Thousands of Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and loyalists, yesterday, staged a solidarity walk to mobilise votes for its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa and governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran.
The walk, tagged: “Umbrella Day,” which began from the Lagos State presidential campaign office of Atiku/Okowa at Fadeyi Bus Stop on Ikorodu Road saw PDP loyalists and volunteer groups dressed in various campaign T-Shirts and face caps, walk to the Maryland Tunnel in Ikeja.
The crowd openly displayed umbrellas, PDP symbol and chanted solidarity songs as they went on the walk, led by Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Chairman, Adedeji Doherty, and other party chieftains.
Doherty said the umbrella walk was a symbol of unity meant to demonstrate to the electorate that the party was fully ready and united to give hope to Nigerians if elected.
The campaign chairman urged Nigerians to grant the former ruling party another opportunity to right all the mistakes it committed while at the helms of affairs.
According to him, Atiku and Okowa have assured Nigerians of running a government of unity that will tap from the ideas and experience of the opposition party for the sake of national unity and development.
“Umbrella is a symbol of unity to bring everybody together and every ethnic group in solidarity for Atiku/Okowa. It is to show the unity that we have in Lagos State and in Nigeria. It is also to tell the ruling party that PDP is going to unite this country immediately we enter government in 2023.
“Our principal, Atiku has promised to form a government of national unity once he is elected. Peter Obi (of Labour Party), Rabiu Kwankwaso (of New Nigerian Peoples Party), Bola Tinubu (of All Progressives Congress (APC)) and others must work with him. He is going to bring everybody together. Everybody is going to be part of his government. Once there is unity among us, then the rest is easy.
“Nigerians have tried PDP and tried APC and they can see the difference, let them give PDP another chance, we will correct our mistakes,” he said.
Doherty described Atiku as the most experienced, intelligent with character and capacity to address challenges of insecurity, divisions, economy, education, health, infrastructural decay, unemployment and youths.