NEWS DIGEST – The chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus has apologized to Nigerians during a meeting of the party members held in Abuja.
The meeting, which had former public office holders and stakeholders of the party in attendance, was tagged ‘Nation building: Resetting the agenda’. It was aimed at settling crisis that have rocked PDP recently and coming up with plans towards 2019 general elections.
Former Vice Presidents, Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo; Former governor of Niger state, Muazu Aliyu; Former Minister, Bala Muhammed, amongst many others, were present at the meeting.
The political party, which ruled the country for Sixteen years, have been marred by faction crisis. The chairman, in his address, assured that he’ll bring back sanity to the party.
“The PDP has been through a lot and yet we are still standing strong. Under my watch, there will he no impunity and no imposing of candidates.” He said
He further stated that in a bid to regain the trust of Nigerians in the party, PDP will embark on resuscitation programmes by visiting all local governments as the party has done in Jigawa state.
Read Also:
“Over the next few months, leading from our party primaries, we will drive the narrative and take actions that will set the framework for the vision that people in our party will key in to.”
The Chairman also unveiled the plan of the political party to introduce a platform that will cater for youths in government. This is to enhance the ‘not-to-young-to-rule’ movement.
“That platform will advocate the issues bothering barriers to contest. Gowon was 32 when elected. So, we need young people to get ready. We must remove every barrier in our constitution that will stop the youth from participating in governance.” He asserted.
However, during the interview sessions with the panelists, Aisha Yolah, a media practitioner, stated that the chairman tendered the party’s apology to Nigerians and talked about settling of conflicts but did not tell the audience what the wrongdoings and conflicts were.
Another panelist, Toyosi Ogunsiji, a social entrepreneur commented against bribing of electorates in 2019.
“Competence, character and capacity are important to the people. Politicians will be surprised that people will collect money from them and vote for their opponents.”
Meanwhile, after questions from various quaters on the plans of the party for women to participate in governance, the chairman said;
“We want our women to participate even to the highest level in government. The forms are free for women who want to contest in elections under PDP.”
