Produce another Tafawa Balewa in me, Atiku tells supporters in Gombe

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Poples Democratic Party (PDP), has promised to support businesses in Gombe if elected in 2023.

Abubakar spoke on Monday at the PDP presidential rally in Gombe.

The PDP presidential candidate told his supporters that some of them were not born when former prime minister Tafawa Balewa was alive, and that they have the opportunity to produce another Balewa by electing him as president.

Balewa, a teacher who later went on to become Nigeria’s prime minister, was said to be an “advocate of reform” and “defender of northern special interests”.

“Let me reiterate the promises we made if by the grace of God and you support the PDP. We promised to empower your businessmen to expand their businesses so that they can expand their businesses for our young men and women,” Abubakar said.

“We also promised you that the Dadin Kowa Dam, which was built by the PDP to provide electricity and irrigation, will be activated for electricity and irrigation, provided you support the government of the PDP.

“We will make sure that all the roads linking Gombe to Adamawa with Borno, Bauchi, and Yobe are all reconstructed to enhance trade and commerce.

“Many of you were not born at the time the late prime minister, sir Tafawa Balewa, was in office. You now have another opportunity to produce another Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in me.”

In his remarks, Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom and chairman of the presidential campaign council, said the PDP administration will tackle inflation and restore value to the naira.

“We just want to let the people know that PDP is coming back to make sure that our economy bounces back, our naira regains in strength, and make sure you have more milk in your tea,” he said.

“PDP is coming back to bring the economy back, to make sure there is light, to make sure no more darkness, to make you have access to many things you are not having now.”

Meanwhile, Abubakar’s latest comment comes weeks after he had said a president of northern extraction is “what the northerner needs… not a Yoruba candidate, or an Igbo candidate”.