The presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar has expressed a commitment to resource control and power devolution to the federating units.

Atiku at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital yesterday said he is committed to restructuring the country if elected as president. He carpeted the All Progressives Congress (APC) for abandoning restructuring, describing the ruling party as deceitful for abandoning restructuring. Atiku said: “As you know, I am committed to power devolution, as well as resource control and restructuring. I know all the southeastern states have been yearning for it. “I have been propagating for the restructuring of this country because we want them to have more powers and more resources to deal with their own local affairs.

“The APC abandoned the issue of restructuring. They are a very deceitful party or alliance. We are committed to it and we mean it. So, give us the support, we are going to deliver.”The PDP flag bearer urged the Ebonyi people to vote for the PDP, saying that the APC is not a party but an alliance that has already collapsed. Atiku said he was already preparing the stage for the youths to take over the mantle of leadership in the country. He urged them to be responsible citizens. He added: “You know that from the inception of our democracy, Ebonyi has continued to be PDP and I am sure with what I have seen today that you will continue to be PDP. “These people formed a party called the APC. It is not a party; it is an alliance. The alliance is collapsing and it has collapsed. You have no business voting for the APC. Anyway, you have never voted for the APC before.

“We want our youth to be where we are; we are here to bring you up; our youths and our woman. We are bringing you up so that you can succeed us. “We are not going to be there forever. We want you to succeed us. For you to succeed us, you must be responsible citizens. You must be hard-working youths; young men and women. We all came from very poor backgrounds but we worked hard. If you work hard you can be anything.

“I want to assure you that the next government of the PDP is going to be a government for the youth and the woman because you are in majority and we must recognise that. We must give you the opportunity so that you can also lead this country.”