SEN DATTI BABA AHMED SUBMITS LETTER OF INTENT TO RUN FOR 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO PDP NWC

- Challenges Buhari to prove source of funding for his 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 Presidential elections

- PDP is rebranded…..Prince Uche Secondus

By Innocent Imoh       

Baze University founder and former House of Representatives member and Senator from Kaduna State, Datti Baba Ahmed PhD (DBA), June 29, 2018 submitted his “letter of intent” to contest for the PDP Presidential ticket and subsequently the 2019 Presidential elections slatted for 16^th of February, 2019.

He was accompanied to the Wadata House, National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party Abuja by membersof his Presidential Campaign team led by Hon.  ChumaNzeribe (former Chairman House Committee on Works), Campaign Coordinators and supporters from the thirty six states of the federation and the FCT.

In his introduction of Datti Baba Ahmed PhD, to the National Working Committee of the PDP, Hon. ChumaNzeribe described Datti Baba Ahmed as a man who has cast his lot with the Nigerian youths by investing all his life’s savings in an area where we know you hardly get returns, the education of our youths.

He said Datti Baba Ahmed has a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Economics and he is the founder of Baze University based in Abuja.

In his opening remarks,Datti Baba Ahmed condoled with the hundreds of Nigerians killed in the recent murderous attacks in Jos, Zamfara, Benue, Kaduna and other areas in Nigeria.

In his words, he extended his “sympathies and condolences to those who lost their lives two months ago in Benue, one month ago in Zamfara, last week in Jos, constantly in the North East and Kaduna”’ as well as commiserated with those who have sustained injuries and prayed for those who have lost properties to be restored by Almighty God.

Datti Baba Ahmed, PhD said that Nigeria is not going to be rescued by people who have professionalized lamentation, but by people like him who have decided to inconvenience themselves, put their lives at risk, and spend time and resources to embark on the mission to fix Nigeria.

He said, “At present, it is easier to buy a nomination form than to buy riffles”, he noted that if he doesn’t buy a nomination form, he is afraid he might end up buying riffles.

However, he asserted that buying a nomination form is the right thing to do now. In his words, “the world is going to be destroyed by people who see evil and do nothing about it and not by people who are committing evil themselves”.

He said, “It is therefore a calling from God Almighty, when I ask myself, why I am doing this? It is not because I can but because I must”.

On a comparative analysis and a point of correction about his age, 48, he said that at six years younger than his age, President MohammaduBuhari had been Governor of six states, Petroleum Minister, GOC, Major General, Head of State and thrown out on a certificate that has been questioned, and therefore when he is referred to as a young man, it is indeed relative.

Datti Baba Ahmed, said that what Nigerians want is to have peace in our homes, in our Communities and our Country. He said if given the chance, he would bring peace to Nigeria by accounting for every square meter of Nigeria. That technology will be deployed to secure our country. Security, Economy and Education (SEE) would form the bases of his effort at transforming present day chaotic Nigeria to the Nigeria of our dreams.

On the question of why he joined the PDP, DBA said he joined PDP in November 2017 because it was now safe to do so. He noted that what PDP did in 2015 has gone into history. That for the first time a sitting government was defeated but the incumbent President called the so-called winner to congratulate him and subsequently handed over power peacefully saying, his political ambition is not worth the blood of anybody.

DBA emphasized that, “we must not forget this kind gesture which saved the lives of millions of Nigerians; and what did the PDP get in return for this? Persecution upon persecution!”

DBA noted that any Political Party that suffers this kind of retribution, persecution and the kind of out flux of members that the PDP suffered and still remains the way it is, must be given kudos that it still has structures and personnel in every polling unit and every  ward in Nigeria and thus, is the Party to belong. He noted that “PDP has made mistakes in the past because we are humans and are not perfect. PDP is a Political Party that will say, we made mistakes let’s correct it together. We are not the political Party that will say we don’t make mistakes, if you are on our side and you steal money, it is okay”.

He said when 22 out of 24 Governors including a former Chairman left the PDP because they were not having the spirit of competition based on sentiments and personal interests the APC benefited from that situation and therefore it is an accidental concoction that will not stand the test of time.

DBA said he was not trying to be immodest but that he was a careful planner and an astute implementer. In appealing to the Party Chairman and members of the PDP Executive Committee and NWC, he further reiterated that, if the APC wins the 2019 Presidential election it would be the fault of the PDP, in his words, “Your Excellency, Chairman Sir,  give me the ticket and the APC will not know what hit it”.

He said he was at the Party Secretariat to present himself and to follow the constitutional provisions of the Party and was ready to subject himself to the Justice of the PDP. He said that if he deserves the Ticket it should be given to him and if on the other hand, he was found undeserving, he will still offer his fullest cooperation to the Party’s choice.

