2023: Atiku tells CAN, “I Believe In Your Strategy Document”

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, has informed the CAN leadership that he fully supports the document outlining the organization’s strategy.

During his interaction with the Christian leadership’s interactive session with presidential candidates on Tuesday in Abuja, the former vice president of Nigeria made this known.

According to Atiku, his position as expressed in his policy document and the various books he wrote are identical to that of CAN’s Policy Roadmap for a Future Nigeria.

“I have listened to what the presentation of CAN document and I can tell you the CAN document is totally in conformity with my thoughts in a book which I published when I was the Vice President and this led to a fundamental disagreement with my boss as well as my constituents. There is no difference between my book and CAN’s presentation,” Atiku said while responding to CAN’s message.

Mr Atiku’s delegation was received by CAN’s President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, Secetrary of the association  and other executive members.

Speaking further, the former number two man said ” I stand before you not to campaign but to tell u the honest truth, what you have presented is what I have always believed in. And if I have the opportunity, I swear to God I will do it.

“Oil didn’t not send me to school, my parents paid cattle tax, market tax, radio tax and these were the taxes that sent me school from primary to university. If God have given you gold or oil, take your oil or gold but I will tax you.

“Why should we be fighting over resources that has been endowed to whoever it is endowed to”.

Presenting CAN’s strategy document titled “Policy Roadmap for a Future Nigeria” the national secretary of the association said  “For avoidance of doubt, we present the policies that we believe will address the crises of development in Nigeria;

“State police or fully decentralized police authority; clear and unambiguous religious neutrality of the Nigerian state through the removal of constructional references to religion and the use of religious symbols in al national legal materials and symbols, like the currency, etc., Enforcement of fundamental rights of all Nigerians, including economic and social rights.”

“Restructuring to decentralize governance; Equitable and enforceable sharing of executive and legislative positions in Nigeria; Ethnic and religious representation in military and security agencies, Self-determination for all Nigerian people through inclusion of the right of a referendum in the constitution

“No to Ruga, yes to ranching, Education and free healthcare to all Nigerians (including Almajiri); No open grazing (rather modernization of animal husbandry) and Local control of local economy, including waters, rivers, and forest”.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the vice presidential candidate for the PDP, said that the church must pray to prevent bad seeds from being sown.

He said; ” We have come to the season to plant and we must be careful to plant right so we can harvest abundance and bounitfuly. The church needs to be prayerful as we have not been this divided as a nation before as we are today and at this moment we need a man that can unify all ethnic groups, formal and informal groups. We saw how he alongside President Obasanjo ensured the unity of this country after years under the military and how our presidential candidate who was the VP then handled the economy which led to economic development and prosperity.”

He assured the CAN leadership that the Atiku/Okowa presidential campaign will see to it that all the issues mentioned in the CAN’s strategy document are addressed.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is running for vice president, PDP Chairman Iyiocha Ayu, former vice president Ach Namadi Sambo, PDP PCC DDG Operations Senator Liyel Imoke, governor Ishaku Darihus, Bukola Saraki, senator Dino Melaye, Tom Ikimi, Hon. Elumelu, and High Chief Raymond Dokpesi were among the members of Atiku’s delegation at the meeting.

For more updates, always visit dailygam.com