‘Anambra has an excellent governor’ — Atiku speaks on meeting with Soludo

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has promised to “industrialise” Anambra if he is elected.

Abubakar spoke on Thursday during the PDP presidential campaign rally in Awka, the capital of Anambra.

The former vice-president, who had earlier met with Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, before the commencement of the rally, described him as an “excellent governor”.

He said Soludo made a number of requests during the meeting, including the construction of federal roads in the state, if the PDP wins.

“On our arrival today, we visited their governor, professor Soludo, and he said to me: ‘I know you are going to work but make sure that all the federal roads that pass through Anambra state are reconstructed’”, he said.

“And I promised him, I’m going to do that. He said: ‘Make sure that you control our erosion because Anambra is the erosion headquarters of the world. Erosion is destroying our farmlands, houses and everything we have.’

“This is a very gigantic project. And I promised him I’m going to do that. And you know I have worked with Soludo before; he is a first-class patriotic Nigerian.

“You have an excellent governor. He also appealed to me about the Onitsha port and I said this time around, we are going to dredge River Niger and Onitsha port will function.

“We are also going to help Anambra industrialise the state so that the state will create as many jobs for our young men and women.”

Abubakar added that he will work to ensure that someone of south-east extraction succeeds him if he is elected.

“I am going to be a stepping stone to an Igbo president in this country. I have shown it in my action because this is the third time I am running with an Igbo man. If you really want to produce a president, then vote Atiku-Okowa ticket,” he said.

“I want to thank you, the people of Anambra state, for this warm reception. I never thought I would see such a crowd in Anambra state, and believe me, we are not going to forget you. We are going to reward you handsomely.

“And you know, I promised to set aside $10 billion to promote small-scale and medium enterprise for our young men and women so that they can be independent.”