Just in: Atiku sends New Year message to Nigerians
- The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar sent a New Year Message to Nigerians
- Atiku in the message urged Nigerians to make sure they elect in 2019 leaders that can solve the challenges the country is currently facing
- The former vice president added that Nigeria can be great again if Nigerians make the right choices of leaders in 2019
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has sent a New Year message wishing Nigerians a happy new year in advance.
In the New Year message, Atiku reminds Nigerians about the challenges facing the country, particularly regarding the issue of poverty.
Nigeria overtook India as the world headquarters of poverty in 2018.
Atiku, however, expressed optimism that in 2019, Nigeria can become headquarters for ‘hope’ if a new course is charted.
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“As 2018 comes to an end and 2019 beckons, on behalf of my family and I, let me wish you and your family a very happy New Year in advance.
"In 2018, we became the world headquarters for extreme poverty, however, I am convinced that in 2019, if we chart a new course, we can become the world headquarters for hope and extreme devotion to the cause of lifting our people out of poverty," he said.
The PDP presidential candidate urged Nigerians to take collective action in 2019 to ensure visionary leadership is put in power.
He continued: "2019 is as yet a blank page. As a nation, we must not settle for whatever it brings. Rather, we must take collective action, through our choices, in making it a year where we revive national hope, with visionary leadership that sees our economy and institutions working again as they did in our golden era.
"We can chart a new course and open a new chapter that sees every Nigerian living in peace and prosperity with their neighbour. It can be the year when our youths finally get a job instead of being unfairly tagged as lazy. With purposeful leadership, it can also be the year when we put an end to terrorism and usher in a golden age of peace."
The former vice president reiterated that Nigerians must vote credible leadership in 2019 to get to its deserved position among the comity of nations
The New Year message continued: "But it will not just happen by itself. We have to make changes from the top all the way to the bottom. We already have the vision, the vision of a nation that is a beacon of hope for the Black Race and the world at large, what we lack and what 2019 can provide, is the leadership that has the capacity to translate that vision into reality.
"In 2019, Nigerians need a leadership that is 100% for 100% of Nigerians, 100% of the time. We have seen where division and sectionalism has led us to. Now let us try unity and patriotism.
"Don’t lose heart and hope. Nigeria is no stranger to overcoming difficulties. In fact, we have an uncanny ability to perform our best when the worst is upon us. I urge my fellow countrymen and women to remember how we became the first nation in the world to defeat and overcome the Wild Ebola Virus, when even First World nations were struggling with the scourge.
"That resilience is domiciled in our national psyche and together we shall win forever. We shall win over forces of disunity. We shall win over forces of poverty and backwardness.
"But more importantly, in 2019, I want Nigerians to know that it is possible to have a leadership that is compassionate and that this does not equate to weakness. A leadership that is bold but not domineering. A leadership that is intelligent, but not arrogant.
"Indeed, that is the only type of leadership that can navigate the difficulties currently facing our dear nation and lead us to Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress, which are our national motto and which are the hope of all Nigerians.
"Once again, I wish you all a Happy New Year and may 2019 be the year of Nigeria."
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Meanwhile, the PDP's south-south national vice chairman, Emmanuel Ogidi, has said only a court can indict Atiku on corruption charges.
Ogidi, in an interview with The Guardian, described Atiku as a man who loves the masses and is ready to transform Nigeria.
Legit.ng gathers that he expressed concern that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had accused Atiku of corruption; and questioned if he (Atiku) had been found guilty in Nigeria or anywhere else.
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Source: Legit.ng