NAN
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday pledged to improve the welfare of Nigerians by remaining united and supporting government’s transformation agenda.
Mr Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, made the promise in a statement issued in Abuja.
He re-emphasised that the interest of the people was paramount to every other consideration in the party, adding that no amount of sacrifice was inconceivable to serve Nigeria.
The spokesman stressed that the party`s leaders were ever mindful of its historic responsibility as the custodian of the fate of over 160 million Nigerians.
Metuh described the resignation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the party and the peaceful resolution of its leadership challenges as climax of political maturity.
He also said that it was another eloquent expression of the internal democratic mechanism that forms the building blocks of the PDP.
Metuh held that the development which came against the backdrop of doomsday predictions by the opposition had again proved the in-built conflict resolution capacity of the party.
He added that Tukur`s resignation was a denouement which brought to the fore the unimpeachable democratic features of the PDP.
He stressed that it showed the PDP as a political party whose leaders and members were always willing to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the party and the nation.
“This is a true character of a political party attuned to the essentials of progress and national unity.
“Instructively, the occasion re-affirmed that despite our large size and diversity, our capacity to internally resolve our challenges, hold Nigeria together, boost her fortunes and improve the lots of the people, is without rival’’, Metuh said.
He added that the peaceful manner through which the PDP resolved its problems was an assurance that the challenges facing the country would equally be resolved with the people’s cooperation.
The spokesman assured the opposition that the PDP had come to stay and would continue to win elections “having been deeply rooted in the province of the people.’’
“For nearly 16 years since formation, our great party has passed through numerous challenges and on each occasion emerged stronger.
“It has remained the only political party in this democratic dispensation which is truly national, that has neither changed its name nor logo and has not changed in its commitment to the people’’, Metuh said.
According to him, the PDP has shown a true character of a political party strongly resolved on building a strong virile democratic polity with numerous infrastructural developments to its credit.
“We have shown a perfect example for the present and future generation of politicians to copy.
“The greatness of any political party is not only a function of its numerical strength and diversity, essential also is the patriotism of its leaders.’’
Metuh commended the heroic courage of Tukur, his father figure role and his unrivaled determination to push through his ideals of reforming the PDP.
He also commended the wise and unbiased disposition of President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the party in resolving its challenges.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Tukur`s resignation was announced on Jan. 16 by President Jonathan at the party’s 63rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Tukur, who assumed office in March 2012 after the party`s national convention, had been reported as the most embattled chairman since the inception of the party in 1998.
He had been accused by some of the party`s stakeholders as being responsible for the party`s current crisis which became obvious at its Aug. 2013 Special National Convention.
Seven governors of the party, their delegates, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Alhaji Kawo Baraji, former Acting National Chairman, walked out of that convention to form the `new PDP’.
