By Friday Obande
Former PDP of Chairman in Kebbi State and Member, of the party’s Board of Trustee, Hon. Haruna Saidu, that the choice of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as Atiku’s running mate was as a result of majority consent.
Speaking on the development on Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise Daily yesterday, the PDP BoT member clarified that the party was not at any time, worried in the process that came out with the running mate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, saying it was a product of wide consultation within the ranks of the PDP circle, cutting across all the critical organs of the party.
He said, “In the process of we choosing one out of many or few, we had to subject the rigorous parties involve to scrutiny and come out with someone who can add value to the ticket and when eventually ticket finally succeeds.
“I want to tell you very clearly that Okowa’s choice was as a result of the majority as far as the PDP adherents are concerned including the key stakeholders of the party and its organs. So it is a very perfect decision and choice for the party.
On the question of the PDP National Chairman coming out to clarify that three names were given for the slot, Saidu maintained that the choice of Okowa was made through the widest consultation ever in the PDP, which involved the NWC, governors forum amongst other organs of the party.
“The person of Okowa, current Governor of Delta State and the major decision of all the stakeholders in the PDP was to look at the whole contenders and come out with one of them that can add value to the party.
“It was a very calm, rancour free decision that was made,” he noted.
Though, he agreed to the fact that in every contest, there is bound to be natural, when equals or qualified candidates contest but adeed that such grievances had subsided with time within the party.
Saidu also denied the allegation that the committee set up to scrutinise the three names of the prospective VP candidates of the party were not duly submitted and deliberated before Okowa emerged through the widest opinion, as he however noted that, “What is more important is the way forward towards the march to 2023 elections.
Asked about the disquiet over the Okowa mostly by South southern elders, Hon. Saidu emphatically reiterated that the choice of the Delta State Governor is a perfect one and his merger with Atiku will lead the party to victory come 2023.
“Okowa has been part of the democratic process since the dawn of the 4th republic in 1999,” submitted Saidu.
He commended the governor for what he described as ernomous milestone within his state (Delta) and his role as a party stabiliser, even beyond his state spanning to the national level of the PDP.
“Anytime he is given a role, he plays it well and he is a very calm, cosmopolitan and nationalistic individual, ” he stressed.
According to him, grievances should be set aside when it comes to national issues, adding that humans are naturally subjected to their own views and opinions in any contest.
He further emphasised that Okowa’s choice has been the most accepted in the PDP’s selection process.
“I want to tell you very clearly that Okowa’s choice was as a result of the majority as far as the PDP adherents are concerned including the key stakeholders of the party and its organs. So it is a very perfect decision and choice for the party.
