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By Andrew Ikehi
In the buildup to the 2023 General Elections in the country, aides to the various People’s Democratic party (PDP) State Governors on Students Affairs say they are already firming up plans to mobilize over 20 million students in the country to vote massively for the party in the forthcoming election.
The group which stated this in Asaba, the Delta State capital during its inaugural meeting, particularly threw their weight behind the presidential candidate of the Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is governor of Delta State.
Contained in its two-page communique as read by the convener of the forum and Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Students Affairs, Comrade Jerry Ehiwarior, the group said that they are working in partnership with the various Student bodies across the various academic institutions.
The group under the aegis of “Atiku/Okowa Students Movement”, decried the spate of killings, kidnapping and other security challenges in the country, particularly those perpetuated across the various academic institutions in the country.
“We condemn the security challenges and poor security networks across the country which has resulted in wanton killings and kidnapping, particularly in our campuses and schools in the country which, no doubt, has made our institutions of learning unsafe just as it has rendered education unattractive
“We also condemn the unabated high rise of exchange rates in the country which is as a result of the poor management of the nation’s economy by the present All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration.
“This Mismanagement, no doubt, has caused total hardship for our beloved students in the Diaspora leading to the discontinuation of their studies in most cases.
“We have decided to meet today in Asaba and after a successful session, we have decided to throw our weight and support for the Atiku/Okowa ticket come 2023.
“We therefore, state that this is a passionate appeal and clarion call on the entire Nigeria Students to join force in the support for Atiku and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for President and Vice President in a bid to rescue Nigeria and restore her lost glory”
“We therefore, use this medium to signal the beginning of mass mobilisation of the entire Nigerian Students across the federation for this historic rescue mission anchored on Atiku/Okowa project, 2023″ the communique reads in part.
