Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the Southeast have assured former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the zone’s total support for him in 2023 general elections.
The stakeholders revealed these during the PDP Zonal Stakeholders’ Meeting with Atiku in Enugu on Tuesday.
The National Vice Chairman, PDP, South-East Zone, Chief Ali Odefa said, in his welcome address, that the party was one in the region and devoid of division as is being speculated.
“Come election next year, we will demonstrate that Southeast is PDP and PDP is Southeast,” he said.
Speaking in the same line, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, said that Igbos were for Atiku, stressing that PDP played a major impact in the South-East region.
Wabara, who is the Acting Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the PDP, said Igbos had not been favoured in the past seven years and still counting, saying that only Atiku, if elected, as president could wipe their tears.
“We will vote entirely in the zone for PDP as we did in the last election and we will do it again.
“Just go and sleep because all the political leaders of Igbo extraction are here. PDP will win Southeast clearly,” he said.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in his address, assured the presidential candidate that Enugu State was essentially for PDP.
Earlier, Atiku described the meeting as part of his consultation meeting with the leaders of the various zones to thank them for their support and listen to their various issues.
He said he would be meeting both in consultation and the preparation of the campaign, stressing they must hit the grand rally from day one if Nigerians gave them a mandate.
He said the southeast was the key contributor to the economic activities in the country.
Mr Atiku said any government that wants to revive the Nigerian economy and bring out opportunities must carry the people of the Southeast along.
Atiku said he was a businessman and for business to thrive, there must be a conducive environment for Nigerians.
“When you understand the importance of infrastructure for economic development, jobs and wealth creation, your focus will be on infrastructure development.
“The five priorities of my government are to unify the country, improve security, fix the economy, restructure the federation and improve human capital development.
“This is the critical part that has a great impact on our national development and improves the quality of lives,” he said.
The Presidential flag bearer noted that the country was so divided, pointing out that it was a collective responsibility of all to unite it with equity, justice and fairness.
Atiku said that every segment of the country required a sense of belonging.