By Steve Oko
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said that Nigeria is a sinking ship that needs urgent rescue.
Atiku made the remarks Tuesday at the International Conference Centre Abuja while declaring his interest to contest in the 2023 presidential race under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He lamented the precarious condition of the country under the watch of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and promised to pull the country out of the woods if given the opportunity.
The former Vice President who said that APC had plunged Nigeria into heavy indebtedness, vowed to end borrowing if elected President.
Atiku berated the APC-led Federal Government for failing to protect Nigerians against bandits and terrorists.
He wondered why President Muhammadu Buhari is urging Nigerians to return to the farm when he has not made the farmlands safe.
His words: “The most fundamental right of every Nigerian is the right to life. But the APC has failed to protect the lives of her citizens… under my Presidency I will not tolerate insecurity.
“They said we should go back to farms. How can Nigerians return to the farms when you have not secured the farms?
“When the APC came in 2015, they met a debt profile of N12 trillion. But now we have more than N32 trillion in debt. Under my watch, I will reduce borrowing.”
Atiku disclosed his five-point agenda to include: Unity, security, economy, education and devolving more powers to the federating units.
“Nigeria is in dire need of visionary leadership. Presently Nigeria is a sinking ship that must be urgently rescued. That is why I am announcing my candidacy for the President
“I offer myself to rescue the ship. Under my captainship, this ship will sail to brighter days by the grace of God. This is a journey I will take with all Nigerians.
“Under my Presidency I will focus on five key areas; unity, security, economy, education and devolving more powers to the federating units. I am the unifier that is coming to bind the broken union. Under my Presidency there will be a new Nigeria where everybody has an equal voice and is heard”.
