Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, highlighted his rags-to-riches story as he unveiled his plan to fix Nigeria if elected.
“I started out as an orphan selling firewood on the streets of Jada in Adamawa, but God, through the Nigerian state, invested in me and here I am today”, Atiku said in a 9-minute broadcast that was streamed live on Facebook.
“If Nigeria worked for me, I owe it as my duty to make sure that Nigeria also works for you,” he said.
Atiku served as Customs boss for many years before his first foray into politics. He first ran for president in 1993 and has remained a major player in the nation’s political scene ever since.
The 71-year-old former Nigeria Vice President has promised to create millions of jobs, revive the economy and fix Nigeria’s crumbling infrastructure if elected.
“If elected President, I will be pro-active in attracting investments and supporting the 50 million small and medium scale enterprises across Nigeria for the purpose of doubling the size of our Gross Domestic Product to US$900 billion by 2025.
“These investments will create a minimum of 2.5 million jobs annually and lift at least 50 million people from poverty in the first 2 years.
“My team and I will also help create jobs by innovating flagship programmes such as the National Open Apprenticeship Programme through which we shall enhance the capacity of Master-Craftsmen and women to train 1,000,000 new apprentices every year”, he said.
Atiku added that his policy proposition isn’t mere talk.
“I am not just presenting these policies to you, I want you to own them. Take a look at them”, he said.
Atiku is looking to unseat 75-year-old Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s President on February 16, 2018.
Over 70 presidential candidates will be vying for Nigeria’s number one job next spring.
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