Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has insisted that Peter Obi deserves to lead Nigeria because he knows how to create wealth.

The former lawmaker and LP presidential flagbearer addressed thousands of supporters on Thursday at a summit at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

The gathering comprised the members of more than 80 groups working for the 2023 bid of the former Anambra governor.

Baba-Ahmed said Obi’s achievements while in office for eight years should give citizens hope that with LP in power, Nigeria will be saved.

The Baze University founder called for vigilance ahead of the election and cautioned riggers to allow the voice of the people to prevail.

READ ALSO: Nigeria Elections: Peter Obi Group Sues INEC Over Voter Registration Halt

Baba-Ahmed assured that he and Obi were not seeking the seat of power so as to “look for money”.

“We are looking for how to manage government money by following a serious leader who knows how to create wealth.

“I am following a leader who has nothing to achieve again in this life except to see a peaceful and prosperous nation.

“It pains me when a uniform staff of a federal government of Nigeria, in broad daylight, collects money.

“Each time I see it, my heart breaks. That act is as bad as a $20billion scandal and it happens every day. We are going to end it”, Baba-Ahmed vowed.

Former minister of Sports and Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to vote out the All Progressive Congress in the 2023 elections, saying that the present ruling party has ruined the nation.

The ex-minister said the 2023 general elections offer Nigerians another historic opportunity to make Nigeria work again.

He stated that the dream of making Nigeria great could only be achieved if citizens, through the elections, chased away politicians in the fold of APC.

Abdullahi, Kwara central senatorial candidate of the PDP, in the forthcoming general election expressed this while featuring at the 33rd edition of the ‘Media Parliament’ of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ilorin.

He spoke on ‘Retooling Nigeria For the Task Ahead’.

READ ALSO: N’Central APC Members Protest Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Reject Lalong

Abdullahi said, “The APC government has brought this nation to its kneels. All the things we thought could not happened had happened in the last seven years. There is no way we can exonerate APC from the problems of this country.

“APC has ruined this country. Nigerians should say no to any politician seeking elective office under APC. 2023 presents historic opportunity to make Nigeria work again.

“Every Nigerian lives in fear today because of the problems of insecurity and poverty. The poorest of the poor are 90 million in Nigeria today. But we seem not to understand the magnitude of the problem facing us. We carry on as if all is well. We are treating cancer with wrapping bandage on it.”

Abdullahi also traced Nigeria’s problem to 1966 when the nation had its first coup plot, said that no nation can have peace without justice.

He added, “After the civil war our leaders ought to realise that the Nigeria that the British gave us could not work. We should have restructured the country then.

“Another opportunity we missed to make Nigeria a real nation was the annulment of June 12. We diagnosed the issue as if it was a Yoruba problem and decided to make one of them a president in 1999. We had a lot of opportunities in June 12 debacle but we bungled them.”

Speaking on the lingering ASUU strike, the former Minister called for an urgent resolution to save the nation’s education sector from total collapse.

According to him the issue in contention should be resolved amicably to enable students resume academic activities.

He expressed worry over the security challenges in the country, adding that all hands must be on deck to bring a lasting solution to the problem.

READ ALSO: Buhari’s Nephew Dumps APC After Reportedly Meeting Atiku

Abdullahi also urged the youths to contribute their quota to ensure better development of the country.

Earlier in his address of welcome the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists Kwara state Council, Ahmed Abdulateef, called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to make the country better.

Bode Gorge, Others Call For Ayu’s Resignation

Amid tensions, some elders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, intervened in the crisis rocking the party by giving approval for the constitution of the presidential campaign council.

Vanguard gathered that while some PDP leaders are pushing for the party to wield the big stick against those engaged in anti-party activities, other leaders are more favourably disposed to ongoing reconciliatory efforts.

It was learned in Abuja yesterday that the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other organs of the party, including the National Working Committee, NWC, the Caucus and the Board of Trustees, BoT, have agreed to go ahead with the constitution of the party’s presidential campaign council.

This came on a day former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, urged the PDP National Chair-man, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to honourably resign.

George, however, urged Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State not to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, despite misgivings over the choice of running mate to the PDP presidential candidate.

Party elders wade in, mull options

A top ranking member of the party, who is familiar with the issue but elected to speak in confidence, said: “We held a major consultative meeting on Tuesday and I can assure you that the membership of the council will be announced in the next two weeks.

READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Party Elders Wade In, Mull Options

“Campaigns start next month; we want to be up and running before this happens. We have been reaching out to our members nationwide, including our respected leaders in Rivers State.

“Details of our next steps are being worked out. You know the PDP, being a very large family, has a lot of tendencies and individuals and groups have egos that require massaging. We are doing that.

“There are those pushing for us to wield the big stick but the majority are more favourably disposed to ongoing reconciliatory efforts because we are in opposition; we need everyone more than the ruling party.”

Another party leader, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said: “The PDP has dealt with bigger challenges; this one too has come and it will go. Governor Wike, whose name is being mentioned anytime our current challenges are cited, is a party man, he has said it himself.

“He has other party leaders who respect him and look up to him to protect their political interests. Whatsoever those interests may be, he feels an obligation to protect those who stuck out their necks for him during his bid for the ticket.

“It is the pursuit of this that has delayed us till now but we must make progress; we have an election to win and there will be positions of responsibilities to be given out. It is the patience component that is the issue at the moment.”

Substantial progress is being made — Atiku’s camp

When contacted, Mazi Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said: “Substantial progress is being made with regards to resolving outstanding issues. My principal has assured the party and all members that everyone will be carried along. That commitment has not changed.”

We’ll resolve crisis soon—PDP leader

Also speaking, a top PDP leader told Vanguard that leaders are making moves to resolve the crisis.

The PDP leader, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are making efforts to resolve the crisis.

“All I know is that Wike will not leave the party. As regards inviting APC leaders to commission projects in his state, he has said it before that he would invite leaders across party lines to commission projects in Rivers. I can assure you that the crisis within the party will be resolved soon.”

Ayu should resign honourably —Bode George

Commenting on the crisis rocking the party, George, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, insisted that Ayu should honour his words by stepping down as national chairman of the party.

He, however, urged Governor Wike not to join APC, despite misgivings over the choice of Atiku’s running mate, saying “you don’t win all the time.”

Heis words: “In democracy, we must talk and exchange ideas. We must agree and disagree without actually being disagreeable. Any organisation with human beings will always have issues but the ability to manage that crisis will be the determining factor.

READ ALSO: PDP Crisis: Party Leadership, Wike In standoff — Source

“I want to appeal to all sides to sheathe their swords. Nigerians are waiting for us and we must convince them that we can manage the resources of the country in an equitable manner.

“They should all cease fire. Statements of arrogance and innuendos that can destroy the party should stop forthwith.

“Zoning has sustained our democracy for this long because it’s the concept that established our party.

“My plea is that all should cool temper because if we don’t get it right this time around, this nation will never forgive us. Nigerians are waiting for the PDP.”

On 2023 general election, George said it was not yet uhuru.

While expressing worry over the security situation in the country, he said: “My fear is that if the insecurity continues, who will be bold enough to campaign or cast votes during election?

“These are serious issues we must consider. Are we thinking about it? It’s scary. How will people go out to vote on the day of election?”

VANGUARD.