By Okechukwu Jombo
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has lamented what he called the receding form of the party between 1999 and now, advising that something must be done, urgently, to redress the situation.
Similarly, Atiku has declared that the PDP did not lose the last presidential election held on Saturday February 25.
The presidential candidate said these on Thursday at the welcome/reception for PDP Governors-elect and send forth of past Chairmen of PDP Governors’ Forum held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The former Vice President between 1999 and 2007 has therefore called on members and chieftains of the PDP to be determined and focus on “retrieving our mandate that has been stolen”.
In the words of Atiku, “We have a number of challenges. We started as a dominant political party in 1999, but since then we have been receding.
“It s time to take stock and find out why we are rescinding, and how can we make sure that our position as the leading political party in the country can be regained.
“This is a very important challenge that require a whole day seminar so that we can, as a party, regain our eminent position in the country.
“We all know that the PDP did not lose the last election. So, we should be determined and focus on retrieving our mandate that has been stolen”, he said.
Another former Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo harped on the need for peace and unity within the ranks and file of the PDP.
According to Sambo, “I want to use the opportunity to call for peace and unity within our party because what is happening in some states today is very unfortunate.
“I will give example of Kaduna State. What is happening in Kaduna State today, people are being suspended from the party left, right and center without due process.
“I want to seize this opportunity to publicly ask the acting National Chairman to look into what is happening in Kaduna State, because all the ingredients for trouble and problems in the party is taking place. Likewise in other states.
“So, I want to seize the opportunity to call on all party members to cooperate and let the party continue to work, and ensure that our mandate is brought back to us”, he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal expressed the hope that the mandate of Atiku in the last presidential election will be restored by the courts.
Tambuwal noted with happiness that the outgoing Governors of PDP are bequeathing a Forum that is strong, cohesive and vocal in the defence of democracy and good governance in the country to the Governors-elect.
