By George Kushi
Ribadu Square in Yola the state capital of Adamawa state was a sea of heads as Jimeta- Yola stood to a standstill to wellcome the PDP presidential candidate to a grand finale that will herald the 2023 elections.
As Yola stood still for Atiku Abubakar, history was made as five political parties at one fell swoop collapsed their structures to join the PDP and Atiku Abubakar’s campaign machine. At hand to comment on the momentous event was the immediate past governor of Adamawa state Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow who adjudged the occasion in superlatives. He described the occasion as “unprecedented” and as having a multitude as big as he had never seen before in his life.
The turnout on this historic occasion graced by prominent personalities including His Excellency, Namad Sambo a former Vice President and other national key figures was a befitting climax to the PDP’s presidential election bid this year.
With five political parties collapsing into the People’s Democratic Party including many prominent figures, the fate of the rival APC in the state was sealed. The former Organizing Secretary of the state chapter of the APC ,Alhaji Ahmed Lawan was at hand to knell the knoll of the party in the state .
His Excellency ,Boni Haruna,twice governor of the state said Atiku has made the state proud by twice clinching the party nomination and as such his victory will be deservedly bestowed, he was also full of encomiums for Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for the grandiose changes he has made in the structural transformation of the state. He equally appreciated the Governor’s drive in the educational sector among several others.
The grand outing of the PDP in the state according to many veteran politicians is of such proportion that they have never seen. Not only was the campaign ground full,but the streets of Yola were crowded despite the anticipated low turnout due the cash strapped condition facing the general populace.
Ribadu Square on this day witnessed the rebirth of a new ,rejuvenated PDP that lost the presidency eight years ago,but has now become stronger with the influx of decampees that have become disillusioned due to the failure of the APC to deliver on it’s promises to the people and the poor quality of the candidate it is presenting.
Na’jaatu Mohammed,a prominent pro-democracy activist that was serving on Tinubu’s campaign council lent her voice in exposing the inadequacies of the APC presidential candidate as the crowd roared along.
What took place in Yola,if anything ,has changed the face of the presidential election of 2023 as the tide gradually moves towards Atiku Abubakar whose profile has soared high due to his experience and understanding of Nigeria as a polity that has been failed by APC’s handling of events in the past eight years.
At the occasion which marked the Roundup of his presidential bid,Atiku Abubakar pledged to give Nigerians a better deal. He promised to turn Nigerians from the excruciating pains of lack due to poor management of resources.
The crowd numbering over a hundred thousand was at hand to chant party slogans and we’re full of praises for the man they expect to free them from the shackles of poverty.
The grand outing in Yola has proved that Nigeria can still work as in spite of all the differences ipeople are ready to come together for a common good. n the population present The massive support is an indication that people have gathered to execute a project gearing for the quick exit of the APC at all levels,the endorsement of the PDP at the state level and local government levels is indeed a clear pointer that Atiku, Fintiri and indeed all PDP candidates will be coasting to victory.
The people have spoken and the message is loud and clear. The Atiku/Okowa ticket is not an option but the surest way to take Nigeria out of the doldrums.
Kushi writes in from Ribadu Square.