By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The National Leader of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led Peoples Democratic Party and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has tasked members of the party’s National Working Committee to set up a special committee to bring back and reconcile all aggrieved members.
The PDP leader said that the party’s leadership should be ready to provide answers if new members do not join the party, stressing “the more the merrier.”
The FCT minister gave the charge on Monday in Abuja during the 108th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, which took place at the party’s NEC Hall in Wadata Plaza.
He said, “Now we are together, we must not stop at reconciliation. The more the merrier.
“So let us not say that they have defected and let them go. No. Chairman and your team, make sure you put up a strong committee that will still go ahead and talk to those who have defected. And whatever is due to them, they will still have it. Most of them may have defected because of uncertainty. If, for example, I want to run an election and I’m not sure who will sign my documents to be presented to INEC, most people will definitely find where they can get succor. But now, if you go and talk to them, I believe they will rethink and continue to support this party.
“So let me plead with the party, particularly the NWC to show difference, to show difference under what is to happen. Let’s be open and transparent. Let people know indeed were serious to correct some anomalies or mistakes that previous leadership may have made. Nobody is perfect. What will happen is that if there are people coming back, people will praise you that indeed you are doing for this party. But if people are not coming back, then we are going to ask some question, what are you doing? So I please want to plead with you. Show transparency, show openness, so that we’ll get whatever I want to get”.
While pledging his commitment to the party, Wike said, “On my own part, let me assure you, I’ll continue to support the party. I will continue to be loyal to the party. Since 1998 till now, I’ve been a member of the PDP, and I will not leave the party.”
He expressed confidence that the group will be victorious in all the remaining court cases, expressing strong confidence in the legal team.
“I believe that our lawyers are doing great work, and I want to leave it for our lawyers. We are confident that our lawyers have been doing great work. God, who has led us this far, can never abandon us. So if God wanted to abandon us, we wouldn’t have started winning.”
In his opening remarks, the National Chairman of the party, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, reassured party members that it will conduct its primary elections in a very transparent manner.
“Let me essentially say that the PDP is set to conduct transparent, credible, and inclusive party primaries at all levels in strict compliance with the extant laws and the democratic best practice.
“We are determined to produce candidates who reflect the will of our members and the aspiration of the Nigerian people.
“We will also review our strategies for policy actualization, governance messaging, and national position as a general objective capable of restoring hope to all Nigerians,” he said.
The meeting was attended by major party stakeholders, including former President of the Senate Bukola Saraki; former governors of Enugu, Abia, Kaduna, and Jigawa States, Amb. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, and Sule Lamido.
Also present were Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, and other party stalwarts.
