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Nigerians are now cursing the ruling APC, says ex-Gov Aliyu
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) has declared that the various achievements recorded by the party during its sixteen years reign between 1999 and 2015, can never be wished away, despite all the efforts at maligning and discrediting the party and its leaders.
Turaki stated this on Tuesday during an interactive session with former Governors and Ministers of the PDP in Abuja.
At the interactive meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja, Turaki, a former Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, pointed out that because of the good work the party did while in office, Nigerians have remained consistently nostalgic about the bond and relationship that “we built with them over those glorious 16 years”.
According to him, “When, again, you speak about the 16 glorious years of PDP governance at the centre, then you are also talking about the phenomenal work that our former ministers have done in terms of policy formulation, in terms of driving those policies to achieve maximum effect, in terms of projects that have impacted very positively and profoundly on the lives of Nigerians.
“And that is why today, even after we left office 10 years ago, our legacies in the states and indeed at the centre are standing tall for everybody to see.
“And that is why, in spite of the great efforts that have been done to malign PDP and past PDP leaders, to discredit us and the work we’ve done, up to now Nigerians have remained consistently nostalgic about the bond and relationship that we built with them over those glorious 16 years.
“It is on record that PDP grew Nigerian economy. We pulled this country out of debt burden. We were able to build infrastructure.
“We built strong institutions that today have strengthened what governments at various levels are doing, be it in terms of project execution or monitoring, be it in terms of war against corruption, and so many areas.
“And so, for us therefore, if as a new NWC (National Working Committee) members, we’ve said, and consistently so, that we need to bring us back to those glorious 16 years of PDP rulership in this country, that we must therefore go back to the basics.
“And in going back to the basics, beyond taking this party back to Nigerians who are the owners of this party, we need to look to more. And in looking to more, we must have this very important and critical interface with those men and women whose work, whose sacrifice, whose selfless service to the fatherland was responsible for distinguishing PDP to be the first party that had won election back to back four times in Nigeria, to become the first political party that transited from civilian to civilian, to become the first political party that had built this country, and to become the only political party that today Nigerians are yearning to have back on the saddle as far as governance in this country is concerned”, he said.
Continuing, the PDP National Chairman said, “Now that we are planning to take the party back to the people, now that we are planning to make sure that things are done differently, now that we are planning to once again take over the saddle and then reclaim governance both in the national and the sub-national levels in this country, then we must, as a matter of strategy, discuss with you (former Governors and Ministers) and then take guidance, take advice and then take, if you like, even directives from you”.
Speaking on behalf of the former PDP Governors, Dr Babangida Aliyu, erstwhile Governor of Niger State, pointed out that the party had the responsibility to do very well so as to be able to win the hearts of Nigerians, again, come 2027.
In words of Aliyu, “I must remind you of something, believe me, majority of people don’t think of the skyscraper you built but they will always remember the good time they enjoyed.
“That is what we must go back to now to the people. We have seen, we have been a tattered nation. Since 2015, God has given us a leadership that I believe Nigerians today are cursing.
“They are abusing that leadership of 2015. They are not happy with what’s happening.
“They say in some tradition not to abuse dead people. But if a dead man has done something wrong to you, abuse him because that is the evidence that will be used in judging him in the hereafter.
“Therefore, it is our responsibility today to ensure that by 2027, we have done so well enough to be able to give succor, to be able to give hope, to be able to help Nigerians”, he said.
Former Governor of Kano State and erstwhile Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau also spoke on behalf of the former Ministers at the meeting.
