There was anxiety yesterday in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the discovery that the policy plan of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has extended to a likely second term in office.

Instead of planning for a single term of four years, Atiku’s targets have a six-year timeline, fueling speculations that he might be hoping for two terms in office.

Most party leaders from the Southeast and Southwest were worried last night on the tenure framework in the document tagged People’s Policy”.

According to a PDP governor, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, the “policy is causing some disquiet because it does not give a ray of hope that power will shift from the North to the South in 2023 if Atiku is elected as the nation’s president in 2019.

“Some of us were expecting a timeline of 2019 to 2023 but the policy plan is mostly made up of a six-year plan.

“The people of the South-East, South-West and South-South want a commitment from Atiku on whether or not he will spend one term in office in order to complete the slot of the North.

“We are suspecting that those who drafted the policy have a hidden agenda of two terms in office for Atiku.”

A member of the National Working Committee of the party said: “I think our candidate is planning for the future for the country. It may not be a matter of second term ambition.

“Atiku has not really been categorical on whether or not he will spend one term in office. So, those raising dust on 2025 policy plan are getting agitated to know where he stands.”

The governor took time to highlight some of the contentious areas which have drawn suspicion on Atiku’s plan.

The document said: “The State’s critical policy priority is to build a broad based, dynamic and competitive economy with a GDP of US$900 billion by 2025

“By 2025, we shall increase the inflow of direct foreign investment to a minimum of 2.5% of our GDP Working towards achieving the lowest corporate income tax rate in Africa.

“Accelerate investment to double our infrastructure stock to approximately 50% of GDP by 2025 and 70% by 2030.

“Achieve a sustained increase in manufacturing output from 9% to 30% of GDP by 2025.

“Reduce the sector’s dependence on imported raw materials. Looking inwards will promote value addition.

“Achieve a diversified production structure with more processing of domestic raw materials.”

On electricity, Atiku said: “Power sector reform will be a critical policy priority. By 2025, Nigeria shall make giant strides in diversifying its sources of power and delivering up to 20,000 MW.”

The document indicated that the same 2025 timeline was assigned to crude oil production.

It said: “Prioritise investment in nameplate capacity and ensure that Nigeria starts to refine 50% of its current crude oil output of 2 million bpd by 2025.

“Privatise all four-outstanding government-owned refineries to competent off-takers with mandates to produce agreed levels of refined output.

“Issue new licences for Greenfield investment in crude oil refining and allied activities.

“Introduce market friendly fiscal and pricing policies.”

Concerning road development, the policy document gave also a timeline of 2025.

It added: “Develop 5,000km of roads by 2025 through PPPs and community interventions. Develop and rehabilitate the connecting road networks across the geo-political zones.

“Reduce gradually the rate of unemployment and under-employment to a single digit by 2025.

“Encourage transportation development around the nation’s agricultural and industrial clusters.

“Construct up to 5,000km of modern railways through privatisation, PPPs and public investments.

“Improve existing port efficiency and achieve accelerated development of alternative container ports, especially inland dry ports.”

Speaking with our correspondent last night, one of Atiku’s strategists, Mr. Phrank Shaibu ( who is also a communication expert), said: “2025 is not an eight-year term; it is a six-year plan Whoever takes over will complete the programmes.

“The ruling party’s focus should be more on damage control to enable them offer seeming apologies to millions of Nigerians they have diaappointed and the millions they have put in the labour market through their ill performance in government.

“So, the issue of campaign promises will not hold water for the Buhari camp as their participation in this election is just for posterity to be subtle in judgement of failure.”

On the kind of campaign to expect, Shaibu, who is also a close associate of Atiku, said: “A large population of Nigerians have been taught new lessons on poor leadership and now have a better understanding of disinformation because they feel the reality of economic pains and hopelessness that have been thrust upon them in the past three years.

“Consequently, the campaign for 2019 presidential elections will be based on truth campaign.

“Right now, the electorate have grown in knowledge of what choice will be best for them, especially on their safety, real economic growth and equity.

“Nigerians will experience a new trend of issue based campaign. The two major contestants have been tested and their performance cum capacities to deliver well documented.

“Already, we have a lot of decided voters, especially given their sad experiences and difficulties in the past three years under a president that has ruled Nigeria twice with established antecendent of bringing upon the citizenry abject poverty.

