The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential aspirant, Bola Tinubu, says he looks forward to squaring up with the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, as a worthy opponent in the 2023 general election.

Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, emerged the winner of the PDP presidential primaries held at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.

However, Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, while congratulating Atiku, described the PDP presidential candidate as “a formidable politician and a patriot” who believes in the unity and progress of Nigeria.

The APC presidential aspirant said this in a statement issued and made available to The Star on Sunday.

Tinubu further commended Atiku for his “patriotism and commitment” to Nigeria’s progress just as he congratulated the other PDP aspirants for the “orderly and peaceful way they conducted themselves and for pledging to rally round the winner, in the true spirit of democratic sportsmanship.”

He added that Atiku’s victory didn’t come as a surprise to Nigerians because of his vast experience as a statesman and veteran of many presidential contests from 1993.

While welcoming the PDP presidential candidate to the race, Tinubu noted that the 2023 general election should be about issues that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians; bring peace, progress, political stability and solve myriad of sociopolitical challenges and insecurity currently bewildering the country.

He said: “I welcome the victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded primary. I look forward to squaring up with him as a worthy opponent in the coming election.

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“I have known the former Vice President as a formidable politician and a patriot who believes in the unity and progress of our dear country.

“As we move further into the election season, I charge the PDP presidential candidate and all political actors across party lines that we should make this election season one that is devoid of bitterness, rancour and strife.

“We should make our campaigns peaceful and issue based. Election season should be a festival of ideas that will uplift our country and improve the living condition of all our people.

“Unfortunately for the PDP, its candidate will be burdened to explain why Nigerians should give it another opportunity, after squandering 16 years at the central government, without much to show.

“Nigerians are yet to forget the national ruin and mismanagement of our country for 16 years by successive PDP administration and this bad memory will dog the campaign of the PDP Candidate”

“Nevertheless, I once again congratulate our former Vice President for his victory in his party’s primary,” Tinubu stated.

The Star