PORTHARCOURT — Sokoto state governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said that immediate steps need to be taken to unite Nigeria and pull it back from the edge of the cliff, as the Buhari led federal government has failed the country.
Tambuwal, who is vying to fly the PDP’s flag in the 2019 presidential election, made the comments in Portharcourt on Monday, while visiting the Rivers state Government House to seek the support of Governor Nyesom Wike.
A statement released by Governor Wike’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, quoted the Sokoto governor as adding that Nigeria is presently hanging on a cliff due to the failure of the Buhari administration.
According to the statement, Tambuwal said that Nigeria requires a leadership that has the capacity to unite the country, introduce fresh ideas in leadership and enhance the development of the nation.
“We are all aware that this country has never been this divided. This country has never been this polarized. There is need for us, not only to have a 21st century kind of leadership, but a leadership that is Pan-Nigeria.
“We need a leadership that understands the complexities of this country.
“We should be able to bring back our country from the brink. As it is today, this country is on a cliff and there is a need for us to pull it back,” Tambuwal said.
The statement said the PDP presidential aspirant noted that the experiences he has garnered as former Speaker of the House of Representatives and as the incumbent Sokoto State Governor have equipped him to offer Nigeria the right leadership it requires and therefore urged PDP members to nominate him to fly the party’s flag during the 2019 Presidential Election, pointing out that he has the capacity to lead the party to victory.
The statement quotes Tambuwal as saying that if elected, he would work with all stakeholders to review the constitution of the country to accomodate the aspirations of different sections of the country, adding that on security, he would deploy security and fresh ideas to improve the security of the nation.
Nwakaudu’s statement said governor Wike in his response, advised all presidential aspirants of the PDP to conduct themselves in a decorous manner to advance the interest of the party.
Wike told Tambuwal that if it happens that he’s not chosen as the party’s flag bearer, he should support whoever emerges in the interest of the party.
“Tell Nigerians what you want to do for them. Sell yourself. Do not be desperate. If it is God’s will, nobody can stop you,” Wike said.
According to the statement, the Rivers governor noted that Tambuwal represents one of the presidential aspirants with the capacity to lead and revive the country.
Wike called for a review of the country’s revenue sharing formula of the country, saying that without such a review, states will not be able to pay the new minimum wage.
The statement said the governor concluded by thanking the leadership of the PDP for approving the hosting of National Convention in Port Harcourt, as, according to him, the convention will positively impact the state’s economy.