The All Progressives Congress Women and Youth Campaign team has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of trying to deny the southern part of country of their right to assume power in 2023.
The campaign group led by the President’s wife, Aisha Buhari also waded into the controversy over which zone gets the APC’s presidential ticket in 2023, saying that as far as it is concerned, the contest is open to all regions in the south.
Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Director Media and Strategic Communication of the Women and Youth Presidential campaign team, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin, said the biggest threat to the stability of the country is the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Director-General of Atiku Campaign, Bukola Saraki who are taking Nigerians for granted by muting the idea to incite the north not to support power transfer to the southern part of the country after president Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term.
He said the refusal of the former Vice President to commit himself to one term in office is a clear attempt to short change the southern part of Nigeria.
“No wonder, the PDP presidential candidate has refused to commit to returning power to the Southern part of the country after 2023. This is even after concerted pressure by many of their stake holders. This is already heating up our polity with a combined negative consequences on our economy, security and general development. So, if we are talking about the politicians who are threatening the foundation of the peace and security of our country, the cap fits Saraki and Atiku,” he said.
Speaking on the conflicting positions being canvassed by leaders of the APC on the issue of the zoning of presidency to the Southeast, the campaign Spokesman said as far as the party is concerned, presidency can go to any region in the south.
“Yes we all know that power should and will go back to the south in 2023. But then every region in the Southern part of the country is entitled to vie fie presidency, the South/east is qualified, the South-south is qualified and the South west is qualified. But then it is who contributes most, it your ability to negotiate, it is what you able to bring victory on board, that will determine where power goes,” he said.
Hon. Jibrin said that it is only in the APC that Nigerians can feel a sense of justice and fairness, adding that by 2023 power will go to the southern part of the country.
While speaking on the campaign strategy being adopted by the group, Jibrin said that the Aisha Campaign Council will embark of grassroot mobilisation for votes to help return President Muhammadu Buhari to office.
“May I use this opportunity on behalf of my committee to unveil operation “Lashe Akwatuna”. Operation Lashe Akwatuna is a voter mobilization and awareness project by Media and Strategic Communications Directorate of the Women and Youth Presidential Campaign team under the Chairperson of her Excellency, wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari. The project is a one day voter mobilization and awareness campaign in the 119,937 Polling Units across the Country Concurrently for President Muhammadu Buhari and All APC Candidates”, he said.
Jibrin said the operation Lashe Akwatuna will cover all segment of voters in a unit which comprises of our supporters, undecided voters and opposition voters.
He said the operation will also carry its campaign to the doorstep of all segment of voters in polling units across the country on the same day and at the same time.
“The operation will use the APC structure in the 119,937 units across the country and various campaign committees of Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and States Assemblies candidates who will come together to organized the one operation in the units,” he said.
