The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday declared that
Nigerians are eager to have the party back in power at the national
level because of the biting scarcity, hardship and poverty in the land.
Spokesman
of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, Dayo Adeyeye who spoke to
journalists in Abuja yesterday said Nigerians are already counting days
for the All Progressives Congress, APC, because they want this
government to go.
Adeyeye said: “They want PDP to come back to
power. In the days of the PDP’s 16 years in power, it was a time of
plenty and we have seen one year of scarcity, hardship and poverty in
the land. It is obvious that Nigerians are not happy with the present
state of affairs; so they are eager to have PDP back.
“People are
already counting days for the APC because they want this government to
go and PDP is poised to take over power but we need to do the needful,
organise a transparent convention to bring in the right men and women to
take over the operations of the party.”
The PDP spokesman also
described the activities of the former national chairman of the party,
Ali Modu Sheriff, his key allies, Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh and Senator Hope
Uzodinma as “rebellious.”
He said it was a wrong perception for
one to think that because a few disgruntled elements in the party are
aggrieved, then the party has broken into factions.
Adeyeye, who
spoke shortly after the inauguration of the 88-member zoning committee
for the forthcoming PDP national convention said the party had decided
not to wield the big stick but rather to continue to seek reconciliation
in hope that the aggrieved party men will retrace their steps.
He said: “There are no factions in the PDP.
You see, there could be a few rebels, a few disgruntled people for one
reason or the other but if you know our party and the array of
personalities in it, you will ask yourself what is a party made up of?
The answer is that in a party, you have the governors, members of the
National Assembly, state chapters and elders, all of them are together”.
Adeyeye
said that as far as he was concerned, PDP is one united family, adding
that the fact that one or two people are complaining and registering
their unhappiness does not mean there is a faction of the party.
“We
are going to have a very free, fair and open convention, a unity
convention in Port Harcourt on August 17. PDP remains the biggest party
in Nigeria and I can confidently say that by this time next year, our
opponents, who are today in power, a good number of its members will be
begging to join the PDP. Nigerians are yearning for PDP.”
While
inaugurating the zoning committee headed by the Ebonyi State Governor
David Umahi, Makarfi noted that it was senseless for the Party to have
zoned both presidency and chairmanship to the same region (North) during
the ill- fated May 21 national convention.
He however urged the committee to ensure that they conclude their assignment within one week.
Makarfi
said he believed that with the quality of personnel in the committee,
there was no doubt that they would leave up to the expectations of
members.
“Whatever decision you reach will be widely accepted by
all. I do not see you coming up with recommendation that would be
querried. Open the political landscape and not restricting the
chairmanship of the party to one corner.
“Open the political
landscape so that all the materials that we have from the south will
come out; so that we get the best from the pack.
“I assure you,
we are not going to print a single form for any position. We will print
forms for all aspirants for any office. It is not an anointment but an
election,” he said.
