Politics

Atiku: I’ll sell refineries to raise $10bn for SMEs

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has promised to privatise some refineries in the country to raise $10 billion to empower youths if elected as president in 2023.

Atiku said this at the PDP presidential rally in Lagos on Monday.

The former Vice President stated that the PDP was poised to install people’s government as against “family government” being practised in Lagos State since 1999, stressing that most of the notable infrastructure in the state were built by the previous Federal Governments and not the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said: “It is time for you, the people of Lagos, to liberate yourself from a family government to the people’s government, which is to be led by Jandor (Lagos State PDP governorship candidate).

“For the people of Lagos, it is high time you took your destiny in your own hands for your own future.

“It is right and it is your duty to take back that governance and hand it over to yourselves. That is what the PDP is out for.

“On my own hand, if you elect me as your president, I said and I mean it, by the grace of God, I am going to set aside $10 billion so that we can empower our young men and women in small and medium enterprises.

“People were asking me where will I get $10 billion. If I privatise Port Harcourt refinery, Warri refinery, and Kaduna refinery, I am going to get the money,” Atiku stated.

The PDP presidential standard-bearer said if elected as president in the 2023 general election, his team would revamp the economy, strengthen the security, and restructure the country to position it on the path of sustainable growth and development.

“Let me also promise you, if you elect PDP government, we are going to restructure this country. We will give your state and local governments more powers and resources. It is up to you to hold them responsible,” Atiku added.

Also speaking at the rally, the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, urged the leaders and members of the party to go out en masse and campaign for Atiku “for it to be well with Nigeria”.

Others at the event were the party’s candidates for various positions, former governors, National Assembly members, and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

The Star