Nigerians have been reacting via social media since a former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, formally declared his presidential ambition at a rally held to that effect in Yola, Adamawa State.
Atiku is one of the leading aspirants jostling for the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2019 presidential election.
Leaders of the party and thousands of Nigerians who believe in the aspiration of the Turaki of Adamawa gathered to lend their support.
Speaking at the rally Atiku said “Today we have the highest unemployment in the history of this country. More than 10 million Nigerian youth are unemployed. Is that what you want? Now my brothers and sisters, what the PDP will do, is to restore our economy, unify our country and ensure we have security of lives and properties.”
Reacting to the declaration by Atiku, Aliyu Badeggi who is a resident of Yola was at the venue of the event. He took to Twitter to express how he felt about the rally.
He wrote: “If you see the kind of crowd gathered in Yola for Atiku today, you will know he means business. The whole town was shut down. Atiku is ready. That’s all I can say.”
Paul Ibe, an aide to the former vice president said: “It rained Friday night up to Saturday morning. But the rains gave way to a brilliant sunshine as even the elements submitted to the historic mood of Nigerians to herald the presidential declaration of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar at Ribadu Square in Yola, Adamawa State. It was a sight to behold.”
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Senator Ben-Murray Bruce said, “We need change and we need change now. We need someone who can make a difference. We need someone who cares about the country. We need somebody who thinks. We need somebody who dreams and Atiku is the man.”
However, there are those who do not think Atiku will pose a threat to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mallam Adamau Hayatu, a social commentator, was of the view that Atiku did not have the full support of his party because no PDP governor attended the event.
He said “No single governor attended Atiku’s presidential declaration in Adamawa. Not even Fayose. It means they are not fully behind him.”
One of Atiku’s groups on twitter with the handle @AtikuAir replied Hatayu saying “This is Adamawa PDP solidarity rally. Wait for the main declaration at Eagles Square, Abuja. Besides he is still an aspirant and the party has principles unlike a confused party like APC.”
An APC apologists joked by saying “When the name of your party leader is Adams, you will come first. That’s an A. But if the name is Secondus, you will come second.”
Another social commentator, Timi Bakare, on twitter wrote “Atiku dwells in empty cacophonies. No one should lose sleep over his campaigns of lucidity.”
In less than one year from now, Nigerians will find out if Atiku will be president or not.
