Adedokun Waliyu 
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, took their campaign to Anambra State on Thursday.
Amid tight security, the PDP candidate who landed at the Ekwueme Square, Awka, at about 2:10 pm, met and held a closed-door meeting with the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia.
Atiku thereafter proceeded to the Government House, Awka, to meet the traditional rulers of the state, headed by the Obi of Onitsha and the Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Alfred Achebe.
Atiku promised to unite Nigeria, tackle insecurity and unemployment if elected president in the February 25, 2023 presidential election in the country.
The former vice president came with his running mate, Okowa, and the Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, as well as other candidates of the party and the PDP bigwigs, including the party chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The rally was also used to campaign for the party’s senatorial, House of Representatives and state Assembly candidates.
While addressing supporters, Atiku promised to unite Nigerians by treating each zone equitably, and providing security for everyone.
He also promised to dredge the River Niger and make Onitsha a functional seaport.
According to him, without security, peace and unity, there would not be any development in the country.
My vision and mission as the president is to unite Nigeria, bring peace and provide adequate security for the people of Nigeria.
“I am the stepping stone to an Igbo presidency, vote for me and you will not regret doing so, I promise not to disappoint you.
“I will give every section its due right. Thank you for this wonderful reception, I never thought I would get such a reception in Anambra State,” he said.
Earlier, the chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers, Igwe Alfred Achebe, said the monarchs were non-partisan and would only support whosever won, adding that the job of the monarchs was to pray, direct and control the affairs of their various communities.
Achebe added that this was the not first time Atiku would be meeting them, noting that during the 2019 general election, he also met them in Onitsha.
“Our desire is to have a president who will bring peace, unity and security to the country. We wish you the best,” he said.
Also speaking during the rally, a former vice presidential candidate, Senator Ben Obi, said Atiku decided to pick Ifeanyi Okowa because Ohanaeze had directed that no Igbo man from the South-East should be picked as deputy to anyone.
According to him, Atiku had been friends with the Ndigbo even as a vice president of the country and decided to pick an Igbo man from Delta State.
“Atiku made it possible for Biafra soldiers to be properly and officially retired under the Obasanjo government. He picked me as a running mate and also picked Peter Obi as running mate in 2019. He also married our daughter, he is part of us and he loves Igbo,” Obi said.
