As Nigerian workers celebrate Worker’s Day on Sunday, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, who is also a leading presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said help is on the way to suffering Nigerian workers and masses.
In a goodwill message to Nigerian workers released on his behalf by Bola Bolawole, spokesperson of the Udom Emmanuel Presidential Campaign Council, Emmanuel said the suffering of Nigerian workers had not gone unnoticed and their cries for help had also not gone unheard.
“Tell Nigerian workers, indeed all Nigerians, that help is on the way. I have been moved by the cries of our people to join the presidential race. My passion is to bring my capacity and capability to bear on the economic life of this country to turn around a comatose economy to the benefit of all Nigerians. I am trained. I am tested. I understand the economy. I know the various languages it responds to. My track record in both the private and public sectors bears me out. I promise Nigerian workers that I, as President of this great country, will partner with them to turn the economy around. Under my administration, workers will get their due. They will occupy a prime place in my consideration of policies and programmes,” the presidential aspirant assured.
Emmanuel then called on Nigerian workers to stop agonising and bemoaning their situation and circumstance but should rather organise behind a man who can turn poverty into prosperity and restore the country’s lost glory.
“I know what to do to arrest the slide in the value of the Naira, to escape the debt trap that is strangulating the economy, to create jobs, and bring about a vast improvement in the decrepit state of infrastructure within the shortest possible time”, he began.
He added: “If only with the success I have recorded with Ibom Air, where the country as a whole has failed, you know I have capacity and capability. If only with the fact that Akwa Ibom now manufactures and exports syringes overseas, you know I have the capacity to stop Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil and diversify the economy. If only with the fact that little Akwa Ibom is second only to Lagos State in attracting Foreign Direct Investment, you know that I know how to attract investment into Nigeria. Workers of Nigeria, stop agonising! Organise and partner with a man who has the passion to make Nigeria great again. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel will wipe your tears.
“I wish you a happy Workers’ Day even as I extend my hand of fellowship to you. Grab it! And together we shall make Nigeria great again! May God help us all!”
Meanwhile, the presidential aspirant on scaled party screening, which took place at Legacy House, national headquarters of the party in Maitama, Abuja. Answering reporters’ questions after his screening, the Governor expressed optimism that he would fly the party’s presidential flag at the end of the day.
He saluted the party for instituting the primary, describing it as the right step in the right direction and a process that would entrench internal democracy within the parties as well as deepen the democratic culture in the country. He said the primary had exposed the array of stars within the PDP, adding that Nigerians would not be disappointed as they pitch their tent with the party in the 2023 elections.
Asked to comment on the stance of the Southern Governors that the Presidency must rotate to the South in 2023 vis-a-vis the insistence of some Northern aspirants to run, the aspirant said he stood with the decision of the party on the matter. “The party is supreme”, he said.
In the past few days, Emmanuel had crisscrossed the country, consulting with influential personalities, political figures, party leaders and members regarding his presidential ambition. He has been to Lagos, Cross Rivers, Delta and Edo States, among others.
On Friday, he addressed Southwest PDP leaders at Ibadan where he was well received by Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and other PDP leaders from the zone.
