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• We won’t repeat past mistakes -Turaki
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Amid lingering crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has urged the warring leaders to reconcile to rescue the country.
Wabara, who stated this at a meeting of the board, yesterday, in Abuja, said with the state of the country, it is imperative for PDP leaders to unite at all levels, noting that this was time for healing.
The BoT chairman congratulated the party over the outcome of its national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, last month, stating that it was a demonstration of the party’s commitment to democracy and transparency.
The party has been enmeshed in crisis for the control of its machinery by the PDP governors and loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Crisis in the party escalated recently after the immediate past National Working Committee (NWC) led by Umar Damagum, with the support of the PDP governors organised a national convention in Ibadan, where Tanimu Turaki was elected as national chairman.
However, Wike’s camp, which had earlier obtained a judgment from a Federal High Court in Abuja to halt the exercise, dismissed the convention as a nullity. Recently, the camp announced the constitution of a 13-man caretaker committee headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed to manage the affairs of the party for two months.
Wabara, while pledging the support of the BoT for the Turaki-led NWC, said the new leadership had already recorded giant strides within its few weeks in office.
“However, as we celebrate progress, we must also embrace unity. This is a moment that calls for reconciliation and healing. I appeal to all aggrieved members at every level of our party, to sheathe their swords and return fully to the PDP family.
“Nigerians today are confronted with unprecedented hardship, rising insecurity, economic uncertainty and a loss of faith in governance under the APC-led government. At such a time, the PDP must not be divided; we must stand together as a united force, ready to rescue our nation.”
Furthermore, the BoT chairman, who stated that the 2027 polls would not be about determined by defections and propaganda, said party stalwarts were not discouraged by the defections of some PDP governors and members.
“Let me also address the issue of recent defections; our party members should not be fazed or discouraged. History has shown that the strength of the PDP does not lie in fleeting political movements, but in its deep-rooted connection with the Nigerian people. “The 2027 elections will not be about defections or propaganda, they will be about the Nigerian people versus a failed government. And when that day comes, the PDP will stand firmly on the side of the people,” he stated.
Speaking at the meeting, Turaki said though the PDP has had its battles, it is time for peace, noting that the NWC under his leadership is committed to reconciliation.
“We have had a lot of ups and downs. We fought ourselves and we fought each other. Other people fought us from within and from without. Now, it is time for peace and like you stated, Your Excellency, Mr. Chairman, one of the cardinal principles that we intend to pursue under our leadership is the issue of reconciliation.
“We believe that there is no dispute, there is no disagreement, there is no misunderstanding that is irreconcilable, provided there is common objective and common will to grow and strengthen the party.
“It has been our desire since day one to go and have critical discussions, not only with our founding fathers and mothers, not only with past leaders whom this party had given the opportunity to take responsibilities of leading this country, whether at the national level or at the sub-national level.”
The PDP chairman stated that going forward, the party would ensure it corrects the mistakes of the past, so as to ensure that it returns to its winning ways.
According to him, “We have realised the mistakes we made and we are now willing to make amends, not only with our members, but also with all Nigerians. So what we are saying on behalf of the PDP family to Nigerians is – you knew us, you trusted us. We made mistakes but we are waking up from the slumber. We are now ready to correct those mistakes. We call on you to trust us again.
“We call on you, Nigerians to give us that benefit of doubt and I assure you on behalf of the new leadership of this party, that we are going to do things differently. We will listen to you. We will understand your body language and then we will do what you want.
“In PDP today, there will be no more impunity. In PDP today, there will be no more cutting of corners. In PDP today, there will be no more imposition. In PDP today, every single process that will be carried out by this leadership will be done fairly and honestly.”
