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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Nigeria’s Buhari, Atiku focus on economy ahead of delayed poll

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ABUJA: Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari and his closest rival Atiku Abubakar made their final appeal for votes on the last day of campaigning on Thursday ahead of a presidential election on Saturday that was delayed by a week.


The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the delay in the early hours of last Saturday, citing logistical reasons, just as some of Nigeria’s 84 million registered voters were preparing to head to the polls.


The stakes are high as Buhari, who took office in 2015 and is seeking a second term, is locked in a race against businessman and former vice president Atiku to lead a country that is Africa’s top oil producer.


The election has largely been fought on how to jump-start growth in the country with Africa’s largest economy which has seen low growth since emerging in 2017 from its first recession in 25 years.


Security, amid an increase in militant attacks in the northeast, and corruption have also been campaign issues.


So far, there are no further public rallies planned by either man. They made their pitches for votes in a statement, via social media and through aides.


Buhari, who is campaigning on an anti-corruption platform, touted his economic record in a statement issued by his spokesman Femi Adesina.


“Those who do not see any good in something not initiated by them toil endlessly to hoodwink Nigerians into believing that nothing good is happening on the economic front,” the statement said.


Buhari’s economic reforms are focused on infrastructure development and extending a social welfare programme to create jobs and lift the poorest Nigerians out of poverty.


Atiku, candidate of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), would continue the country’s Niger Delta amnesty programme, a policy adviser said on Thursday.


The programme gives stipends to former militants in the oil-rich Delta region.


Militants have long argued that the impoverished delta should receive a greater share of the country’s energy wealth. Buhari sought to overhaul the programme early in his tenure, triggering a renewed series of attacks on oil facilities, but later continued with the existing arrangement introduced by his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan.


The attacks helped to push Nigeria into recession in 2016. — Reuters


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