Atiku Promises To Revitalize Ajaokuta Steel Plant And Lokoja Port As PDP Resumes Its Presidential Campaign In Kogi -By AbdulRasheed Shehu

The political atmosphere in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital was tumultuous today as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign team stormed Lokoja in continuation of its presidential campaign for the forthcoming election in February.

As early as 10:00 am, the Confluence Stadium the venue of the presidential campaign rally was crammed full with the party faithful and supporters who had come from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state and beyond.

In attendance at the occasion were the party bigwigs from within and outside the state including Arch. Namadi Sambo, the former vice president, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP national chairman, the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, His Excellency Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the Presidential Campaign DG, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Metalawa of Sokoto and the Sokoto State governor, Senator Dino Melaye including many serving and former PDP governors as well as the party’s serving and former members of the National Assembly.

After the opening prayers and the national anthem, there were goodwill messages from the Kogi State chieftains of the party that include: Hon. Yomi Awoniyi, Alhaji Idris Ibrahim, Idris Wada, the former governors of the state, Barr. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a senatorial candidate, Engr. Sam Uhotu, the Kogi State PDP chairman and many other dignitaries including the representatives of the over 180 support groups in the state.

In their speeches, the Kogi State PDP leaders welcome Atiku and his team and praised him for his consistency in his promises, his sense of patriotism, his passion for work and statesmanship and pledged their loyalty and support. However, they drew the attention of the Wazirin Adamawa to the deplorable state of infrastructure in the state and appealed to him to improve them if elected to power.

Other speakers at the occasion were the campaign DG, Rt. Hon. Tambuwal the campaign council chairman, His Excellency Udom, Emmanuel and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta State and the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who were unanimous in identifying the uniqueness and strategic location of Kogi as the gateway to all the regions of the country and the natural endowment of the state but pointed out that what was lacking was purposeful leadership to transform the state stating that the leadership vacuum will be filled with election Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

And in agreement with the submissions of the speakers and the request of the state’s party chieftains, the PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON) promised to revitalize the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Plant, provide the critical road infrastructure linking the state with its neighbors and assist the state in tackling its daunting challenges including clearing the backlog of salary arrears.

The former vice president also promised to develop the inland port in Lokoja to improve maritime transportation and boost economic activities in the country. He also reiterated his promise to tackle federal government/varsity teachers perennial dispute, create jobs and provide the needed financial incentives to support the MSMEs in the country.

The highpoint of the event was the receipt of the over 140 thousand defectors led by the former state deputy governor Simon Achuba, one time speaker of the state house of assembly, Hon. Iman and Hon. Karaku from APC by the party chairman, Ayu. The “decampees” pledged their loyalty and support for the PDP and its standard bearer urging the people to vote for Atiku for experience, competence, capacity and performance.

AbdulRasheed Shehu

Special Assistant (Broadcast Media) to

His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (GCON)

January 14, 2023