Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has made a detour on his desperate bid to clinch the 2023 Presidential ticket under the Peoples Democratic Party by saying that if the PDP zones its presidential candidacy to the South-East, he would withdraw his interest for the sake of fairness and equity.
He said that however, if PDP zones its Presidential ticket to the South, I will not withdraw because there is no fairness and equity.
Atiku challenged that former president Goodluck Jonathan was President for 6 years. For fairness and equity, he should not contest but he is contesting.
Olusegun Obasanjo was President for 8 years. For fairness and equity, Fayose should not contest but he is contesting.
My region (North East) has not produced a president in this country but I am ready to step down if PDP zones it to South East.
“If Wike and Fayose want fairness and equity, they should be fighting for PDP presidential ticket to be zoned to the South-East and not South” – Atiku Abubakar declared
On 23rd March 2022, Atiku Abubakar declared his intention to contest the presidency in the 2023 elections in spite of clamours by major PDP stakeholders for a zoning formula.
The declaration which was Atiku’s second formal declaration for the office of the President in the past four years took place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, had in attendance former Vice President Namadi Sambo; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, among others.
Atiku articulated a five-point agenda to turn around the fortunes of Nigeria, if elected. The five-point agenda included the unity of Nigeria, security, economy, education and devolving more resources and powers to the federating units.