The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential race is gathering momentum.
Yesterday, Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel, a prominent industrialist Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and former banker Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen picked nomination forms, bringing to 12, the number of aspirants warming up for the primary.
Other contenders who have purchased the forms are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and Anyim Pius Anyim; Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal; Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed; Ovation Publisher Dele Momodu and Diana Oliver.
Also, former Presidential Spokesman Dr. Doyin Okupe, who has withdrawn from the race, threw his support behind former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
Obi is yet to collect nomination form.
The opposition party, which had realised N446 million from the sale of forms, has extended form collection from April 1 to April 8.
While Ohuabunwa was at the Abuja national secretariat of the PDP to purchase the form, a delegation from an Abuja-based radio station, Human Rights Radio, picked the form for Emmanuel.
Hayatu-Deen said he joined the race out of conviction that he is well equipped for the job.
The financial expert said as an economist, he had acquired the requisite experience and understanding to deal with Nigerian issues.
“I have been a presidential adviser to three Presidents. I was chairman of a committee on economy during the ( Muhammadu) Buhari transition and we put in a beautiful report on finance and economy”, he said.
Hayatu-Deen, who was managing director of FSB International Bank PLC, said he understood why certain nations succeed and why some fail.
His words: “I understand what it takes for nation state to be great and successful. I understand change management and I have been a turnaround manager.
“I am not your classic politician. I am a technocrat. All my life, I have gotten things done. I have worked in major institutions as chief executive officer and I understand quite a few issues.”
Speaking with reporters shortly after picking the form, the spokesperson for the delegation, Mr. Innocent Orji, said Emmanuel has a track record of achievements, adding that he would do better as president.
According to Orji, members of the delegation, who had earlier embarked on an assessment tour of Akwa Ibom State, were encouraged by the governor’s project delivery and human capital development.
Orji said: “That’s why we purchased the form today for Dr. Udom Emmanuel. This is just the starting point.”
When asked if they sought the governor’s opinion before purchasing the form, Orji said there was no need to seek his opinion.”
Ohuabunwa spoke on the nation’s ailing economy and how to change the tide through massive investment and job creation.
He said: “Our forecast is to turn Nigeria into an investment haven where that will be promoted by a combination of a strong foreign investment inflow and local investment motivation.
“Wealth and poverty are almost linear; in straight lines. The more investment you put in any given jurisdiction, the more business you create. And the more programmes and projects, the more jobs you create.
“Nobody creates jobs by fiction. It must be directed to productive activity, and one productive activity leverages the other and that’s what challenges you to get employment.
“The other thing I want you to do is that when people leave school, they are already on a journey to the job market.
“We will ensure that 50 percent of those who leave school go straight to business and 50 percent will go for work. Because in your final year in the university, you spend the year designing your business plan.”
Okupe said he withdrew from the race because PDP violated the tenets of fairness, equity and zoning.
He told reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that the party has refused to address zoning.
Okupe said: “The matter has been referred to a committee of 37 members, with a member each from every state of the federation and the FCT, Abuja. One would have expected that the mandate of this committee would be such that it would discharge its duties and report to the NEC of the party within a maximum of five to seven days. Sadly, this has not been so.
“It is clear to me that those at the helm of affairs of the party are trying to hoodwink those of us aspirants from the South to commit ourselves to obtain the requisite forms before coming up with the original position that ‘every zone can contest the presidency’.
“This position is politically fraudulent, unjust and inequitable.
“But as a politician, I have come to accept the ill-defined zoning arrangement, and still forge ahead with my unrepentant call for a rotation of power to the South.”
He added: “In aligning myself with the wish of our elders and in the interest of equity and justice, I publicly admit that the 2023 political race must be conceded to the South-East; that is, the Igbos.
“I therefore, here and now proclaim that I am, as I have said publicly several times, withdrawing from the presidential race and I am declaring my support for the best aspirant, not only in Igboland, but in Nigeria as a whole.
“I and my supporters within and outside the PDP are teaming up with His Excellency, Peter Obi.
PDP National Organising Secretary Umar Bature announced the extension of sales of forms in a statement, titled: ‘Extension of sales of forms and rescheduling of screening exercises’.
It reads: “The last day for the Return of already completed Forms and Screening Exercises for both the State House of Assembly and National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) are rescheduled” to April 10, 2022, while the screening of State of House of Assembly and National Assembly aspirants was also moved to April 12 and 14, 2022 respectively.
“State House of Assembly Expression of Interest: N100,000; Nomination Form, N500,000. House of Representatives: Expression of Interest, N500,000; Nomination Form, N2,000,000.
“Senate: Expression of Interest, N500,000; Nomination Form, N3,000,000. Governorship: Expression of Interest, N1,000,000; Nomination Form, 20,000,000.
