The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has promised to resuscitate and operationalize the ailing Ajaokuta Iron and steel company in Kogi state if elected the president of Nigeria.
Speaking in Lokoja on Saturday during the presidential campaign rally of PDP, the former vice president , said if given the mandate his administration would rescued the country from poverty, hardship and economic doldrum that have bedeviled the nation in the last eight years.
He also assured that he will set aside 10 billion US dollar for job creation, noting that the issue of university closure would be a thing of the past.
The former vice president mentioned that if voted as the next president of the country, payment of half salary to workers in the state would stop, urging the electorate to vote for PDP for economic emancipation.
Earlier, his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa called on the people of the state to vote enmass for the People’s Democratic Party stressing that the only way they can chase the All Progressive Congress from power is to vote them out come February election.
Okowa who is the governor of Delta State noted that the people of the have suffered enough for eight years as he called on the people of Kogi central to stand firm during election and vote out APC government from the state.
The National Chairman of the party, Senator Iyocha Ayu who received over 147,000 decampees from APC to PDP including the former deputy governor of Kogi state, Chief Simon Achuba, former Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Alfa Imam and one of the strongest politician in Kogi central, Alhaji Yahaya Karaku and there supporters said the party is happy in receiving the decampees to PDP in Kogi State.
He noted that the people of the state should rally round all the PDP candidates in the coming election by voting for them and the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“Atiku Abubakar is ready to rescued the country from poverty and move it forward. The eight years of APC in the country have taking the country back to stone age.
“I commended the people of the state for their turn out to welcome the presidential candidate of the party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his vice presidential candidate Okowa” he stated.
The senatorial candidate of the party, Barr. Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan while speaking on behalf of other candidates , said the people of Kogi state are ready to vote out APC bad governance from the state.
She said the uncompleted Ajaoukta Iron and Steel complex is an issue that is given the people of the state a great concern adding that the only person that can complete the project is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar if by the grace of God if voted as the next president of the country.
Among those who spoke at the rally including the former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, Alhaji Idris Wada, the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwa and host of others.