On the state of the Nation, Datti said Nigeria is in a very, very sorry state. We were promised security and a better economy but terror and sophisticated crimes have been unabated, yet we are not at liberty to say it. He said he will continue to speak about it, that Nigeria is not safe. He said Nigeria is practically worth 40% of what it was before APC took over. Being an expert in forecasting, he knows what he is talking about, that when power was handed over to the APC, the dollar was bought in the autonomous market for N225 (Two Hundred and Twenty Five Naira) at the most but it was actually N195 (One Hundred and Ninety Five Naira). It became N520 under the Buhari regime when his relatives and friends were making N200 per dollar until Osinbajo (who has sense) brought it down to its present level which is still far above what they met.

He said the strength of your currency is your life and if APC comes back in 2019, the dollar is going to cost between N650(Six Hundred and Fifty Naira) to N700 (Seven Hundred Naira), when this happens the economy will go into a free fall – from N700 to N1500 there will be no difference and no economy. The value of Banks will be whipped out and Banks will collapse. Every arms-bearing security personnel will use their arms for their personal gains and anarchy will set in. That is very ominous and frightening. He said we are only a couple of years from total breakdown of law and order. In his words, deep down inside I am scared and it is because of this that I am today presenting myself for service to my Country”.

DBA said that the APC capitalized on one strategic error made by the PDP and that strategic error needs to be reversed. It was that strategic error that made an unpopular and most infamous candidate come out of retirement and won an election after he had told the whole would he was not contesting again. That means if you reverse that strategic error and make one strategic decision, we would send them packing and rescue Nigeria.

CORRUPTION:

Datti Baba Ahmed said he was very close to President MohamaduBuhari. In fact at some point, he said he was closest to Buhari but when he noticed the corruption he pulled back in 2007. By 2011, even though he was contesting elections, he did not step into Buhari’s house and he has never done a joint campaign poster with him and he won his election. Because today, every questionable character who cannot stand on his feet for an election will go and print his posters with Buhari’s picture. Datti said that Buhari’s anti-corruption is a lie. While he emphasized that he is not a risk taker because he loves his life and his family, he also emphasized that he loves Nigeria even more.

Datti questioned the rational of Buhari collecting corrupted monies from people’s salaries and get elected, come to power and say he is fighting corruption. He should be ashamed to say he is fighting corruption.  In his words, “how can his family members be making Billions a week at our expense and you say you are fighting corruption? Inflated contracts have not ended, they have only aggravated. Two notoriously rich and corrupt former Governors have been rewarded with some of the biggest ministries in the government. The former Governor of Rivers State is now a leading minister in this government, and with due respect, I am inviting President Buhari to come out and address an international Press conference that his government is not corrupt, let him tell us categorically that his government contracts are not being inflated, revenues are not being frittered away, there is no extortion and conversions and all those other technical aspects of corruption. It is not about going to put a “mad man” at EFCC to say that he is arresting opposition”.

Datti said that Buhari’s family members are stupendously rich while people are being slaughtered; He said as for him, he would stand for the PDP Chairman, he would stand for the PDP and for Nigeria and look Buhari in the face and say Sir, you are corrupt. He noted that the PTF days are questionable, 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections have questionable sources of funding and the 2015 election had a most questionable source of funding.

ON THE KILLINGS IN THE COUNTRY:

Datti said that Nigerians are very easily united and that we can leave peacefully but when you have a wicked leader that is looking for 25-yr old issues to bring up and start to divide Nigeria citizenry, you will continue to notice the kinds of killings that are taking place in Jos. In his view, what happened in Jos was probably caused 2 Months ago, President Buhari visited Jos and instead of meeting all the communities concerned, he singled out one community. Why should the others not be angry? Are they not Nigerians? Then he went to Azare, etc.

PDP CHAIRMAN’S RESPONSE

The Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Prince UcheSecondus said that absolute power comes from God! He said that our political fore-bearers like NnamdiAzikiwe, TafawaBalewa, ObafemiAwolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Anthony Enahoro and many others were very young, energetic and resourceful when they fought for independence of our country. He appealed to everyone including the media Executives present that we should all go back to our history books to unearth these facts for the present generation to learn.

Prince Secondus said that the PDP is a reformed, repositioned and ready to regain lost grounds Party and that “RRR” was the first task of the new NWC and that the PDP is now rebranded. He said that today the party is parading the best of the brains in the Country. He said today (29^th July) we have a man with a PhD in Economics and his area of specialization is forecasting the economy of any nation with skill and knowledge at his palms, who has offered himself to serve this nation.

