Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar says he chose Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate because of his experience.
The former Vice President said on Thursday at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja that Okowa possesses the qualities of a president-in-waiting.
He said: “In arriving at the decision, I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, national working committee, board of trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom.
“In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment’s notice, that is, a president-in-waiting.
“In other words, the person must have the qualities to be president. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understands the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth.
“The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalised world.
“My running mate must understand that without security, development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy. Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land.”
Some of those at the unveiling ceremony include former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed; and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel.
