A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta, Chief Fred Majemite, on Sunday threw his support behind the Presidential Candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Majemite said Abubakar is always eager to serve the country due to his understanding of the nation’s problems.
Majemite said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He explained that against some perceptions in the public, the PDP candidate is not a desperate politician.
He explained that the candidate had contested for the same office in the past because he is still eager to serve Nigerians.
“You know in politics once you have been beaten by the bug and you really want to prove a point that you will do better, you continue to be involved.
“Atiku Abubakar is eager to serve not desperate, hence his constant interest to be president of the country.
“If he was desperate, he had an option to be president after former President Olusegun Obasanjo first term, but he refused the option, remember at that time he had all the structures.
“But he is eager to serve the country at the presidential level, that is why he always brings himself up to contest for the number one seat.
“He is one man that understands the problems of problems of Nigeria, so I think, we should give him a chance.
“He has come out with his own programme, so we should judge him by that,” he said.
On the expectations from Abubakar should he win the presidential election, Majemite a former gubernatorial aspirant in Delta said tackling insecurity and power problem would be his focus.
“First thing is primarily he should ensure complete and total eradication of insecurity or reduction to a very minimal level.
“After that, it’s not yet uhuru in the power sector. When we talk about the free fall of the naira, we will continue to have this problem, if we don’t get the power crisis sorted out.
“This is because the cost of running a small business is something else due to the cost of diesel.
“Even the solar light, though a welcome development, but how many people can afford it now?, he said.
He said that every Nigerian needs power supply, adding that once the power issue is tackled, investors would naturally troop into the country.
“Even the companies we have here can be revived, because as it is now, most companies in the country have gone underground, because no electricity to run them.
“If he can solve the power problem, he would have been creating enabling environment for people to do their businesses.
“Then we will have enough to export and the naira will be stronger, because if we don’t change our taste, we will continue to get same result,” he said.
He said that presently, the nation is not exporting anything aside crude oil.
“We are saying everyone should go back to agriculture, but even the farm produce, we still need to preserve them, if we are to export them.
“Aside silos, we must also use warmers and dryers, so we still need electricity.
“So tackling the insecurity in the country as well as the power problem are extremely important to the PDP candidate” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Fred Majemite, says Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has the vast experience to rule the country.
Majemite said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
He expressed confidence in Abubakar’s experience to address some of the challenges facing the country, if elected president come 2023.
He said Abubakar should not been seen only as a Muslim and Fulani from northern part of the country, but as a detribalised Nigerian.
“He is not a fanatic. I can say he is tolerant when it comes to religious matters.
“And this is the kind of person that Nigeria needs. A president who will protect the interest of others. That is what he has above his contemporaries,” he said.
Majemite also commented on the recent statement credited to Atiku during his interactive session at Arewa House Kaduna.
He said though he was not at the function, but he wouldn’t believe the candidate meant it in the context a section of the public and other political parties had interpreted it.
He said that the PDP candidate still remains the man to beat come 2023.
He added that what stands him out is that he is a unifier and bridge builder, saying that as a former vice president, he was able to build bridges.
“His relationship with Nigerians cuts across every part country and sector in the country,” he said.
He added that the PDP is the only party that could rescue Nigeria and that its rescue mission is on course.
He, however, added that whatever crisis the party is having at the moment would be resolved before the 2023 elections.
“There is no party without crisis. But again, the PDP presidential candidate and his running mate are seasoned politicians.
“You can take everything from him, not politics. So the party is doing everything possible to ensure that those who are aggreived are reconciled before the elections.
“Again, the party is supreme, at some points, all our interest will be subsumed for the interest of the party,” Majemite said. (NAN)
