By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Presidential Flag bearer of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has assured that the party is united and passing through democratic reinvention.
He said that agitations being experienced in the party presently is borne out of a collective concern for the growth of our party and the country adding that he does not see a divided house but an opportunity to come together stronger and united.
This is even as stakeholders are sharply divided over the choice of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as Vice Presidential Candidate as against Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who was overwhelmingly voted for by majority of members of the PDP Vice Presidential candidate selection committee.
Several PDP chieftains have openly challenged the process leading to the choice of Okowa, as many accused Atiku of undermining the report of the 17-man committee he constituted to assist him in the choice of running mate.
Some stake holders including former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose and Governor Samuel Ortom have criticised Atiku for not reaching out to Wike when he decided to change the recommendations of the committee.
Ortom on Wednesday accused the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, of failing to honour the democratic choice in the selection of his running mate.
Ortom also noted the failure of Atiku to reach out to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and some other aggrieved members of the party after picking Governor Okowa as his vice-presidential candidate has created a very big hole in the cohesion of the party.
Amidst these confusions in the opposition party, Atiku in a statement on Sunday said that he will reunite the party, pointing out that what PDP is experiencing at the moment is a manifestation of democracy saying that political conflict is a healthy reality.
He said, “I know, for instance, that when conflicts arise out of genuine concerns about having an inclusive political process, it signposts the viability of that process and, more importantly, the eagerness of stakeholders to be active participants in the success of such process.
“As leaders and stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party, the simmering agitations in our party are a reflection of our credential as a democratic party.
“Whatever our agitations are, I believe it is borne out of a collective concern for the growth of our party and the country. Therefore, I don’t see a divided house in the PDP. I see an opportunity for us to come together stronger and united.
“As a presidential candidate of the PDP, I shall ensure that I do my all to bring the party together under a formidable umbrella.
“We must not lose focus of the bigger purpose of rescuing the country from the hardship that fellow Nigerians continue to endure under the ruling party.
“When the PDP gets better, the hopes in Nigerians gets even higher that rescue is imminent” Atiku stated.
