…As Tambuwal lends voice on restructuring
Myke Uzendu, Abuja
As political parties reposition ahead of the 2023 general election, The National Chairman elect of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorcha Ayu has assured that Nigeria cannot continue to share sovereignty with bandits and criminals.
Sen. Ayu said that the PDP is on a journey to “Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria” adding that the damages done by the APC has led to take over of the country by bandits, terrorists gang, collapsed economy, comatose manufacturing sector, soaring prices and worthless naira.
Addressing party stakeholders during a two day retreat at NAF Conference Center on Tuesday in Abuja, the incoming Chairman said that the party must strategize and offer workable alternative to rebuild the country.
“We must be a party that thoughtfully articulate and design a clear programme of where we want to take Nigeria as well as how we hold rudderless APC government to account.
“We must demonstrate to Nigerians that years in opposition have not demented our will and desire to win and govern for the benefit of our country. Nigeria looks up to us to reunite this country which has been badly divided over the past 6 years.
Commenting on the level of decay created by the incumbent government, he said
“The damage done by the APC is pretty obvious – insecurity everywhere, including shared sovereignty with criminal and terrorist gangs, a collapsed economy with a comatose manufacturing sector, soaring prices, naira near worthless, interest rates very high, with the Central Bank of Nigeria picking and choosing winners and losers and virtually running a parallel government, (which even leaves the Vice President confused), collapsed infrastructure, terrorist sympathizers in government, and confusion everywhere”.
He said that no party in the country is better equipped and positioned to rescue the country from mis-governance like the PDP.
Also his remarks, governors elected on the platform of PDP said that the party has learnt its lessons and is ready for power at the center in 2023.
The governors also insisted that Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive, adding that it must restructure its polity, economy, security and ways of doing things.
According to the Chairman, PDP Governors Forum and Sokoto state governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Nigeria “must embrace relative autonomy and decentralisation of power. This will unleash the energies of our people, especially, the young. It is time to allow Nigeria blossom. It is doable with all hands on deck.”
Tambuwal, who said PDP is poised to write a new chapter for Nigeria, added that a rickety vehicle cannot take Nigeria to its destination as the nation with possibilities for greatness and progress.
He said that PDP is now once again a well-oiled, serviced vehicle that will midwife the Nigeria of our dreams.
“It is indeed time to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria. Nigeria is in an urgent need for a surgical operation. Nigeria is in a permanent emergency.
“We all know what the problems are. They are man-made. And is therefore resolvable. It requires a focused, determined, knowledgeable and patriotic organisation of like minds to build the critical mass necessary for a great leap forward. Yes, it requires leadership, with vision and discipline.
“We suffer from a crisis of governance. The unity of Nigeria is facing unprecedented challenges. Life in Nigeria is increasingly becoming brutish and short as insecurity ravages the land. Poverty is the forte of the ordinary Nigerian. The health and education of our people has not improved. Our people are in want. The economy is in dire straits with the exchange rate now about N540 to a Dollar from the N150 to a Dollar when PDP left office. Prices of food stuff and essential commodities are unsustainable. Clearly beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.
“Between 35 to 40% of Nigerians are unemployed. And women and Youths bear the main brunt. Bandits, kidnappers, terrorists are having a field day. Almost unchallenged. Our children are not safe even in their schools.
“Corruption still stalk the land. Nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry reign supreme in today’s APC’s Nigeria. Our infrastructure is still comatose.
“Trust and hope in Nigeria is at its lowest. Our lamentations can go on, ad infinitum. But the test of leadership is the ability to solve problems.”
Proffering solutions on how PDP will move the nation forward, the Sokoto state governor said that a sharp contrast must be drawn with the ruling incompetent and rudderless APC administration.
He said: “Where APC thrives in excuses, PDP will take responsibility. Where APC thrives in propaganda and deceit, PDP will be transparent with Nigerians. Whereas APC Government thrives in insecurity, PDP will secure Nigeria. Whereas APC presides over Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, PDP will make Nigeria prosperous. APC has wrecked our economy, but PDP will salvage it. Where APC focuses on selective anti-corruption fight, PDP will fight corruption with appropriate institutional reforms.
“Secondly, we must embrace innovation and technology as a way of life. Technology will solve the youth unemployment time tomb. Technology will improve our agriculture, health, industralisation, education and indeed, it has implications and impacts on all facets of our lives. It is in this respect that we continue to condemn the twitter ban as a retrogressive action that should never have happened.
“Can Nigeria survive another 4 years of APC? The answer is a resounding No. It is too frightening to contemplate.
“PDP remains the only credible alternative to APC and we cannot afford to fail Nigerians. We must keep hope alive. We can do it. Yes, we can, as Obama would say.”
Earlier in his remarks, Acting Chairman of the party, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi declared that the party is poised to take over the presidential Villa. He tasked the incoming executive to work together so that the party can regains its lost glory.
Present at the retreat were Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and his Delta state counterpart Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe and House Minority Leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.
Others are PDP BoT Chairman Sen. Walid Jubrin, Former PDP Secretary Jerry Gana, Elected members of the National Working Committee and other stake holders.
