Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, has released his economic agenda guiding principle via Twitter, vowing to break government monopoly in all infrastructural sectors. The statement was themed ‘The three guiding principles of my economic agenda’.
According to Atiku, our economic agenda has an objective of providing a more hospitable environment for businesses to thrive. With current businesses, Atiku said, his administration would create jobs and wealth for Nigerian citizens if elected into power.
He said, “And to achieve these, I have three guiding principles to go by:
“Reaffirm the criticality of private-sector leadership and greater private sector participation in development; while repositioning the public sector to focus on its core responsibility of facilitation and enabling the appropriate legal and regulatory framework for rapid economic and social development.
“Break government monopoly in all infrastructural sectors, including the refineries, rail transportation and power transmission and give private investors a larger role in funding and managing the sectors, thus emulating the benefits accrued in the oil and gas and telecom sectors.
“Allow the market greater leverage in determining prices. This way we shall eliminate the persistent price distortions occasioned by current interventionist exchange rate management policy. Government intervention, where absolutely necessary, will be done responsibily and judiciously.”
Atiku won the PDP’s presidential ticket at a special national convention held in Abuja on May 28 and 29, 2022, where he scored 371 votes to beat 11 other aspirants.
During the presidential primaries held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Atiku won 371 votes to defeat Wike, who got 237 votes; a former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, 70 votes; the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, 38 votes; the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, 20 votes; a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, 14 votes and an ex-President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Sam Ohuabunwa, one vote.
Before becoming PDP presidential flag-barer, Atiku had released his five-point plan for Nigeria if elected president in 2023.
Atiku, who was previously the party’s presidential flag-bearer during the 2019 presidential election, promised to tackle insecurity, economic and other challenges faced in the country.
