…Also speaks on Labour Party, Peter Obi, his quarrel with Tinubu, slams Sowore

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

On Labour Party and Peter Obi

Atiku declared that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot cause any upset during next year’s presidential election.

He noted that Obi, who was his erstwhile vice presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, alongside LP, cannot perform any miracle during the 2023 elections.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said: “I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“This is a party that doesn’t have a governor, doesn’t have members of the National Assembly, doesn’t have members of the state Houses of Assembly. And politics in this country depends on structures you have at those various levels; at the local level, at the state level and at the national level.

“It is very difficult for a miracle to happen simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party.”

On Obi’s defection to LP and whether Atiku misses him after he (Obi) left the PDP, the former vice president noted that though he misses the former Anambra State governor, but Obi didn’t consult him before his defection.

“Unfortunately, Peter did not consult me. We are going on and on and suddenly I heard the announcement of his defection. I think he informed me three days after he decamped to Labour Party. So, he did not even consult me.”

On May 27, 2022, Obi had joined LP a few days after dumping the PDP, saying the party was the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

“I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

On Tinubu

Atiku has said his major disagreement with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2007 was over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku described the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC as “unwelcoming and unripe for Nigeria as a democratic state.”

Atiku said: “I have always opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t believe this is ripe for countries like Nigeria. There should be balance.”

The PDP candidate has expressed confidence that he will defeat the APC candidate Tinubu in 2023.

Atiku dismissed the insinuation that the emergence of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate will reduce his chances in the North-East in the 2023 presidential election.

On Sowore

Atiku berated Omoyele Sowore over his comment on the recent electricity grid collapse.

Atiku said that Sowore is ignorant of his contributions to the power sector while he was the Vice President.

The country suffered its latest electricity grid collapse on Wednesday.

After the grid collapse, Atiku had taken to the micro-blogging platform Twitter to condemn the frequent electricity grid collapses in Nigeria.

He also proposed the innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve the facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.

Reacting to Atiku’s comment, Sowore also took to Twitter to accuse Abubakar of being part of those responsible for the frequent national grid collapses.

Sowore said Atiku should cut the pretense as it was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he served as Vice President that the grid started collapsing.

Reacting to Sowore’s claims, Atiku said: “He is my opponent, what do you expect him to say? Sowore has always lived outside the country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation and policy initiative in the power sector.

“When we came in 1999, the total generation was about 4,000Megawatts. We initiated the building of nine additional power stations and by the time those nine were finished, the capacity has gone up from 4,000Megawatts to about 13,000Megawatts.

“Unfortunately, there was no correspondence increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned. There is no way when your transmission lines cannot evacuate the power that you are producing that it will not collapse. So they keep on collapsing.

“The additional power stations were completed by the Jonathan administration. Umar Yaradua was on it and he died, then Jonathan continued and he completed them. So, that is why anytime there is an increase in power generation, then you have a transmission system that cannot evacuate the power, there will be a collapse.

“So, Sowore doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country and comes in every four years and contests the presidency and fails and travels out again, What does he know about this? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Credit: Based on reports by The PUNCH, Vanguard and Daily Independent.

…Also speaks on Labour Party, Peter Obi, his quarrel with Tinubu, slams Sowore

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

On Labour Party and Peter Obi

Atiku declared that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot cause any upset during next year’s presidential election.

He noted that Obi, who was his erstwhile vice presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, alongside LP, cannot perform any miracle during the 2023 elections.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said: “I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“This is a party that doesn’t have a governor, doesn’t have members of the National Assembly, doesn’t have members of the state Houses of Assembly. And politics in this country depends on structures you have at those various levels; at the local level, at the state level and at the national level.

“It is very difficult for a miracle to happen simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party.”

On Obi’s defection to LP and whether Atiku misses him after he (Obi) left the PDP, the former vice president noted that though he misses the former Anambra State governor, but Obi didn’t consult him before his defection.

