Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Former Vice President and presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, declared in Yenagoa, Byelsa State, yesterday, that he is ready to confront anti-democratic forces ahead of the 2019 elections.
Atiku said this at a meeting with PDP members, at the party secretariat in Yenagoa, as part of his on-going consultation on his ambition.
“I am ready to fight anti-democratic forces. If you remember, I can fight or face anyone. I was in the vanguard of fighting the military. Although many lives were lost, we were successful. I am ready to change the change.”
Chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Cleopas Moses told members that in 2019, PDP will take over Aso Rock because “the party in power wants to destroy our nation and we will not allow it.”
Earlier, at the Government House, where he held a closed a door meeting with Governor Seriake Dickson, Atiku commended him for the reception accorded him and the infrastructural development in the state.
He noted that the improved development achieved under Dickson was possible due to the continued governance of the PDP.
He was accompanied on the trip by former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Godsday Orubebe.
“I have followed with keen interest, your advocacy on restructuring and I want to let you know that I have been an advocate of restructuring since 2004. I want to invite you to join me to work together with me, ahead of 2019 so that we can do it together.”
In his remark, Dickson described Atiku as a veteran in politics, and noted that the 2019 presidential election will be a referendum through which the Nigerian voter will decide on who govern them.