DATTI BABA AHMED DECLARES 2019 PRESIDENTIAL INTENTION

Senator Datti Baba Ahmed, PhD, (48), founder of the world-class BAZE University, Abuja, visited the Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday 29^th June, 2018 to present his letter of intent to run for the office of President under the party’s flag in the much anticipated 2019 Presidential Elections.

Accompanied by a huge crowd of supporters, party faithfuls and members of his campaign team led by Hon. Chumah Nzeribe, former House Committee Chairman on Works, the presidential aspirant was received at Wadata House by none other than the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus and members of the party’s executive and National Working Committee.

Known for his reputation of speaking fearlessly against corruption, bad governance and societal problems, Senator Ahmed in his presentation decried the present state of the nation and asked that his intention to run for office be seen less as politics but more as a necessity. “Nigeria is in a sorry state. We are not safe. Our dear country Nigeria is worth just about 40% of what it was before the APC government took over. Our currency has lost its value and I tell you that if care is not taken, if Nigerians allow the APC to come back, the Naira will exchange for as high as N600. The economy will go into a free fall and banks will collapse. We are just a few years away from total anarchy and I am scared of the consequences of allowing it to happen. That is why I am here. I am not running for the office of president because I can, I am running because I must”.

Describing the APC as an accidental concussion, he questioned the President’s anti-corruption fight calling it lie designed to cover even greater stealing under the current government. “There is stealing going on in Nigeria as I speak. This anti-corruption is a lie. How can one take money from people’s salaries to campaign at the election and you come to power to say you are fighting corruption?   “How can your friends and relatives be making billions at our expense? Then there is the issue of inflated contracts which are still being awarded”. Let him (President Buhari) tell us categorically that his administration is not corrupt”.

Senator Ahmed also slammed former governors and PDP members who had dumped the PDP for the APC. According to the Presidential aspirant, “All former PDP governors and party members who crossed over to the APC did so for their own personal gains. It shows that they lack the spirit of competition”.

Calling on the PDP Chairman to avail him the party’s Presidential Ticket, DBA as the Senator is fondly commended the PDP, Describing it as Nigeria’s only true political party. “I am driven by goodwill and I believe in the PDP. It is the only party that has structures down to the ward level despite all that it has been through. The PDP did not lose the 2015 elections rather it handed over temporarily. Mr. Chairman Sir, if you give me this ticket, the APC will not know what hit it! I will stand and fight for Nigeria!”

Speaking on what to expect under his Presidency, Senator Ahmed vowed to concentrate on several areas of priority such as the deployment of technology, the issue of livable wages for workers and national security, stating that “My administration will account for every square inch of the Nigerian territory”.

On his candidacy, the youthful Senator described himself as a man without baggage and with a clean conscience whose love for the country has motivated him to present himself for service as President. “I have been a member of the Federal House of Representatives and I have been a Senator. At no point in time have I adorned my campaign posters with the picture of any President or Governor as a means of hoodwinking the public. I am a man of integrity, my hands are clean and I do not need an attachment like most politicians are doing in order to prove my integrity”.

A visibly impressed Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus in his response, extolled the virtues of the aspirant and encouraged him to go out boldly and present his credentials to the Nigerian people across the 36 states.  “You have the youthful appeal, the language, the knowledge and the skills. You are an intellectual and visionary who has come to serve. I want to assure you that we have resolved not make the mistakes of the past. We are re-branded and in the PDP, power has been decentralized. We are ready to regain lost ground that is why we are parading the best candidates such as yourself. Put in your best and when he time comes, PDP members will choose the best candidate. At 48 years of age, you are indeed a young man but how old were our forefathers when they fought for independence? Your ambition is in order and you have what it takes”.