“Unfortunately, Peter did not consult me. We are going on and on and suddenly I heard the announcement of his defection. I think he informed me three days after he decamped to Labour Party. So, he did not even consult me.”

On May 27, 2022, Obi had joined LP a few days after dumping the PDP, saying the party was the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

“I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

On Tinubu

Atiku has said his major disagreement with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2007 was over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku described the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC as “unwelcoming and unripe for Nigeria as a democratic state.”

Atiku said: “I have always opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t believe this is ripe for countries like Nigeria. There should be balance.”

The PDP candidate has expressed confidence that he will defeat the APC candidate Tinubu in 2023.

Atiku dismissed the insinuation that the emergence of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate will reduce his chances in the North-East in the 2023 presidential election.

On Sowore

Atiku berated Omoyele Sowore over his comment on the recent electricity grid collapse.

Atiku said that Sowore is ignorant of his contributions to the power sector while he was the Vice President.

The country suffered its latest electricity grid collapse on Wednesday.

After the grid collapse, Atiku had taken to the micro-blogging platform Twitter to condemn the frequent electricity grid collapses in Nigeria.

He also proposed the innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve the facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.

Reacting to Atiku’s comment, Sowore also took to Twitter to accuse Abubakar of being part of those responsible for the frequent national grid collapses.

Sowore said Atiku should cut the pretense as it was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he served as Vice President that the grid started collapsing.

Reacting to Sowore’s claims, Atiku said: “He is my opponent, what do you expect him to say? Sowore has always lived outside the country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation and policy initiative in the power sector.

“When we came in 1999, the total generation was about 4,000Megawatts. We initiated the building of nine additional power stations and by the time those nine were finished, the capacity has gone up from 4,000Megawatts to about 13,000Megawatts.

“Unfortunately, there was no correspondence increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned. There is no way when your transmission lines cannot evacuate the power that you are producing that it will not collapse. So they keep on collapsing.

“The additional power stations were completed by the Jonathan administration. Umar Yaradua was on it and he died, then Jonathan continued and he completed them. So, that is why anytime there is an increase in power generation, then you have a transmission system that cannot evacuate the power, there will be a collapse.

“So, Sowore doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country and comes in every four years and contests the presidency and fails and travels out again, What does he know about this? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Credit: Based on reports by The PUNCH, Vanguard and Daily Independent.

…Also speaks on Labour Party, Peter Obi, his quarrel with Tinubu, slams Sowore

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

On Labour Party and Peter Obi

Atiku declared that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot cause any upset during next year’s presidential election.

He noted that Obi, who was his erstwhile vice presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, alongside LP, cannot perform any miracle during the 2023 elections.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said: “I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“This is a party that doesn’t have a governor, doesn’t have members of the National Assembly, doesn’t have members of the state Houses of Assembly. And politics in this country depends on structures you have at those various levels; at the local level, at the state level and at the national level.

“It is very difficult for a miracle to happen simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party.”

On Obi’s defection to LP and whether Atiku misses him after he (Obi) left the PDP, the former vice president noted that though he misses the former Anambra State governor, but Obi didn’t consult him before his defection.

“Unfortunately, Peter did not consult me. We are going on and on and suddenly I heard the announcement of his defection. I think he informed me three days after he decamped to Labour Party. So, he did not even consult me.”

On May 27, 2022, Obi had joined LP a few days after dumping the PDP, saying the party was the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

“I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

On Tinubu

Atiku has said his major disagreement with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2007 was over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku described the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC as “unwelcoming and unripe for Nigeria as a democratic state.”

Atiku said: “I have always opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t believe this is ripe for countries like Nigeria. There should be balance.”

The PDP candidate has expressed confidence that he will defeat the APC candidate Tinubu in 2023.

Atiku dismissed the insinuation that the emergence of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate will reduce his chances in the North-East in the 2023 presidential election.

On Sowore

Atiku berated Omoyele Sowore over his comment on the recent electricity grid collapse.

