Be Wary of Atiku’s Promises – VON Boss cautions Ndigbo

Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has admonished Nigerians, especially the Igbos, to be careful not to be carried away by the election of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the flagbearer of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 Presidential Election.

Mr. Okechukwu, a Senatorial candidate, while fielding questions from Journalist in Enugu on Sunday, described the promise to restructure Nigeria by PDP’s Candidate as lies, adding that Atiku promises glitter, but are not certainly gold.

Okechukwu submitted that it was better to re-elect Buhari who had silently commenced restructuring of Nigeria through his Road, Rail, Agricultural and Power, RRAP Projects, which will enhance economic prosperity and anchored on prudent management of public funds.

He added that Atiku’s promise to leave power for the South East should be taken by the people of the region with a “pinch of salt”.

He said, “I have tremendous respect for His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s trajectory in politics and for His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi I have similar tremendous respect; however one respectfully must advise Ndigbo and indeed Nigerians that the restructuring and some quick fix offers Atiku has so far made, truly glitters, but not gold.”

Prodded further on why he couldn’t buy into the Atiku restructuring agenda, Okechukwu said, “I personally would want Nigeria to be restructured like most Nigerians, except that pragmatism has to be our watchword. One, we were taught in Political Science class, indeed in elementary government class that there are two types of Constitution, one flexible and one rigid in amendment. The 1999 Constitution to the best of my knowledge is a rigid constitution. Accordingly, can Atiku amend it without the support of over 15 Houses of Assembly which are hesitant if not frowning at restructuring?

“Secondly, how do you convince Ebonyi, Enugu, Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna and host of other states indigenes to buy into regional structure? Please don’t forget that the Wawa (Enugu and Ebonyi) people rejected region in the both 1995 Abacha and 2014 Jonathan Conferences.”

He maintained that it would be better to re-elect President Buhari who has already commenced restructuring silently with his RRAP Projects, which will liberate our stagnant economy.

The Director-General stated that the fastest way to restructuring our dear country is the Buhari’s RRAP Projects, which will provide safety net for vulnerable groups who feel that they can’t survive without oil.

“The truism is that by the time Buhari completes 8 years in office, the 5,000 kilometers of federal roads, 5,000 kilometers of standard gauge rail lines, 5,000 additional megawatts of electricity and self sufficiency in food production must have picked at 80 percent completion. Majority will key into restructuring when their prosperity is magnificently enhanced. Today farmers in Kebbi State will not mind restructuring, so Buhari should be allowed to extend his agricultural revolution to other states.” he stated.