In his words, “the PDP has gone through its difficult times and we are coming out with the best, to serve the best for our country. He said the PDP has resolved not to make the mistakes of the past. We have resolved to provide the platform of transparency, free, fair elections. We also resolved that no matter what, no one can buy these men of integrity in the NWC and NEC…..we are resolved not to fail our party and the people of Nigeria. We would never be driven by money but by the facts, the rules and constitution of our Party. By the grace of God we have already exhibited that in the EkitiPrimaries. It is the best of primaries the country has ever witnessed”. He assured the gathering that the NWC will improve on the Ekiti example because as Datti emphasized, you must learn every day. He said as the Party moves ahead to prepare for the general elections and primaries, the NWC vows to provide the best primaries in this nation, where our people will be free to elect the best candidate among the aspirants whom we have in abundance.

Prince Secondus said the Party was proud to have Datti as one of its aspirants as he is bringing on-board a wealth of knowledge that will not only serve the PDP but our nation and like somebody said earlier, Datti is a youth and he has the youthful appeal. He recalled that when Obama became the President of the United States of America, he was a youth as well as when Clinton became the President, he was also a youth and like Datti, Clinton was 48 years when he became President of America. He noted that both Obama and Clinton moved mountains as Presidents of the United States of America.

Prince Secondus said that DBA had the knowledge and oratory as the NWC listened attentively to his presentation in sequence, very constructive with data which is very relevant, especially now that the new President this country needs is one that is a specialist in data because we are almost lost in the committee of nations. He said that people are dying in Bornu and we don’t even know the numbers! He called on President Buhari to stop the killings and on Lai Mohammed and Bola Tinubu to stop politicizing the death of Nigerians. He asked rhetorically, “how long can you carry on, on propaganda because media is at your disposal, you lie to the people, (you can fool some people some time, and some of the people all the time but you can’t fool all the people all the time….Abraham Lincoln)”.

He therefore called on the APC-controlled government of Buhari to conduct free and fair election in Ekiti because rigging is corruption. He said Buharihas made nonsense of the anti-corruption fight by framing his perceived enemies and opposition every day, he even framed the Senate President. In his words, “you are looting every day and yet you say other people are looting. Stop this nonsense and take care of the lives of Nigerians. You have nothing to offer, the economy has collapsed, and insecurity is at the highest level, you have failed woefully, the fight on corruption is one-sided and directed at perceived enemies and you don’t want people to talk about it? Buhari you are not a Saint and you are not the God of Nigeria!”

Secondus said that Buhari has turned on other leaders of our nation who are war heroes, who fought for Nigeria, who put their lives on the line to keep Nigeria one like OlusegunObasanjo, TheophilusDanjuma and wants to blackmail them, he wants to frame them up….he said that is a theme for another day but that when the time is right we’ll come up with data of monies you’ve stolen. He said we refuse to be blackmailed, that a situation where a Senator will speak out, next day the Director of DSS will frame him up for gun running is evident of an attempt to intimidate its leaders. He asked rhetorically whether we were now in a Banana republic? He said Nigerians are civilized people.In his words, “if Buhari wants to arrest everybody, we are not afraid, come! If you want to kill everybody, you can’t because you are not God.

To the APC government and those who are there to carry propaganda, he said Nigerians know their secrets, they know everyone of them. He said the APC should just conduct free and fair elections now that will be to their credit having failed in all other aspects of their governance. He urged our men and women in uniform who are working under great challenging circumstances and are doing a great job to be loyal to the country and constitution not to individuals or Mr. President. He said power comes and goes but the Constitution remains.

Prince Secondus thanked Datti Baba Ahmed and his team while urging him to go out there with boldness and present his credentials and himself to the masses of Nigeria who are yarning for the change of a terrible system. How many people can Buhari arrest? He queried. You don’t obey court orders, you don’t allow the rule of law to prevail, you do media trial to convict before the actual court case and we are in a democracy? There are too many cases of police brutality under this government as recently confirmed by no other than the CJN. Only recently, the Zamfara State Governor resigned as the Chief Security Officer of the State. Prince Secondus charged DBA to move around the 36 states and FCT and to put across his narrative and on that day at the convention ground. He believed that PDP members are going to choose the best. On the part of the NWC, he said never again in the PDP is there going to be imposition or impunity, not under his watch as Chairman. There shall be no manoeuvrings from the Headquarter.  He said power has been decentralized to the zones and the states. The people that matter most are the people at the various polling units at the grassroots.

Finally he urged the media to join the effort to rescue Nigeria from deceitful leadership by also being in the frontline of exposing falsehood and bad governance. He assured Sen. Datti Baba Ahmed that when the time comes the Party members will be freely allowed to decide who their candidate will be and if Datti is the chosen one, he has his assurances on behalf of the NWC that they would work with him because they had seen a man of vision, knowledge with the latest IT skills.

Sen. Datti Baba Ahmed (DBA) is expected to continue his nationwide consultations, negotiations and outreach preparatory to the upcoming convention of the People’s Democratic Party.