Atiku said that Sowore is ignorant of his contributions to the power sector while he was the Vice President.

The country suffered its latest electricity grid collapse on Wednesday.

After the grid collapse, Atiku had taken to the micro-blogging platform Twitter to condemn the frequent electricity grid collapses in Nigeria.

He also proposed the innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve the facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.

Reacting to Atiku’s comment, Sowore also took to Twitter to accuse Abubakar of being part of those responsible for the frequent national grid collapses.

Sowore said Atiku should cut the pretense as it was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he served as Vice President that the grid started collapsing.

Reacting to Sowore’s claims, Atiku said: “He is my opponent, what do you expect him to say? Sowore has always lived outside the country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation and policy initiative in the power sector.

“When we came in 1999, the total generation was about 4,000Megawatts. We initiated the building of nine additional power stations and by the time those nine were finished, the capacity has gone up from 4,000Megawatts to about 13,000Megawatts.

“Unfortunately, there was no correspondence increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned. There is no way when your transmission lines cannot evacuate the power that you are producing that it will not collapse. So they keep on collapsing.

“The additional power stations were completed by the Jonathan administration. Umar Yaradua was on it and he died, then Jonathan continued and he completed them. So, that is why anytime there is an increase in power generation, then you have a transmission system that cannot evacuate the power, there will be a collapse.

“So, Sowore doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country and comes in every four years and contests the presidency and fails and travels out again, What does he know about this? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Credit: Based on reports by The PUNCH, Vanguard and Daily Independent.

…Also speaks on Labour Party, Peter Obi, his quarrel with Tinubu, slams Sowore

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

On Labour Party and Peter Obi

Atiku declared that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot cause any upset during next year’s presidential election.

He noted that Obi, who was his erstwhile vice presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, alongside LP, cannot perform any miracle during the 2023 elections.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said: “I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“This is a party that doesn’t have a governor, doesn’t have members of the National Assembly, doesn’t have members of the state Houses of Assembly. And politics in this country depends on structures you have at those various levels; at the local level, at the state level and at the national level.

“It is very difficult for a miracle to happen simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party.”

On Obi’s defection to LP and whether Atiku misses him after he (Obi) left the PDP, the former vice president noted that though he misses the former Anambra State governor, but Obi didn’t consult him before his defection.

“Unfortunately, Peter did not consult me. We are going on and on and suddenly I heard the announcement of his defection. I think he informed me three days after he decamped to Labour Party. So, he did not even consult me.”

On May 27, 2022, Obi had joined LP a few days after dumping the PDP, saying the party was the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

“I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

On Tinubu

Atiku has said his major disagreement with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2007 was over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku described the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC as “unwelcoming and unripe for Nigeria as a democratic state.”

Atiku said: “I have always opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t believe this is ripe for countries like Nigeria. There should be balance.”

The PDP candidate has expressed confidence that he will defeat the APC candidate Tinubu in 2023.

Atiku dismissed the insinuation that the emergence of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate will reduce his chances in the North-East in the 2023 presidential election.

On Sowore

Atiku berated Omoyele Sowore over his comment on the recent electricity grid collapse.

Atiku said that Sowore is ignorant of his contributions to the power sector while he was the Vice President.

The country suffered its latest electricity grid collapse on Wednesday.

After the grid collapse, Atiku had taken to the micro-blogging platform Twitter to condemn the frequent electricity grid collapses in Nigeria.

He also proposed the innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve the facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.

Reacting to Atiku’s comment, Sowore also took to Twitter to accuse Abubakar of being part of those responsible for the frequent national grid collapses.

Sowore said Atiku should cut the pretense as it was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he served as Vice President that the grid started collapsing.

Reacting to Sowore’s claims, Atiku said: “He is my opponent, what do you expect him to say? Sowore has always lived outside the country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation and policy initiative in the power sector.

