Mu’azu to PDP governors: Appeal to your defecting colleagues to return

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, on Wednesday appealed to governors elected on the party’s platform to plead with their colleagues who defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress to return to its fold.
Mu’azu made the appeal in Abuja when Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led 13 PDP governors and two deputies on a congratulatory visit to the new chairman in his office.
Mu’azu said: “I want to passionately appeal to you not to relent in appealing to your colleagues that left the party, which is their home, to an unknown destination, to please come back.
“The doors are still wide open and our house is big enough for all of them to come in.
“In a family like ours, there is bound to be conflict, but the ability to resolve it is what will stand us out.
“I therefore want to appeal to you to please speak and appeal to them to come back and join hands with us to lift the party.
“As garrison commanders in your various states, appeal to our supporters and implore them to be patient with the party at this moment of its history.
“I have a very high hope and optimism that God will guide and see the party through this present challenges.
“Be patient at this moment of our history, you will see what you do not like and you will hear what you do not like.
“The rumour mongers around are working, but God will always guide us and surely shame our enemies.”
Earlier, Akpabio said that the governors were at the party headquarters to pledge their loyalty and commitment to the leadership of the party.
Akpabio expressed optimism that the new leadership under Mu’azu would take the party to enviable height.
He said: “We came here to congratulate you and the National Working Committee.
“We have seen that since you came on board, things have changed.
“Your emergence as national chairman is even welcomed by the opposition because of your track records of performance as a former governor of Bauchi State.
“As a major founder and stakeholder of the party, we are sure that under your able leadership, the party can only wax stronger.”
Akpabio pledged the commitment and support of the PDP governors to the Mu’azu-led NWC and President Goodluck Jonathan.
He assured him that the party would emerge victorious in 2015 general elections.
“We reassure you that the states are safe and that PDP will win 2015 elections in all ramifications,” Akpabio said.
The governors of Delta, Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Cross River, Plateau, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia and Gombe States as well as the acting Governor of Taraba State were on the team that visited.
The Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, was, however, represented by his deputy.
Five PDP governors had defected to the All Progressives Congress at the height of the party’s crisis.
The former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, resigned his position on January 16, a situation that led to the emergence of Mu’azu as the new national chairman.