them “another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show”.

“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administration and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP Candidate,” Mr Tinubu said via the statement by the Director, Media and Communication of his campaign organisation, Bayo Onanuga.

The former Lagos governor also said he was looking forward to squaring up with Atiku “as a worthy opponent in the coming presidential election”.

He expected the former Vice-president, who was also the 2019 presidential candidate of the PDP, to be his worthy opponent, by the Grace of God and the support of APC delegates, in the coming 2023 presidential election.

The APC National Leader said Atiku’s victory didn’t come as a surprise to Nigerians because of his vast experience as a statesman and veteran of many presidential contests since 1993.

While welcoming the PDP candidate to the race, Tinubu added that the coming election should be about issues that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians; bring peace, progress, and political stability and solve myriad sociopolitical challenges and insecurity currently facing the country.

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“I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary. I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election. I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.

“ As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across Party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.

“We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue-based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will uplift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.

“Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show”.

“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administration and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP Candidate”

“ Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary”, Tinubu said.

Tinubu is a frontline presidential aspirant on the platform of the ruling APC which will hold its primary next week.

With the PDP picking its candidate from the North which has more registered voters than the south, it remains unclear if the APC will be bold enough to nominate Mr Tinubu from the south as its flagbearer for the election.

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