“When we came in 1999, the total generation was about 4,000Megawatts. We initiated the building of nine additional power stations and by the time those nine were finished, the capacity has gone up from 4,000Megawatts to about 13,000Megawatts.

“Unfortunately, there was no correspondence increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned. There is no way when your transmission lines cannot evacuate the power that you are producing that it will not collapse. So they keep on collapsing.

“The additional power stations were completed by the Jonathan administration. Umar Yaradua was on it and he died, then Jonathan continued and he completed them. So, that is why anytime there is an increase in power generation, then you have a transmission system that cannot evacuate the power, there will be a collapse.

“So, Sowore doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country and comes in every four years and contests the presidency and fails and travels out again, What does he know about this? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Credit: Based on reports by The PUNCH, Vanguard and Daily Independent.

…Also speaks on Labour Party, Peter Obi, his quarrel with Tinubu, slams Sowore

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

On Labour Party and Peter Obi

Atiku declared that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot cause any upset during next year’s presidential election.

He noted that Obi, who was his erstwhile vice presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, alongside LP, cannot perform any miracle during the 2023 elections.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said: “I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“This is a party that doesn’t have a governor, doesn’t have members of the National Assembly, doesn’t have members of the state Houses of Assembly. And politics in this country depends on structures you have at those various levels; at the local level, at the state level and at the national level.

“It is very difficult for a miracle to happen simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party.”

On Obi’s defection to LP and whether Atiku misses him after he (Obi) left the PDP, the former vice president noted that though he misses the former Anambra State governor, but Obi didn’t consult him before his defection.

“Unfortunately, Peter did not consult me. We are going on and on and suddenly I heard the announcement of his defection. I think he informed me three days after he decamped to Labour Party. So, he did not even consult me.”

On May 27, 2022, Obi had joined LP a few days after dumping the PDP, saying the party was the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

“I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

On Tinubu

Atiku has said his major disagreement with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2007 was over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku described the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC as “unwelcoming and unripe for Nigeria as a democratic state.”

Atiku said: “I have always opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t believe this is ripe for countries like Nigeria. There should be balance.”

The PDP candidate has expressed confidence that he will defeat the APC candidate Tinubu in 2023.

Atiku dismissed the insinuation that the emergence of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate will reduce his chances in the North-East in the 2023 presidential election.

On Sowore

Atiku berated Omoyele Sowore over his comment on the recent electricity grid collapse.

Atiku said that Sowore is ignorant of his contributions to the power sector while he was the Vice President.

The country suffered its latest electricity grid collapse on Wednesday.

After the grid collapse, Atiku had taken to the micro-blogging platform Twitter to condemn the frequent electricity grid collapses in Nigeria.

He also proposed the innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve the facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.

Reacting to Atiku’s comment, Sowore also took to Twitter to accuse Abubakar of being part of those responsible for the frequent national grid collapses.

Sowore said Atiku should cut the pretense as it was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he served as Vice President that the grid started collapsing.

Reacting to Sowore’s claims, Atiku said: “He is my opponent, what do you expect him to say? Sowore has always lived outside the country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation and policy initiative in the power sector.

“When we came in 1999, the total generation was about 4,000Megawatts. We initiated the building of nine additional power stations and by the time those nine were finished, the capacity has gone up from 4,000Megawatts to about 13,000Megawatts.

“Unfortunately, there was no correspondence increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned. There is no way when your transmission lines cannot evacuate the power that you are producing that it will not collapse. So they keep on collapsing.

“The additional power stations were completed by the Jonathan administration. Umar Yaradua was on it and he died, then Jonathan continued and he completed them. So, that is why anytime there is an increase in power generation, then you have a transmission system that cannot evacuate the power, there will be a collapse.

“So, Sowore doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country and comes in every four years and contests the presidency and fails and travels out again, What does he know about this? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Credit: Based on reports by The PUNCH, Vanguard and Daily Independent.