“I believe the campaign focus will be on the few undecided voters. This category of persons when shown and educated on some hidden facts of maladministration, especially on gross embezzlement, many shades of corruption, selective justice and deceits, will reach early conclusions on which camp to give their mandate.”


http://thenationonlineng.net/2019-poll-anxiety-pdp-atikus-policy-plan-extends-second-term/

tho i may have chosen to disregard this news because of the source.But let's even assume Atiku does 16 years,we prefer that to extra 3 months from Buhari.Sincere Nigerians who have the true progress & unity of this nation at heart wouldn't care as long as buhari/jubril is taken away from the picture in 3 months time...Atiku's 8 years,better than buhari's/jubril's impending disastrous 4 years.Igbos dont care,NigerD don't care,the North don't care but only one region carry d mata for head cos of dem greed except for some few reformed minds amongst them.But wait o,this one Tinubu's newsline is now reporting on Atiku's tenure stance,says it all that the true "anxiety" is obviously in existence in APC since Atiku's emergence

okay

I just dey laugh....

Some people mumu die. Atiku....

OAUTemitayo:
I just dey laugh....


Some people mumu die.
Atiku....

I join you they laugh too. This is another vague campaign promises without any substance.

Imagine...... listing what and what should be done without telling us how it will be done.

The document said: “The State’s critical policy priority is to build a broad based, dynamic and competitive economy with a GDP of US$900 billion by 2025

“By 2025, we shall increase the inflow of direct foreign investment to a minimum of 2.5% of our GDP Working towards achieving the lowest corporate income tax rate in Africa.

“Accelerate investment to double our infrastructure stock to approximately 50% of GDP by 2025 and 70% by 2030.

“Achieve a sustained increase in manufacturing output from 9% to 30% of GDP by 2025.

“Reduce the sector’s dependence on imported raw materials. Looking inwards will promote value addition.

“Achieve a diversified production structure with more processing of domestic raw materials.”

On electricity, Atiku said: “Power sector reform will be a critical policy priority. By 2025, Nigeria shall make giant strides in diversifying its sources of power and delivering up to 20,000 MW.”

The document indicated that the same 2025 timeline was assigned to crude oil production.

It said: “Prioritise investment in nameplate capacity and ensure that Nigeria starts to refine 50% of its current crude oil output of 2 million bpd by 2025.

“Privatise all four-outstanding government-owned refineries to competent off-takers with mandates to produce agreed levels of refined output.

“Issue new licences for Greenfield investment in crude oil refining and allied activities.

“Introduce market friendly fiscal and pricing policies.”

Concerning road development, the policy document gave also a timeline of 2025.

It added: “Develop 5,000km of roads by 2025 through PPPs and community interventions. Develop and rehabilitate the connecting road networks across the geo-political zones.

“Reduce gradually the rate of unemployment and under-employment to a single digit by 2025.

“Encourage transportation development around the nation’s agricultural and industrial clusters.

“Construct up to 5,000km of modern railways through privatisation, PPPs and public investments.

“Improve existing port efficiency and achieve accelerated development of alternative container ports, especially inland dry ports.”

As an economist two of those promises caught my attention cause they lacked specifics....

1. “Introduce market friendly fiscal and pricing policies.”

2. “Reduce gradually the rate of unemployment and under-employment to a single digit by 2025.

How does he Intend to achieve or is it another like the one of making one Naira into one Dollar?

As far as I am concerned Atiku has said nothing new.... This is another Bubu Yaya on the way.

There is no anxiety anywhere.Forget the sensationalism by Tinubu's The Nation newspaper. everyone knows Atiku will definitely go for a second term if he wins next year's election.

BTW There is no where in the constitution where it was stated that the 2023 presidency will be an entirely southern affair.

PaChukwudi44:
There is no anxiety anywhere.Forget the sensationalism by Tinubu's The Nation newspaper. everyone knows Atiku will definitely go for a second term if he wins next year's election.

Eyah.

Let's stop being myopic and stop making mountain out of a molehill; are we honestly expecting any presidential candidate to rule for only one term?

PaChukwudi44:
BTW There is no where in the constitution where it was stated that the 2023 presidency will be an entirely southern affair.

Okay.

Yes. His motives is sound because 4years is basically too short to accommodate some long time projects. Somebody is there to inherit assets as well as liabilities. Projects initiated by Jonathan such as Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport new terminal is still going on. Goodluck Jonathan expressway in Abuja is paid off but the engineers are on site working tirelessly to complete the job. So don't panic just tell us what APC government did and what they are prepared to do this time if given another chance. Shalom

olaric:
Let's stop being myopic and stop making mountain out of a molehill; are we honestly expecting any presidential candidate to rule for only one term?

