The campaign train of the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, roared into Katsina, yesterday, to a rousing reception as thousands of supporters thronged the Dikko Stadium, venue of his rally in the state.
With a pledge to reverse what he described as ‘policies of underdevelopment of the ruling All Progressive Party (APC),’ Atiku urged security agencies not to allow themselves to be used by anti-democratic forces to scuttle the “will of the people” during the forthcoming general election.
“I urge the police, military, civil defence corps and other security agencies to resist any attempt by any political party to draw them into partisan politics.
“Your mandate is to provide security for the electorate and ensure peaceful elections.
“You must not interfere in the process, you must conduct yourselves professionally during the elections,” Atiku said, just as he told the youths and prospective voters to “make sure that your votes are counted at the polling unit level so that nobody will change the figures.
“As you are aware, the APC government has failed in its promises on poverty eradication, provision of job opportunities but, when I am elected, I promise to fix all these issues and return Nigeria to the path of sustainable development,” Atiku said.
Also addressing the rally, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, alleged there is a plot by the APC adminstration to rig the results of the polls.
He explained that the recent redeployment of police commissioners, across the country was designed to enact that plot.
According to Secondus, the mass turnout at the Katsina rally was indication that the people, “have already started celebrating the victory of the next president of Nigeria.
“There is no doubt that the people are clamouring to vote Atiku Abubakar for president because he is the only one who can return security to the land.”
And, for the PDP National Secretary, Senator Umar Tsauri, who is from Katsina, he told his kinsmen of their mission to the state.
“We are here to present Atiku Abubakar to the people of Katsina state. You know that there is hunger in the land and your children no longer go to school.
“The only person who can drive away hunger and poverty in the land is Atiku Abubakar.
“If you vote PDP, we shall go back to where we were before the APC government came and dragged us backwards.”
The Atiku campaign train had earlier visited the emirs of Daura and Katsina.