…Also speaks on Labour Party, Peter Obi, his quarrel with Tinubu, slams Sowore

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

On Labour Party and Peter Obi

Atiku declared that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot cause any upset during next year’s presidential election.

He noted that Obi, who was his erstwhile vice presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, alongside LP, cannot perform any miracle during the 2023 elections.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said: “I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“This is a party that doesn’t have a governor, doesn’t have members of the National Assembly, doesn’t have members of the state Houses of Assembly. And politics in this country depends on structures you have at those various levels; at the local level, at the state level and at the national level.

“It is very difficult for a miracle to happen simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party.”

On Obi’s defection to LP and whether Atiku misses him after he (Obi) left the PDP, the former vice president noted that though he misses the former Anambra State governor, but Obi didn’t consult him before his defection.

“Unfortunately, Peter did not consult me. We are going on and on and suddenly I heard the announcement of his defection. I think he informed me three days after he decamped to Labour Party. So, he did not even consult me.”

On May 27, 2022, Obi had joined LP a few days after dumping the PDP, saying the party was the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

“I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

On Tinubu

Atiku has said his major disagreement with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2007 was over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku described the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC as “unwelcoming and unripe for Nigeria as a democratic state.”

Atiku said: “I have always opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t believe this is ripe for countries like Nigeria. There should be balance.”

The PDP candidate has expressed confidence that he will defeat the APC candidate Tinubu in 2023.

Atiku dismissed the insinuation that the emergence of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate will reduce his chances in the North-East in the 2023 presidential election.

On Sowore

Atiku berated Omoyele Sowore over his comment on the recent electricity grid collapse.

Atiku said that Sowore is ignorant of his contributions to the power sector while he was the Vice President.

The country suffered its latest electricity grid collapse on Wednesday.

After the grid collapse, Atiku had taken to the micro-blogging platform Twitter to condemn the frequent electricity grid collapses in Nigeria.

He also proposed the innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve the facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.

Reacting to Atiku’s comment, Sowore also took to Twitter to accuse Abubakar of being part of those responsible for the frequent national grid collapses.

Sowore said Atiku should cut the pretense as it was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he served as Vice President that the grid started collapsing.

Reacting to Sowore’s claims, Atiku said: “He is my opponent, what do you expect him to say? Sowore has always lived outside the country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation and policy initiative in the power sector.

“When we came in 1999, the total generation was about 4,000Megawatts. We initiated the building of nine additional power stations and by the time those nine were finished, the capacity has gone up from 4,000Megawatts to about 13,000Megawatts.

“Unfortunately, there was no correspondence increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned. There is no way when your transmission lines cannot evacuate the power that you are producing that it will not collapse. So they keep on collapsing.

“The additional power stations were completed by the Jonathan administration. Umar Yaradua was on it and he died, then Jonathan continued and he completed them. So, that is why anytime there is an increase in power generation, then you have a transmission system that cannot evacuate the power, there will be a collapse.

“So, Sowore doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country and comes in every four years and contests the presidency and fails and travels out again, What does he know about this? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Credit: Based on reports by The PUNCH, Vanguard and Daily Independent.

…Also speaks on Labour Party, Peter Obi, his quarrel with Tinubu, slams Sowore

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the choice of his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, and why he did not choose the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

Atiku had after announcing Okowa as his running mate clarified that he picked the Delta governor because he (Okowa) had the qualities to be a President, adding that he “is a President-in-waiting.”

He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, the national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.”

“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.

“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be President. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless All Progressives Congress government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.”

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arise TV which was aired Friday morning, Atiku said he chose who he felt could deliver among the nominees that were presented to him.

He added that Wike was not rejected and that he only picked who could deliver.

Atiku said: “I didn’t reject Wike, I picked who can deliver. Wike is brilliant and tenacious. Going by history, I picked an Igbo as running mate in 2007, in 2019. I still picked an Igbo as running mate for 2023.

“The committee that presented the three nominees was chaired by the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom. They recommended three people, so I picked one. People should be fair to me and state the facts.”

