Ahead the February 25 Presidential election in Nigeria, a group of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) under the aegis of People with Disabilities Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for Atiku/Okowa 2023, convened in Bauchi, the Bauchi State capital.
The rally held at a venue close to the Government house on Thursday, February 16th and was intended to re-energize the group’s network while also discuss strategies for mobilizing more voters for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) across the North East geopolitical zone.
Earlier, the Bauchi State PCC coordinator, Hon Auwal Bello, who doubles as permanent commissioner for PWDs, while delivering opening address welcomed participants from the six States of the North East zone. Auwal also appreciated Senator Hayatu Gwarzo, the PCC National coordinator for choosing Bauchi State to host the zonal event.
His words: “It’s an honour for me to welcome our distinguished guests and fellow PWDs from our zone to this august occasion. I am eternally grateful to our leader Sen. Hayatu Gwarzo and his officials for finding Bauchi state worthy of hosting such an important political gathering”.
“Indeed this gathering is a very important one, as it is aimed towards addressing and making calculated efforts to salvage Nigeria and Nigerians – especially PWDs from the shackles of the ruling party’s irresponsible leadership. I am happy that we all are here to support His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar. The entire PWDs of Bauchi State are joining you and we believe Atiku will emerge victorious in the contest, Insha Allah”.
Hon. Auwal’s Gombe State counterpart, Hon Alh. Umaru Ali Goro Mona, in his remarks assured the PCC leaders of immense support from his base.
He said: “Gombe PWDs are fully prepared to vote for Atiku because he is the most detribalized among all the presidential candidates”.
“I assure you we will leave no stone unturned in mobilizing PWDs and their families in Gombe State to vote the “Wazirin Adamawa”, he reassured.
In separate speeches , the PCC coordinators of Yobe and Taraba States, Mallam Sadiq Mohammed Jalingo and Hon Salisu Garba Usman expressed gratitude to Almighty God for blessing the country with a credible and competent leader in the person of Alh Atiku Abubakar.
Both speakers stressed that, “he (Atiku) being the most PWDs-oriented among the presidential aspirants is the best candidate every well meaning PWD in the North East and the country at large can endorse, support and vote for”.
Earlier in his remarks, the PCC coordinator for Adamawa state Mr. Bitrus Batta described Atiku as the son of the North East who deserve massive support from the entire people of the zone. He further stressed that it is the North East’s turn to produce the next president of Nigeria.
Keynote speaker during the programme, Senator Hayatu Gwarzo, the National Coordinator of People with Disabilities Presidential Campaign Council for Atiku/Okowa 2023 thanked the Almighty God for reuniting him with fellow PWD brothers and sisters across the North East zone.
Hayatu stressed the need for the PWDs to be appreciative to God for creating them with some form of disabilities. “We must appreciate Allah for creating us with one form of physical challenge or the other, I am very sure He ( God) has done that for our own good and therefore we must appreciate it”, he said.
Hayatu, a former member of National Assembly who acquired PWD status after serving as senator representing Bauchi State from 1999 to 2015 disclosed his closeness to the PDP presidential Candidate Alh. Abubakar Atiku and other party stalwarts to the audience.
He said: ” I am together with the Bauchi State Governor, His Excellency, Alh Bala Mohammed and the president of tomorrow, His Excellency Alh. Atiku Abubakar. He is not here with us but he is surely watching us and he is with us in spirit” he noted.
Continuing, Hayatu remarked: “why we love and agree to vote for Atiku is because he loved us dearly and took care of us more than any other presidential aspirants”.
“Atiku says he is going to take PWDs in his government, he is going to be the most PWDs friendly president if elected, he is going to give us 5% slots of appointment in his government”.
“We are many and if we can join hands to support Atiku, we will surely succeed in making him the winner of the presidential contest. I personally assured Atiku that we will give him 20 million votes”.
“Atiku, as a former VP has all the experience to recover the Nigerian economy without having to borrow a dime from outside as is the norm with this failed APC government”.
“You all know Atiku is a successful business mogul and philanthropist. He can use his experience to create jobs, and businesses would definitely thrive under his watch”
“My fellow PWDs in the North East, Atiku as the son of the North East knows all the challenges and problems faced by us and if you vote him he can solve all the challenges we are facing today, not only in the North East but the country at large” he reassured.