THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to empower youths if elected later this month.
He made the pledge during the party’s presidential campaign rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano State yesterday.
“We shall provide road infrastructure that will link Kano to all the neighbouring states. We will make sure that university lecturers are paid so that our children will continue to go to school. I have also pledged to set some funds aside for youths and women to receive loans to set up their small and medium business enterprises for self-employment,” the former vice president told the crowd of supporters.
Atiku also vowed to make Kano state a leading commercial centre in the country and revive agriculture in the area.
“We are pleased to meet with you today and we cannot believe that you are so many and in thousands supporting PDP. We have known that Kano is PDP. We thank you for coming out in your numbers to support us,” Atiku said.
“Kano has always been the centre of commerce in Nigeria. When PDP returns to power, we will make sure that Kano becomes a leading commercial centre in the country.
“We shall open the borders. We shall also ensure that Kano State is secured so that you can do your business without fear.
“The people of Kano are also known for farming. So if you elect me, I will support the agricultural sector and improve the business activities of the people. We will make Agriculture a priority.”
However, a major highlight of the rally was the conspicuous avoidance by Atiku and the party hierarchy to endorse either of party’s two parallel gubernatorial candidates, with the absence of the usual handing over of party flag to the party’s gubernatorial candidate on the agenda of the rally.
The party in Kano state has been engulfed in leadership crisis which culminated in the emergence of two parallel gubernatorial candidates – Mohammad Abacha and Sadiq Wali.
While Wali, son of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, was acknowledged by the electoral umpire, which put his name on its list, a court recognised the son of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
During the presidential campaign rally of the party at the Sani Abacha stadium, it was observed that both candidates were together with Atiku on the stage but the former Vice President did not make reference to either of them nor raise the hands of either of them while addressing the crowd.
