By Omotilewa Quadri
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on Sunday in Kano said the country is witnessing unprecedented economic setback under the All Progressive Congress (APC) government.
Atiku, whose campaign train berthed in the ancient city of Kano in continuation of his presidential campaign, arrived the Sani Abacha stadium at about 5:55 pm before a mammoth crowd that anxiously waited for several hours.
Speaking to the PDP supporters, Atiku said if given the mandate in next Saturday’s presidential election, he will support the revitalisation of agriculture and the economy, which he said are in shambles.
According to him, “I will ensure that among my priorities would be the revitalization of agriculture, industries and commercial activities so as to boost the economy which has been killed by the APC government.”
He noted that Kano, which is the nerve center of commercial activities in the North, is experiencing backwardness in business and commerce.
“If you vote for PDP from top to bottom and bottom to top, PDP government will revitalize business and the moribund industries in Kano. We will also boost agriculture,” he said.
Also speaking, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus told the huge crowd of PDP supporters the Kano rally represents a revolution and a pointer that Kano people has embraced PDP.
The Director-General of Atiku Campaign Organisation, Senator Bukola Saraki lamented that “there is hunger in Nigeria”.
He said, “The APC government has brought hardship on the people. There is need for us to vote them out.
“Today, Kano people have spoken and what we have seen in this unprecedented crowd today is that PDP has taken over Kano.
“People have agreed to vote for PDP. A vote for PDP and a vote for Atiku will put food on our table.”
Former Kano Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankawso said the mammoth was sending a message to Aso Rock that PDP has already taken over Kano.
He said, “Today, Kano people and particularly, the youths have shown that Kano is for PDP and Kwankwasiyya.”
The Chapman of the party in Kano, Suleiman Rabi’u Bichi said PDP will sweep the polls from top to bottom in Kano “because Kano belongs to PDP”.