Showunmi: If elected, Atiku will restructure Nigeria within one year

 Segun Showunmi, spokesman of the Atiku Campaign Organization, says the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will restructure the country within one year, if elected.

Showunmi said this while speaking on a programme on Arise Television.

He said Nigerians would have seen practical restructured activities that government would have embarked on within one year.

Showunmi added that the Nigerian constitution was not created to be an obstacle to development and that the citizens can determine what they need to change that can give them the desired growth.

“The first thing Atiku is going to do once he sets up his government, which will take six months, is that he’s going to set up a special committee that will look at all of the reports, 1995, 2005, 2014, harmonize them, and get what is the commonalities so that we can know what is consistently being demanded, pull out all the harmonized stuff, looking at all the things Nigerians have been clamoring for, which of those things can be signed by an executive order, maybe things that are on the concurrent list,” he said.

“Then, he will look at the ones that require him to work with the legislature and stakeholders in the country, and say look Nigerians, our constitution was not created to be an obstacle to development. We have the power, as Nigerians, to determine what we need to change that can give us the growth we need, giving that he’s very good at building consensus and pulling people together.

“But one thing you can be sure of is that, within 6 to 8 months, maximum of one year, Nigerians would have seen practical restructured activities that government would have embarked on.

“You know why? It’s because you are going to have in the office of the president an Atiku Abubakar, not someone who is paying lip service to restructuring, somebody who has been standing on restructuring for such a long time, who has written on restructuring and who has advocated for restructuring?”

On whether Atiku will spend one term as he promised, Showunmi said, “When we get to that bridge, we will certainly cross it. But what I will say to you is this. Atiku Abubakar keeps his words and his obligations. What he says or signs up to, you can be rest assured that he will do it. He’s not a flippant fellow and he doesn’t play to the gallery.”

Atiku's visits the Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu

His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Monday visited the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu for some consultations and to seek his understanding.

On the entourage of H.E Atiku Abubakar were the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, who is also the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki;  National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus; and the National Organizing Secretary of the party, Col. Austin Akobundu  (retd.).

It was learnt that the visit was for consultation with Ekweremadu as a run up to the 2019 polls.

With news making round the clock regarding the start of the campaign, it was imperative to carry out such visit to Ekweremadu. It was gathered that the entourage asked for his support which he obliged; and also explained to him that Obi was picked in the interest of the zone in particular and the nation in general.

It was said, “He was told that Obi does not have any corruption case against him and that he does not belong to any faction of the party.

“He was also told that Obi’s emergence has further raised the acceptability level of the PDP across the country.”

Meanwhile, the party has scheduled its National Executive Committee meeting for Thursday in Abuja.

Our correspondent gathered that the meeting would approve the full composition of the council and also vet its budget for the campaigns.

Secondus confirmed the inauguration of the campaign council to our correspondent on the telephone.

“Yes, we are meeting on Thursday and the campaign will be inaugurated same day,” he said.

Atiku Will Bring Dignity, Respect To His Duties – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar, will bring grace and dignity to any assignment he is given.

Obasanjo said this on Saturday during the turning of Abubakar as the seventh Waziri Adamawa by His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Muhammadu Aliyu Barkindo Mustapha, the Lamido of Adamawa.

He said: “When we were in Abuja and dealing with the affairs of governance, you did not take lightly cultural affairs back home.

“By every standard, you are a cultured and a cultural person.

“Whatever responsibility you have at the national and international level, I know you will carry this new office with respect and dignity.”

Abubakar vowed to ensure the relevance of traditional institutions in the country by promoting their values and principles to the rest of the world.

He said he would not relent in promoting and advancing the cause and principles of Adamawa Emirate and traditional institutions in general in the country.

Referring to Obasanjo as his boss, the former vice president thanked him his contributions to his mentoring.

He added: “Your royal highness has now given me the highest honour available to anyone from a modest background and achievement.

“The late Lamido, HRH Aliyu Mustapha, may his soul rest in peace, appointed me Turakin Adamawa at the age of 35, making me a confidant and council member of the emirate.

“As his successor, you have accorded me the second highest position, which I am receiving with profound humility with my turbaning as Wazirin.”

Mustapha said Abubakar was honoured because of his contributions to the development of Nigeria in general and Adamawa State in particular.

He said: “Atiku has also contributed greatly to unifying the people of Adamawa and providing useful advice to the emirate.

“The position of Wazirin, which is the highest in the council, puts him in charge of administration of the emirate and is given to people who are educated, honest and God fearing.

2019 Election: Segun Showunmi Receives Women Arise Group as they endorse Atiku

As a run up to the 2019 general election, a group under the aegis of “Women Arise Group” has lend its support to the presidency of H.E Atiku Abubakar and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking at their programme held at the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization's office, the leader of the group, said the choice was made after due consultations and considerations regarding the issue of nation building, restructuring, revamping the economy and dealing with the ills of unemployment in the country, the group has decided to throw its weight behind H.E Atiku Abubakar.

