Khadijat Saidu, Birning Kebbi
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign rally in Birnin Kebbi this Saturday has been lackluster as major stakeholders in Kebbi State boycotted the event which ended as a divided house.
The Presidential Candidate of the Party, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa come to Kebbi to be greeted by in-fighting between ‘’invaders’’ who contested and lost Primary elections in APC and hurriedly rushed to PDP to snatch positions at all costs and bonafide members of the PDP who felt aggrieved by such act of dishonour.
Already, litigation is ongoing at the Apex Court to restore what the bonafide members of the party believe are their rights and privileges.
As was glaring, major stalwarts and top notchers of the PDP absented themselves from the Presidential Campaign that deemed that glamour of the event.
Such big names include former minister for special duties Kabiru Tanimu, former chief of Army Staff Rt. Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamayi, former minister for Foreign Affairs, Samaila Sa’idu Samabawa, former minister Buhari Bala, former gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in 2015 Rt. Major General Bello Sarkin Yaki, a gubernatorial aspirant of the PDP Barr. Ibrahim Manga, PDP Senatorial candidate, Kebbi North, Sani Bawa, and PDP Senatorial candidate, Kebbi Central, Malam Haruna Saidu.
These juggernauts and their teeming supporters stayed away from the campaign rally that forced the organizers to hire supporters from the neighbouring states of Sokoto, Zamfara, and Niger as well as the neighbouring countries of Benin and Niger republics to make up for the deficit and save face.
However the Presidential candidate of the PDP Alh. Atiku Abubakar in his address to the people of Kebbi at the campaign ground at (Filin Skuwa) in Birning Kebbi vowed to reopen all of Nigeria’s land borders if elected as president.
According to him, he said Land borders in the country were all closed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, with the president accusing Nigeria’s neighbours of allowing massive smuggling into Nigeria to the detriment of the country. At least four of the borders were reopened two years later while the others remain closed.
Atiku made the pledge at the party’s presidential campaign in Birnin-Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital on Saturday.
The former vice president, who was a formal officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, said he has more knowledge of border issues than his rivals in the presidential contest.
According to him, reopening the borders would foster trade and investment between Nigeria and other neighbouring countries.
“I promise you that I will open the borders that have been closed. I am more knowledgeable about border issues than all the other presidential candidates.
Atiku also promised to promote agricultural activities in the state if elected come February.
