Olusegun Olanrewaju
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday held a rally in Lagos with the ‘rebel’ G5 governors who are anti-Atiku’s making good their threat to boycott the presidential campaign.

The five governors, who have now conducted themselves into an ‘Integrity Group’ fighting Atiku are Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

They were nowhere to be seen at the campaign venue, Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos, alongside a former Board of Trustees (BoT) member and Lagos chieftain, Bode George.

Atiku’s campaign team held their campaign in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, at a rally that witnessed a large turnout of supporters from across the state.

The rally in Lagos marks the second in the South-West where the presidential candidate held his campaign ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Atiku, a former vice-president will be battling ex-Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, who is flying the flag for the All Progressives Congress (APC); Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s Musa Kwankwaso, in the February 2023 presidential elections.

At the floating of the Integrity Group, about a fortnight ago, the G5 governors had maintained a joint stance on not campaigning For Atiku.

At a meeting, the group said its members had bonded on not going back on the decision not to be part of the campaign of the PDP presidential candidate until their demand, which included the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, was met.

Yesterday, the governors boycotted the Lagos rally, but Atiku went ahead with his undertaking.

Delivering his message, Atiku took on the leadership of the long-ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He warned the people of Lagos State against returning the All Progressives Congress (APC) to power both at the state and federal levels.

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The former vice president also discredited the APC’s claims of building major infrastructure in the state.

He added that only “a single family has ruled the state for 23 years”.

He said, “The Federal Government built the Third Mainland Bridge, Agege Motor Road, and other road infrastructures in the state. The APC government is lying to you about developing Lagos.

“It is time for you to liberate yourself from a family government in power for over 23 years, by voting Jandor as your governor.”

The PDP flag bearer also promised to privatise all the refineries to raise $10 billion for women and youth empowerment in the country.

Further speaking, Atiku again reiterated that he would set aside $10 billion to support youth and women empowerment.

He said, “I will set aside N10 billion to empower young men and women. People have asked how I will get the money, but If I privatise the Warri Refinery and others, I will get the money,” he told the mammoth crowd.

Atiku further emphasised restructuring of the country, if elected.

He said, “If I am voted in, I will restructure the country. For the past 23 years, you have been voting for one family. It is time to liberate yourself and vote Jandor.”

Recall that many elder statesmen in the country have called for restructuring, which some have argued would solve some of the national problems currently facing the country.

Earlier, the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos, Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor, told the party’s supporters that he would stop all forms of harassment, especially by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other miscreants hibernating in all motor parks and garages in the state.

He said, “In the last 23 years, we haven’t seen anything in Lagos, and it is time for us to have a meaningful government in Lagos by voting for me.

“Poverty rate has increased since Sanwo-Olu took over, despite his claims of investment of N10 billion in the employment trust fund in Lagos.

“Funke (the running mate) and I have been contributing our quota and employing people, we pay our taxes, but Sanwo-Olu and his deputy don’t.

“Let me use this opportunity to tell the people of Lagos that you say the touts are terrorizing you, but the government doesn’t want that to stop. As your governor, I will stop all forms of harassment in markets and motor parks, and this is our pledge to the people of Lagos.

Speaking also at the rally, the party’s vice presidential candidate and the governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, told the crowd, “I know Lagos is ready to deliver a massive vote for the PDP in the 2023 polls.

“Atiku is acceptable all over the country, and he is the one who can deliver it to the people. PDP wants to restore the last glory of the country.

“The resources of Lagos must be used for the people. Not where the rich will become richer and the poor poorer. Atiku is the only candidate that can restore the glory of the lost country. Therefore, go from door-to-door and house-to-house campaigns to the people. PDP will restore Nigeria’s greatness, Okowa said.

On his part, the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, told the gathering that Atiku will make Nigeria the best country in Africa.

He assured the people of Lagos that if Atiku is elected, he would abolish the multiple taxation system in Lagos.