The group was received by the Spokesman of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization (APCO), Mr. Segun Showunmi at his office on Monday.

The Spokesman of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organization, Mr. Segun Showunmi commended the group for their unrelenting support to ensuring the victory of H.E Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 general election.

According to him, “Your support group is doubtlessly vibrant and committed to the anticipated actualization of the Presidential ambition of His Excellency, Atiku Abubabkar”.

In his remark, Mr. Segun Showunmi made it clear that he is convinced now than ever that women will indeed play a vital role in ensuring we elect a government that will truly get Nigeria working again.

Pictures: Obasanjo, Jonathan, Saraki at turbaning of Atiku

Former Vice President and the Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has been turbaned the 7th Waziri of Adamawa Emirate.

The position of Waziri makes the former Vice President next to the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo, in the emirate.

Notable among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony are two former Presidents of Nigeria: Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo. Former Vice President Namadi Sambo was also at the occasion.

President of the Senate and DG of Atiku’s Presidential Campaign Council, Bukola Saraki was also present at the occasion along with his House of Representatives Counterpart Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

The Lamido of Adamawa said Atiku was honoured with the title of Waziri because of his immense contributions to the development of Nigeria, particularly Adamawa State, where his impact was felt in various sectors.

“Atiku has also contributed greatly to unifying the people of Adamawa and providing useful advice to the emirate.

“The position of Waziri, which is the highest in the council puts him in charge of administration of the emirate and is given to people who are educated, honest and God fearing.

“It’s not hereditary and can go to anyone who deserves it.”

While urging the new Waziri to continue to carry everyone along and unite the people of Adamawa for more development, Barkindo urged all other traditional title holders to cooperate with the new Waziri.

My Government Will be All inclusive and Youth Oriented - Atiku

His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming 2019 general election has pledged that if voted to power, 40% of his administration will be dedicated to the youths, while 30% for the women folks and 30% for the adults.

H.E Atiku Abubakar who spoke Tuesday night in a function in Yola put together by the Atiku/Obi Vanguard for Good Governance stated that he decided to allocate the largest percentage of power of his government to the Youths because they form 70% of the voting population in Nigeria

It should be known however that 70% of Nigerian voters are youths and women who successive administration has neglected.

‘’Successive administrations have continued to give prominence to the adults in running the governments and they have failed to replicate the tenets of democracy’’ Atiku regretted.

‘’ Unless we shift emphasis and place youths of the country in the rightful places in the scheme of things, we will continue to have the reoccurring restive problem bedeviling the nation’’, Atiku Abubakar added.

‘’Obviously the APC led government has failed to implement all youth related policies and programmes and these are responsible for the growing youth restiveness in most of the states of the country.

H.E Atiku Abubakar therefore called on all youths to vote out the APC government for not meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

‘’My duty is to get Nigeria Working Again’’.

The Policy Document Breakdown Analysis for “The Atiku Plan”

His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate,  on Monday launched his 2019 presidential campaign with the unveiling of his policy documents, which contain his "vision to Get Nigeria Working Again". He tagged the documents “The Atiku Plan”.

The policy document analysis for “The Atiku Plan” is as follows;

1. A firm commitment to the promotion of a private sector-driven, competitive and open economy supported by efficiently run public institutions.

2. Promoting economic diversification and linkages between agriculture, industry and micro and small enterprises all three of which have great prospects for employment generation and poverty reduction.

3 A supportive enabling business environment.

4 A stable macro-economic environment: We shall deepen monetary and fiscal reforms to promote a stable macro-economic environment

5. Increasing the flow of direct foreign Investment (FDI) into the non-oil sector

Working towards achieving the lowest corporate income tax rate in Africa, in order to make Nigeria one the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment;

Agriculture

6. Strengthen the markets for agricultural commodities through the establishment of private sector-led commodities exchanges around the major crop production in all regions of Nigeria (Building farm to market roads).

7. Encourage investment in Agro-processing cluster by offering concessional financing, tax breaks and seed funds for upgrades or construction of access roads, embedded power plants and water/waste management systems.

8. Support women engaged in agricultural activities.

On Manufacturing

9 Achieve a sustained increase in manufacturing output. By 2025, the manufacturing sector's output shall be expanded from 9% to 30% of GDP achieve a diversified production structure with more processing of domestic raw materials, a select list of light, intermediate and heavy goods industries and a substantial complement of manufactured exports.

On Oil and Gas Sector

10. By 2025, Nigeria shall produce a minimum of 5 million per barrels per day

Increase the contribution of the downstream sector to GDP from <0.5% to at least 2% by 2025 by increasing the quantity of petroleum being refined, consumed and exported. Also, expand domestic gas production to meet power generation and manufacturing demand.

