By Isah Idris
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has assured the people of Kogi state that he will fix moribund Ajaokuta Steel Complex if elected president of Nigeria.
Atiku made the promise during the party’s presidential campaign at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, Kogi State.
He assured the people of Kogi State that if elected, the nightmare of Ajaokuta Steel Complex will go, Inland Water Port in Kogi State which is a national problem will be fixed to create jobs in the State.
Atiku reiterated that all salary arrears of Kogi State civil servants would be paid to the wokers, thereby reawakening the state from it’s present hardship.
Atiku said, “I have promised you that I will set aside $10bn to empower our young men and women to own their own businesses and live a comfortable life. I am also promising that the issue of Universities closing for months will be a thing of the past if I am elected president of Nigeria”.
The Natonal Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia expressed deep regret at the level of dilapidation Kogi, a resourceful state has suffered in the last eight years.
“In the last eight years that APC government has being in power in Kogi State, the people have suffered hunger, poverty, insecurity, and people cannot sleep with their eyes closed. It has being a life in bondage”.
He however expressed satisfaction over the decamping of the three APC political leaders in the state into PDP.
Those that decamped to PDP includes, Simon Achuba, former deputy governor of the state; Hon. Alfa Imam, the former deputy speaker in the state and Hon. Yahaya Karaku, a former Chairman of Okene LGA and a Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello in the state.
While speaking for the decampees, Achuba cited the failure of APC administration in Kogi State to fulfil it’s promises of 2015 and 2019 which includes, reviving the state economy now on negative decline, insecurity, hunger, poverty, injustices, loopsided appointments and religious insensitivity in the state and others as reasons for their decamping to PDP.
Earlier, the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the PDP leader in the state assured the PDP Presidential candidate and his vice, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of harvesting Kogi votes and winning the state governorship and president in 2023 general elections.
Others speakers and dignitaries at the occasion includes, Vice Presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, Governors of Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Adamawa States, former Kogi Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, Senators Dino Melaye, Kogi Central Senatorial candidate, Natasha Akpoti Uduagha among others.