On the possibility of resolving issues with Wike, Atiku said the party was talking to Wike.

“We are reaching out to Wike and we are talking with him and I believe very soon we will find a reconciliation. In fact, very soon, because we are talking to him.

“We are talking to his governor colleagues. I am very optimistic we are going to resolve our internal crisis and move on.”

On Labour Party and Peter Obi

Atiku declared that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cannot cause any upset during next year’s presidential election.

He noted that Obi, who was his erstwhile vice presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, alongside LP, cannot perform any miracle during the 2023 elections.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

Atiku explained that despite the social media sensation and acceptability of Obi’s candidacy, the reality remains that the LP does not have people in government or the National Assembly.

He said: “I really don’t expect the Labour Party to take as many votes from the PDP as people are suggesting. We could have seen it in the last election in Osun State. What was the performance of the Labour Party?

“This is a party that doesn’t have a governor, doesn’t have members of the National Assembly, doesn’t have members of the state Houses of Assembly. And politics in this country depends on structures you have at those various levels; at the local level, at the state level and at the national level.

“It is very difficult for a miracle to happen simply because Peter Obi is in the Labour Party.”

On Obi’s defection to LP and whether Atiku misses him after he (Obi) left the PDP, the former vice president noted that though he misses the former Anambra State governor, but Obi didn’t consult him before his defection.

“Unfortunately, Peter did not consult me. We are going on and on and suddenly I heard the announcement of his defection. I think he informed me three days after he decamped to Labour Party. So, he did not even consult me.”

On May 27, 2022, Obi had joined LP a few days after dumping the PDP, saying the party was the right platform that aligns with his aspiration.

According to him, he had chosen a route that he considered to be in line with “our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production.”

“I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.

“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.”

On Tinubu

Atiku has said his major disagreement with the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2007 was over Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Atiku described the Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC as “unwelcoming and unripe for Nigeria as a democratic state.”

Atiku said: “I have always opposed Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t believe this is ripe for countries like Nigeria. There should be balance.”

The PDP candidate has expressed confidence that he will defeat the APC candidate Tinubu in 2023.

Atiku dismissed the insinuation that the emergence of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate will reduce his chances in the North-East in the 2023 presidential election.

On Sowore

Atiku berated Omoyele Sowore over his comment on the recent electricity grid collapse.

Atiku said that Sowore is ignorant of his contributions to the power sector while he was the Vice President.

The country suffered its latest electricity grid collapse on Wednesday.

After the grid collapse, Atiku had taken to the micro-blogging platform Twitter to condemn the frequent electricity grid collapses in Nigeria.

He also proposed the innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve the facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.

Reacting to Atiku’s comment, Sowore also took to Twitter to accuse Abubakar of being part of those responsible for the frequent national grid collapses.

Sowore said Atiku should cut the pretense as it was during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in which he served as Vice President that the grid started collapsing.

Reacting to Sowore’s claims, Atiku said: “He is my opponent, what do you expect him to say? Sowore has always lived outside the country. He doesn’t even know the policy implementation and policy initiative in the power sector.

“When we came in 1999, the total generation was about 4,000Megawatts. We initiated the building of nine additional power stations and by the time those nine were finished, the capacity has gone up from 4,000Megawatts to about 13,000Megawatts.

“Unfortunately, there was no correspondence increase as far as the transmission lines are concerned. There is no way when your transmission lines cannot evacuate the power that you are producing that it will not collapse. So they keep on collapsing.

“The additional power stations were completed by the Jonathan administration. Umar Yaradua was on it and he died, then Jonathan continued and he completed them. So, that is why anytime there is an increase in power generation, then you have a transmission system that cannot evacuate the power, there will be a collapse.

“So, Sowore doesn’t even know because he lives outside this country and comes in every four years and contests the presidency and fails and travels out again, What does he know about this? Nothing, absolutely nothing.”

Credit: Based on reports by The PUNCH, Vanguard and Daily Independent.