11. To improve domestic supply of refined petroleum products government will incentivize those investors that are willing to cite modular refineries in the North to source crude from neighbouring Niger and Chad via pipeline to be constructed under Public Private Partnership

12. We shall embark on the digitalization of the internal processes of the NNPC. Similarly, we shall ensure timely publication of revenue earnings from Petroleum operations by CBN and Federal Ministry of Finance

13. We shall deal decisively with security issues, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft. We shall, deploy modern technology in pipeline surveillance.

14. We shall intensify our engagement with local communities in the oil production zones to understand their grievances and workout best ways to ameliorate their social and economic conditions

On Expanding Nigerian Export Base

15. As we double our refining capacity to 2 million barrels of crude daily, we shall aspire to export 50% of that capacity to ECOWAS member states.

16. Mandate the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Nigeria investment Promotion Council (NIPC) and other stakeholders to develop a strategy for engaging in preferential and beneficial economic and trade relations with a post BREXIT United Kingdom, without the ambiguity that comes with negotiating with the EU. Under our administration, Nigeria shall take maximum advantage of and improve our existing trade agreements for the benefit of Nigerians.

17. Substantially increase the manufactured export funding window (the Export Stimulation Fund) currently, N700 billion to N1.5 trillion to enhance access to credit by manufacturers of finished, non-oil products.

On Public-Private Sector Partnership

18. The privatization of State-Owned Enterprises including all three government-owned refineries and the concession of Nigeria's sea and airports to reputable, strategic, and technically sound buyers

19. The liberalization of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry to, among others, allow market-determined prices for Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS) and eliminate subsides for its consumption.

20. Set up a Special Purpose Fund for the utilization of all monies saved from subsidy removal in building infrastructure in education, health and the empowerment of women and youth

21. Accelerating the privatization and decentralization of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)

22. Concessioning segments of the national grid to the private sector

On Youth Empowerment

23. Creation of up to 3 million self-and wage-paying employment opportunities in the private sector annually, across all the economic sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, MSMEs, ICT and Sports and Entertainment

24. Champion the repositioning and streamlining the activities of the existing Federal and State Government Job Creation Agencies to ensure that their objectives are harmonized, and efforts and resources are better

25. There will be established a system of payment of feeding stipends during the training period either by direct cash payment or by use of a food voucher system in order to support indigent trainee-beneficiaries

26. Lift at least 50 million people out of extreme poverty by 2025

27. An estimated 1,000,000 youth shall benefit annually from our apprenticeship scheme in the informal sector

On Transportation Infrastructure

28. Construction of up to 5,000 Km of modern railway lines

29. Develop the Lagos – Abuja rail network on the standard gauge system

30. Undertake immediate operational improvements to significantly decongest Lagos ports.

31. Define time-lines for completion of concessions granted from inland/dry port development

On Power Infrastructure

32. Ensure effective regulatory environment to deliver contract-based electricity market compliant with market rules

33. Intensify rural electrification projects to ensure electricity access to over 80 million Nigerians currently without access to grid electricity

34. Create an environment that will enable distribution companies recover full costs for power supplied to their consumers with firm commitment to a metering program for all customers

Refining and Petrochemical Infrastructure

35. Prioritize investment in nameplate capacity and ensure that Nigeria starts to refine 50% of its current crude oil output of 2 million bpd by 2025

36. To increase the nation's refining capacity, we shall privatize all four-outstanding government owned refineries to competent off-takers with mandates to produce agreed levels of refined output.

The Management Of Economic Resources

37. Slow down the rate of debt accumulation by promoting more Public Private Partnerships in critical infrastructure funding and identify more innovative funding options.

38. Review the current utilization of all borrowed funds and ensure that they are deployed more judiciously specifically; we will ensure that all borrowed funds are for priority infrastructure projects that would generate income, boost output and put the economy on the path of sustainable growth.

39. Intensify efforts to enhance the internal revenue generating capacity of all three tiers of government

40. Quantify budgetary leakages and redirect to priority savings to priority areas (education, health, funding of revised compensation structure). Based on the above, deliverables can be specified and monitored accordingly

On Niger Delta

41. Relocate the Niger Delta Ministry from Abuja to the region to enable it become closer to the stakeholders and beneficiaries of the initiatives

On Restructuring

42. Local Governments shall remain as independent tier of government. Grassroots development requires the recognition of the Local Governments as independent structures of government not as appendages to the office of the State Government

43. Governments shall remain as independent tier of government. Grassroots development requires the recognition of the Local Governments as independent structures of government not as appendages to the office of the State Governor

44. Once power over minerals and mines is devolved to the concurrent list, states where deposits of mines and mineral resources are found will have control over those resources and only pay royalties to the center.