We can solve our problems – Ologbondiyan
…Huge number of aspirants good omen – Bafarawa … Not do-or-die affair – Atiku
Known aspirants Historically, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led the country for 16 years; that is from 1999 to 2015, before Nigerians used their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to dethrone it. Expectedly, with millions of membership and concrete structures in all the 774 local governments of Nigeria, the party is the one to watch in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. As such interested politicians have indicated interest to vie for the position of President on the platform of the party. Notably, no less than 14 aspirants have indicated interest to fly the party’s flag in the 2019 general elections. The first to indicate his interest is the incumbent Governor of Ekiti state, Peter Ayodele Fayose sometime in 2017, followed by the former governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, then former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi; Dr. Datti BabaAhmed; former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa; Ahmed Buhari; former Governor of Plateau state, Senator Jonah Jang; governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwanbo, and, recently, a former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Meanwhile, others who have subtly indicated interest to seek the party’s ticket include the Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and twoterm former governor of Kano state, Ibrahim Shekarau. Interestingly, most of these politicians have a history of defecting from one party to another, especially when things don’t work in their interest. So, the question is will the PDP Presidential primary bring about blessing or another gale of defections like we witnessed in the 2014 Presidential primary election, when many of them dumped the PDP because they couldn’t secure the party’s ticket. We’ve internal mechanism to solve our problems – Ologbondiyan The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, said the number of aspirants is a welcome development, that the PDP have internal mechanisms to solve all problems that may arise. Ologbondiyan told Blueprint Weekend that “the number of Presidential aspirants is not a threat to the party, because they aspirant are practicing a healthy campaign and is a welcome development.” “And for us as a party we have internal mechanisms that can manage the process or number of aspirants that are seeking to represent our party as a Presidential candidate. Don’t forget that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the most experience political party in our country and as such it has gone through so many experiences. I can assure Nigerians that it is a healthy development, and when we get to that bridge we will the best use of the electoral process and bring out a better candidate that will defeat President Muhammad Buhari. “The essence of politics is to resolve conflict, so naturally, there will tendencies that they may disagree and agree among themselves. The essence of the leadership of the political party is to resolve such conflicts wherever the areas they arise. So, whenever we have issues, we call our members and resolve it. We are better than the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a matter of fact, the APC is already jittery and they don’t even have the capacity to run the party; that is why today all they are doing is to run away from elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready for the 2019 general elections and everything we are doing is to ensure that we defeat President Muhammad Buhari and his party,” he said. He insisted that “no cause for alarm, the PDP has internal mechanisms to conduct a free, fair and transparent presidential primary election.” “If it is possible to have consensus candidate we will do so, if is also possible for us to prone down the number of aspirants, but that will be difficult. For us has a party, we are going to provide level-playing ground to all aspirants to produce a credible candidate.” We’re optimistic – Turaki The former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN (KTT) who spoke through is Director, Media and Publicity of the KTT Campaign Organisation, Shola Atere, said they are optimistic that the party primary will be free, fair and there will be equal playing field for all aspirants. He confirmed that: “The party is not forcing the aspirants to any consensus; the party just wants the aspirants to discuss. I cannot tell you in good authority now, but each aspirant has been going to pick their forms. So, that presupposes for now, that there is no discussion on producing a consensus candidate. We, the Kabir Turaki Tanimu Campaign Organisation, have gone on consultation to 32 states in the country. And I want to tell you that our consultation has been fruitful. “For our candidate, you can be sure that with his integrity, credibility and with his experience, he has depth knowledge of the situation of Nigeria. Everywhere we go, he was applauded for having that clear understanding of Nigeria’s situation and the solution he has recommended so far. As far as we are concerned, there is no cause for alarm, everyone who has come out in PDP is qualified and qualified to the extent that they can perform better than this current APC-led government. That notwithstanding, even if you have everybody with distinction, there is also somebody who is better than the other. KTT has what it takes to lead, our aspirant is a bridge-builder and we are in the race for success,” he said. Our number of aspirants good – Bafarawa In an interview, the two-term former governor of Sokoto state, Atahiru Bafarawa, described the number of presidential aspirants as “an encouragement.” He pointed out that “it shows that our party is a democratic party and is a popular party, acceptable by Nigerians.” “That’s why people are aspiring, more are interested in joining the party unlike other parties that are not democratic parties where they run a one-man show. So, it’s very encouraging to all of us who are aspiring for this seat. We are brothers, we are families. Our ambition is to get rid of the APC. Therefore, forget about the number of aspirants of the PDP. At the end of the day, we are all democrats; we must accept the outcome of the primary – win or lose. Therefore, anybody who wins, I believe collectively we are going to work together and see that we save this country from this mess,” he said. On the possibilities on pruning down the number of Presidential aspirants, Bafarawa said anyone that is talking about consensus is not interested in democracy. He said: “If we are talking of consensus at least we are players. I expect you to be good watchers of the playing ground so that you can see how the game is going to play. If we say that we are going for consensus, what are we going to do with it? We agree we are all brothers. We see it as a game. Therefore, if anybody is interested in withdrawing himself from the race, it’s a welcome idea. But talking of consensus you are going to fall like the APC, where we are going to have a one-man show. We don’t want to go for one-man show. We want to practise democracy so that people will choose their own better candidate. For example, if the APC is playing democracy, they will allow at least three to four aspirants to vie for the position. But because the party is a limited liability company, while PDP is a public limited company, it is welcome by Secondus mediates In an attempt to prune down the number, the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of trustees (BOT) of the Party are separately meeting with the presidential aspirants. It would be recalled that the Prince Uche Secondus-led NWC recently had a close-door discussion with the presidential aspirants for the 2019 general elections on Wednesday night in Abuja. Aspirants that attended included the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Plateau state Governor, Senator Jonah Jang; Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; Attahiru Bafarawa; former Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarafi; Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Kabir Tanimu Turaki, a Senor Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Those who could not make it to the meeting included Ahmed Datti, Gombe state Governor, Ibrahim Dankwanbo; former Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and the youngest aspirant, Ahmed Buhari. Though, the leadership of the party and the aspirants did not disclose what was discussed, information from the party’s headquarters at Waddata Plaza, Abuja, had it that the meeting centred on the 2019 general elections and most likely on how to prune down the growing number of presidential aspirants. It was also reported in some quarters that the meeting was to subtly urge aspirants to sign an undertaking that they will not defect after the presidential primaries. The undertaking, Blueprint Weekend further gathered, would also be for those that lose to support the candidate of the party for the 2019 presidential election. Not a do-or-die contest – Atiku Former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is also an aspirant, said the number is not an issue, because his ambition to become Nigeria’s president had never been a do-or-die affair. He said: “This is an issue that came up last night; we had our first meeting with members of the National Working Committee. It was agreed that before the conduct of the primaries, there will be more meetings. In one of the meetings, we will sign an undertaking to support who may emerge as candidate. We were assured of transparent primaries by the party. “I have participated in a number of presidential primaries. At the end of the primaries, I have always committed myself to supporting whoever emerged. I don’t think it is going to be a different case this time around. I have always been motivated by service to the nation. I am not motivated by selfishness. My ability and my health will determine if I will continue to offer my service to this nation if I do not win the primaries.” Despite the fact that all the aspirants are eminently qualified, as well-meaning Nigerians, it is hoped that what played out in 2014, prior to the 2015 general elections, which caused the party’s defeat by the APC will not re-occur this time around.
