Atiku: “I’ll privatize refineries and build up $10 billion funds for youths”

• Atiku has pledged that he will privatize refineries if elected president in 2023
• He promised to  set aside $10 billion to help empower the youths

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, has promised to privatize the country’s refineries if elected president in 2023.

The PDP candidate stated he will set aside $10 billion from refinery sales to support the small and medium-sized businesses of young Nigerians on Monday during the PDP’s presidential rally in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

The Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries—all of which have been idle for a while—were named as the refineries to be sold.

“I am going to set aside $10 billion so that we can empower our youths in small and medium enterprises,” he said.

“People are asking me where am I going to get $10 billion? If I privatize Port Harcourt refinery, Warri refinery, Kaduna refinery, I am going to get the money.”

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The former vice president promised that his administration would reform Africa’s most populous country as he pleaded with the enormous Lagos population to elect the PDP to power in the coming election.

He asked the populace to hold their leaders accountable while promising to provide both state and local governments with more authority and funding.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), which is now in control both at the state and federal levels, has been warned against by the PDP candidate for governor of Lagos.

According to him, “a single family has ruled the state for 23 years,” although he did not specifically mention any name.

“The Federal government built the third mainland bridge, Agege motor road, and other road infrastructures in the state, the APC govt is lying to you about developing Lagos.

“It is time for you to liberate yourself from a family govt in power for over 23 years, by voting Jandor as your governor.”

Meanwhile,  Atiku Abubakar has pleaded with voters in Lagos State, to end the rule of one family by voting for the PDP governorship candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran (Jandor), and other state and National Assembly flagbearers.

Atiku spoke at the Lagos PDP Presidential rally held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos, yesterday.

Atiku, who promised to privatize the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna Refineries in order to generate funds for development, if elected, said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been lying to the people of Lagos State, claiming that its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was responsible for the development of Lagos.

This came as Tinubu mocked his PDP counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, describing him as battle-weary, even before the election.

Atiku said:  “On my part, if you elect me as your president, I said and I promised by the grace of God that I am going to set aside $10 billion so that we can empower our young men and women in small medium enterprises.

“People were asking me where I am going to get the money. If I privatize the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries I will get the money.

“So, let me also promise you, if you elect me, we are going to restructure this country. What do we mean by restructuring? We will give your state and local government more power and resources. It is up to you to hold them responsible.

“Therefore, the people of Lagos, it is high time you took your destiny into your own hands for your own future, not for the future of one family. For in the last 23 years you are governed by one family.”

The rally had in attendance PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa; Governors Douoye Diri of Bayelsa, Darius Isiaku of Taraba, PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu; members of the National Working Committee, NWC; Alhaja Titi Abubakar, wife of PDP presidential candidate; and PDP Lagos Governorship Candidate, Dr. Olajide Adediran among others.

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Meanwhile, former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, alongside the five PDP governors, who belong to the Integrity Group led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State was absent.

PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ayu, said: “Today, we have brought you hope. People of Lagos, you need to be free from multiple taxes. With Atiku Abubakar, life would be better for you. He would make sure Nigeria becomes greater in the whole of Africa.”

He later presented the party’s flag to both the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Jandor, and his running mate, Ms. Funke Akindele (Jennifer) at the rally.

Also speaking, Titi Abubakar, wife of the PDP presidential candidate, called on residents to cast their votes for the PDP in the coming polls. Lamenting the poverty level in the country, she “suffering would end in Lagos, suffering would end in Nigeria if you vote Atiku.”

Jandor, who spoke earlier, said residents do not want poverty, rather they preferred freedom and were opposed to the dictatorship of one man.

“I will put a stop to harassment in markets, roads, and everywhere once we come into government,” he said.

Meanwhile, noting that Atiku was now showing signs of frustration, Tinubu advised the former vice president to throw in the towel in order to save face and avoid imminent, disgraceful defeat at the polls.

Tinubu yesterday, in Abuja in a statement on his behalf by the Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson of his Presidential Campaign Council PCC, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, said:  “At the scandalously scanty PDP campaign rally today in Lagos State, the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, decided to take the ignoble path of bare-faced lies by telling the people of Lagos State that the APC candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu did not develop Lagos State, but rather the Federal Government did.

“Tinubu conquered that handicap by performing wonders as governor and subsequently as leader of the ruling party of Lagos State.