Posted by By TONY OSAUZO, Benin on
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua has said that the disqualification of Atiku Abubakar from the presidential race would not in any way confer any advantage on his candidature.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua has said that the disqualification of Atiku Abubakar from the presidential race would not in any way confer any advantage on his candidature.
He stated this Sunday while fielding questions from journalists in Benin .
He said INEC has said that it was working in line with constitutional provisions, adding that the disqualification of candidates was carried out in conformity with the rule of law.
On Nigerians apprehension over INEC's preparation for the April polls, Yar'Adua said he does not know on what basis people are saying that INEC was not ready for the election.
In his view, people's judgment of the electoral body was arbitrary, as it was not based on any facts or criteria, taking into consideration that it was the same INEC that recently carried out voters registration exercise successfully.
He said that the Niger Delta was very strategic to Nigeria and therefore must be secured wholly.
He announced that within his first 100 days in office, he would constitute a stake-holders forum to draw up a comprehensive blue-print for the total development of the Niger Delta in all its ramifications.
Speaking on how he intends to consolidate on the reforms initiated by President Olusegun Obasanjo, Yar'Adua said he would increase the volume of micro credit with increased subsidized interest rate to make more funds available to the middle class.
The PDP presidential candidate disclosed that he will also increase the N50billion agricultural funds provided by the Central Bank with a view to bursting Agriculture, just as he promised to carry out land reforms.
He said, for reforms to manifest tangible benefit, it requires time and hard work, pointing out that the Obasanjo reforms are working and would work, even as he was optimistic that the benefits would show in the future.