The Leadership of the opposition people’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been advised to consistently adhere to the principles of equity, justice, fairness, good conscience, and inclusiveness.
A former Senate President and Chairman of the National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, gave the advice Wednesday while the committee was presenting its report to the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
Saraki in his address maintained that the PDP Leadership should always be transparent in taking decisions, such that those not favoured by suc, could at least see that they have been given a fair hearing and those whose cases prevail could see that they won on merit, hence, the need to be magnanimous in victory.
“We urge you, Mr. Chairman, and other members of the NWC to ensure a thorough and extensive scrutiny process in the selection of the people who will be sent to go and conduct the primary elections in the various states as we prepare for the 2023 elections.
“They must be people who will be fair to all and adhere strictly to democratic tenets. Sanctions should be meted out to those of them who by their actions create a crisis in any state” Saraki stressed.
The former Kwara State Governor also noted that that time did not permit the NRSC to dwell much on the area of strategy, stressing that the party should do so much in the area of reconciliation.
Following this, Saraki pointed out that the committee recommended that the PDP leadership should explore the idea of setting up a standing committee to advise it from time to time on the issue of strategy, particularly as the country prepare for the 2023 general elections.
“Let us commend the efforts of the NWC on some of the key steps you have taken to reposition our great party, particularly as they are in line with the recommendations of this committee which you will find in the report we are submitting to you. One example of such great steps is the revival of the defunct People’s Democratic Institute (PDI) to serve as a policy think-tank and centre of the party” Saraki stated.
While giving the background to the body, Saraki revealed that NRSC was created after a resolution approving its establishment and Terms of Reference was passed at the 90th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party on November 23rd, 2020.
He recalled at its inception, the Committee was tasked with the mandate of identifying and resolving disputes at various levels of the party structure and reconciling aggrieved members to promote cohesion and strengthen the party structure.
Saraki also attested that the establishment of the committee was well received by the PDP members saying that the body was able to relate with stakeholders in several state chapters like Borno, Ogun, Ondo, Niger, and Plateau and resolve the crisis that had plagued the party for years.
“In other states like Cross Rivers and Yobe, we have been able to work with stakeholders to rebuild the firm foundation of our party after some members defected. And in some states, while we may not have been able to completely resolve the crises, we have been able to get contending factions to engage in dialogue and set them on a sure path to genuine reconciliation” the former Senate President recalled.
“In the course of our activities, we also met with critical stakeholders and organs of our party and listened to their grievances. We received their suggestions on how best to remodel and reposition our party as the best vehicle for the delivery of sustainable development and good governance to Nigerians.
“On the strategy side, it was the committee that recommended to the last NWC the need to slash the nomination and expression of interest fees payable by youths who are aspiring to various public offices in other to encourage members in that demographic to seek elective offices on the platform of the party. It should be recalled that our recommendation came after we had a meeting with the youth leaders and other youth groups within the party. That recommendation which was accepted by the NWC has since been copied by other parties” Saraki added.
He indicated that the report being submitted contained a detailed breakdown of the committee’s deliberations with the key stakeholders, members, and organs of the PDP, the issues that were raised, and recommendations to ensure that issues are conclusively resolved to the benefit of our great party.
The former National Assembly Chairman stated that it was key the committee point out that while so much has been done, there is still so much to do, most especially that the party has recently commenced the journey towards electing candidates to contest on the party’s platform in the 2023 general elections at the presidential, gubernatorial, national assembly, and state houses of assembly levels. We have discovered that the conduct of primaries to elect candidates to represent the party has been a source of great intra-party conflict and friction in the past, resulting in the PDP being severely weakened and hampering its chances of success in previous elections.
The former Kwara Senator said the committee believed that other members of the NWC are men and women of great courage and integrity who have displayed a commitment to the party, its ideals, and values.
Saraki expressed appreciation for the opportunity given to him and his colleagues to serve the party in such a crucial capacity, especially that the public has since looked forward to a peaceful resolution of the crises plaguing the party and its return to the helm of the ship of the Nigerian state.
Saraki was accompanied by a former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; a former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, among other PDP chieftains to the presentation of the report.
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