We are not myopic.
We already knew that.
That's why we say everybody should vote who will serve their interest.

Is it not even foolish for those SS/SE/SW leaders to think that Atiku will promise only one term or agree not to contest for a 2nd term if he finds himself as the president. The good thing is, Atiku will not be Nigeria's president, in-sha-Allah.

What thief atiku plan to do in 2025,
Buhari will finish 2020-2022.

OAUTemitayo:

Eyah.

What is Eyah? Is there really anyone who thinks Atiku won't go for a second term if he wins? Buhari said he will run for a single term in 2003 but see where we are today

PaChukwudi44:

What is Eyah? Is there really anyone who thinks Atiku won't go for a second term if he wins? Buhari said he will run for a single term in 2003 but see where we are today

are you for lefelendum or for thief atiku,
2023 is for Igbo presidency, and thief atiku is going for 8yrs, how can you reconcile that?

Atiku, a Thief supported by thieves.

As e dey pain dem, na so e dey sweet us.

Make una dey share the NEXT LEVEL picture dey go abeg....
Fresh pictures from 16 hours ago........Omoboriowo

A leopard can't change its dirty spots. Believe Atiku at your peril. We shall continue on the path to a sustainable development by sticking with PMB/PYO

Who is still talking about this vigor promises when everyone is talking about NEXT LEVEL

Please let's shun tribalism. our problem is not where the president comes from, rather the competence of the President. Mr Buhari is purely incompetent to rule a country like ours. Another four years of Buhari won't be different from what we have witnessed these past three and half year. Already the booming business in Nigeria is burial and mortuary. Investors are waiting for this election to make decision.

What were they thinking before? A single term?

I am wondering what's in for SE. Can they wait for 8years? Only time will tell

When Atiku's campaign DG was interviewed on ChannelsTV yesterday night on Atiku's plan to go for a single term, the man begged the question by saying it is only Atiku that can answer that question..lol

The only reason I feel a single term might be enough for Atiku is because his intention is to sell the country. 4 years is more than enough to do this.

These people are scammers!

Alhaji Atiku keeps sending conflicting messages. Just days ago Sowunmi his spokesperson allegedly said he was ready to sign a document to do just one term. He should stick to one consistent narrative.

And so what?? All we want is economic stability, security, growth, etc if he can bring that to the table, the youths will continue on a solid foundation

I no tell you?

Reducing the rate of unemployment to a single digit in Nigeria within 6 years is totally impossible considering a lot of economic and political factors.

Another failed-before-start promise from our politicians.

Countries with the highest unemployment rates:
1. Zimbabwe 95.0%
2. Burkina Faso 77.0%
3. Syria 50.0%
4. Senegal 48.0%
5. Haiti 40.6%
6. Kenya 40.0%
7. Congo, Republic of the 36.0%
8. Afghanistan 35.0%
9. Kosovo 34.8%
10. Libya 30.0%
11. Lesotho 28.1%
12. Namibia 28.1%
13. Gabon 28.0%
14. Swaziland 28.0%
15. South Africa 27.6%
16. Yemen 27.0%
17. Venezuela 26.4%
18. North Korea 25.6%
19. Macedonia 23.4%
20. Mozambique 22.4%
21. Greece 22.3%
22. Bosnia and Herzegovina 20.5%
23. Malawi 20.4%
24. Botswana 20.0%
25. Sudan 19.6%
26. Armenia 18.9%
27. Ethiopia 17.5%
28. Montenegro 17.1%
29. Spain 17.1%
30. Jordan 16.5%

http://factsmaps.com/countries-with-the-highest-and-lowest-unemployment-rates/

Atiku have every right to seek second tenure as Jonathan did against North in 2015 ....

PaChukwudi44:
BTW There is no where in the constitution where it was stated that the 2023 presidency will be an entirely southern affair.

So you guys can be shifting goal post like this.

Tsunami Wey go sweet Una leg dey on his way. By Febuari, Una eyes go clear

Lol, i only pity ignorance of the igbos. The best thing they can do right now is to support the present government to complete the northern 8yrs, then they should present a candidate in 2023. Atiku would not spend 4yrs if he wins. The north would be spending 12years if care is not taken.

My brothers from the east. Its high time they started gearing for 2023, playin a second fiddle in politics wouldnt get them the number one seat.

Ahap. Who doesn't know IF Atikwu ever gets in there (I said ever because he certainly isn't getting there next year) over his dead body would he do just a term.

He can't steal enough in just a single term na.