2023: PDP Blasts APC Over Muslim-Muslim Ticket, Dwindling Economy; APC Fights Back

By Akinwale Kasali

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa have lambasted the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over its defense of its Muslim-Muslim Joint Ticket, and the dwindling economic fortunes of the nation.

The PDP Stalwarts said the decision of the APC to field Muslims as its candidate is a total disrespect to the sensibilities of Nigerians and an insensitive decision to make in a diversified nation like Nigeria.

It also carpeted the Buhari-led APC government for running the economy aground and making Nigerians poorer than they were eight years ago.

Atiku and Okowa, who described the ruling party’s choice of same faith ticket as the most insensitive political step, spoke in two separate political events organised in Abuja and Lagos.

Okowa, who was in the company of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchi Ayu, at an event in Abuja, said “I personally do not believe in the Muslim-Muslim ticket. The reason is that there is diversity when it comes to that. Therefore, sticking to one faith is not a good thing to do particularly in a troubled nation as we are in today. It’s almost like going on to having the presidential candidate  from the North and picking the vice presidential candidate also from the North.”

The Delta State Governor is however optimistic that the PDP will triumph at the 2023 Presidential Election.

So, the only ticket that can work for Nigeria is the ticket that doe not tie election victory to either the Muslim or Christian faith,” he stressed.

 The summit was organised by the Northern Christian Youth Assembly with the theme, “Unifying Nigeria: The role of Northern Christian youths and women.”

Okowa told the youth that with their support, the party would win the 2023 elections.

He said the PDP had been receiving several defectors, adding that more people were joining the Atiku/Okowa project.

While commending the group for organising the meeting to discuss Nigeria’s challenges and the pathways to finding solutions, he advised everyone to prepare to vote in the coming poll.

Reacting to the swipe at the APC by the duo of Atiku and Okowa, the Director-General of the Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance, Adebayo Shittu, hit out at Atiku and his running mate, describing them as ‘’unrepentant PDP leaders that deserve to cover their faces in shame.”

He said, “They have nothing else to say. The antecedents of Tinubu, who is known to be fisher of men has seen him choose the very best brain; somebody who is articulate, brilliant and ruled Borno State in a war-situation and did exceedingly well. This has unsettled them. Tell me, who could have been a better APC candidate to choose from the North-East?

On the 54 per cent unemployment rate, the former Communications Minister said the situation was not peculiar to only Nigeria.

“Is it peculiar to us alone? We should be able to compare with other nations before drawing a conclusion. Even in Britain and the US, what is the situation like? Are you aware that Britain is currently experiencing increment in prices of bread and other essentials?