*As Wabara says 2027 election won’t be about defection
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday, publicly admitted that it made mistakes in the past, stressing however that it is now willing to make amends, not only with its members, but indeed with all Nigerians.
The National Chairman of the PDP, Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) admitted this during an interactive meeting between the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, and members of its Board of Trustees (BoT), which has former Senate President Senator Aldophus Wabara as Chairman.
Similarly, Turaki has declared that the PDP is now ready and determined to make peace adding that one of the cardinal principles that the party intends to pursue under his leadership is the issue of reconciliation.
The PDP National Chairman further disclosed that the party’s recent meetings with former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Theophilus Danjuma, rtd, had clearly shown that the need for reconciliation can not be overemphasized.
According to Turaki, “We’ve 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, Mr. Chairman (of BoT), 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 opportunity to take responsibilities of leading this country, whether at the national level or at the sub-national level.
“In this regard, it’s my pleasure to inform the Board of Trustees that we’ve had an interface with former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, who is still a member of this party. We’ve had discussions with General T. Y. Danjuma. We’ve visited President Obasanjo, who was the first president elected on the platform of this party.
“We’ve had very deep discussions with the National Assembly members of this party. We’ve met and discussed with the Forum of State Chairmen.
“We’ve met and discussed with national and ex-official members of this party. And yesterday (Wednesday) we had an interface with former ministers and former governors produced by this party.
‘These interactive discussions will continue because we believe that if we must come back to our winning ways as a serious-minded political party, then we must carry our people along, not just our leaders.
“For us in PDP, every person matters because our strength lies not in the who and who that is in our party, but in the large membership that we have at the grassroots.
“And that is why PDP is people’s democratic party. And if this is a party that belongs to the people, then it is our desire, Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to take this party back to the people.
“I’ve said that and reiterated that henceforth, the voice of Nigerian people will count in PDP.
“We have realized the mistakes we made and we are now willing to make amends, not only with our members, but indeed with all Nigerians.
“And so, we are saying, on behalf of the PDP family, to Nigerians: 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, will be done honestly.
“And we’re hoping that as we move along, as we listen and take guidance and advice from our leaders, as we move along, as we take ideas and critical guidance from our membership and our leadership, we will ensure that we do not only come back to our winning ways, but that we capture power at the center and at the sub-national levels, so that once again, Nigerians will now have a government that will worry about their security, a government that will be worried about their welfare, a government that will be concerned about the things that are troubling them-Issues of lack of fairness, issues of lack of justice, issues of insecurity, issues of dilapidated infrastructure, issues of decay and decaying institutions”, he said.
Earlier, the Chairman, BoT of the PDP, Senator Wabara, in his address, had harped on the need for the party to
embrace unity and reconciliation.
In his words, “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 sheath 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.
“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.
“In closing. I urge all members to remain steadfast, loyal, and committed to the ideals upon which our party was founded.
“The task before us is great, but our resolve must be greater. Together, united and focused, the PDP will once again rise to lead Nigeria toward peace, prosperity, and inclusive governance.
