PDP must reward loyalty – Youth leader

Hon. Kabiru Muhammad Sani, is the National Coordinator, People’s Democratic Party National Youth Empowerment Strategy (PDP-NYES).
In this interview, he speaks on recent developments in the party.
MUHAMMAD TANKO SHITTU brings excerpts

The PDP is getting defectors, what value do you think they will add to the party? In politics numbers matter a lot, and when one is talking about the defectors into the People’s Democracy Party (PDP), it is obvious that they are high profile politicians, and so if the likes of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Senate President Bukola Saraki, other States and National Assembly members and Governors, are back, it is of course a good omen to have them.
Whereas you call them defectors, but I see them as those that chose to retrace their steps back to their origin.
They have greater value to gain from rejoining the party than the party itself.
Remember we are talking about general elections, we are talking about getting rid of the APC government, and they both played great roles in ousting our party in 2015, and so why not now.

It is speculated that most of them defected to contest the Presidency, governorship, and other elected seats; don’t you think the losers will re-decamp after the primaries? I don’t think so, because from their lamentations, they suffered persecutions in hands of the platform they are now reverting back from, I believe that even as ambitions and aspirations are human phenomenon, and as human beings with fundamental and constitutional rights to seek for positions, I think now they are after the progress of the party, and our democracy, so I see their aspirations as just an expression of national interest.
Notwithstanding, in as much as we are celebrating defections of bigwigs from the ruling APC to our fold in the hope that they will reinvigorate the party.
We deem it fit to first and foremost, stressed that the party must be very careful when it comes to the issues of internal democracy and picking candidates that would fly the party’s flag during elections.
And so we should not be carried away by their return to the party so as not to lose focus and foresight from the real course of true internal democracy.
Therefore, we make bold to say that in as much as members are at liberty to jostle for one elective position or another, prior consideration should be given to those that had loyally remained with the party throughout its moments of ordeal.

Do you think Sule Lamido has what it takes to oust President Buhari if he eventually secures the PDP presidential ticket? Why not? He is versatile, very experienced and dynamic.
He has whatever one would need to oust this government which has failed to meet the aspirations of Nigerians.
Lamido will give President Buhari tough time in any electoral contest.
Lamido’s vast political and administrative experiences are glaring and strong enough to give the edge against an incumbent President Buhari.
His landmark achievements in Jigawa Sate, among other Sani Therefore, we make bold to say that in as much as members are at liberty to jostle for one elective position or another, prior consideration should be given to those that had loyally remained with the party throughout its moments of ordeal.
experiences, are there for People to see and these have made him even more prepared and well acquainted with governance.
The unfulfilled promises of the APC led federal and state governments are also enough campaign tools for Lamido and PDP to defeat the APC in 2019.

But aren’t defectors a serious threat to his presidential ambition? Now, as far as political ideology and party loyalty is concern, I make bold to say that among all the aspirants I see none that is even equal to Alhaji Sule Lamido.
He stood firm when almost all of them were dumping the PDP, and that is why we are saying such sacrifice should not be ignored and relegated to the background and made insignificant.
It must also not easily forget because if that happens you will of course rubbish party loyalty.
Every serious minded member of the party knows that his resilience, loyalty and strong commitment to the ideals of the PDP spurred some of us on and ensured that we remain firm in the party.
It is of importance to further stress that his firm stand on the party’s ideology has helped the PDP to remain intact and alive.
But for the likes of Lamido, it would certainly have been very difficult for the PDP to regain its lost grounds following the humiliation it suffered in the 2015 general elections especially after the gang up against it leading to loss of the presidential election.
Lamido should in fact be congratulated the feat.
We will continue to canvass support for Lamido, under the Advocacy Network Nigeria (ANN), until he becomes victorious.

As a youth group are the bigwig politicians a threat to the quest for not-too-young to run? Not at all.
I said so because as youths in the PDP, we are now mapping out strategies which we will present to the party executives, and in it we will be telling the patty to specifically reserve some positions for the youth to contest.
I think it is too earlier for us as youths to begin to think of vying for the position of President, but it will be all right to go for, the state and national assemblies, governorship and deputy governorship.

Lastly, what roles will the PDP youth play to secure victory for the party in 2019? As National Coordinator, of the People’s Democratic Party, National Youth Empowerment Strategy (PDP-NYES), we have since being working towards success and with the reinvigoration of the party’s profile, more work will be done that will attract the youths to have confidence on the PDP.
Recently, I was appointed by the North Central Zonal youth leader of the party, Aruwa Ismail, as his special assistant general duties, and this is also part of the efforts, he has been putting in place recognising vibrant youths that will help bring the party back into its rightful place.
His actions are commendable.

 

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