The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has responded to Obasanjo’s letter to Buhari telling him not to run for the 2019 presidency, saying that they represent the true coalition of Nigerians from across the country.
The PDP also added that its experience in governance and successful rebound from challenges has provided an edge over every other existing or intended political platforms in Nigeria.
This is in response to comments made by Obasanjo in his letter advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019. In the letter he had said that Nigeria was in need of a ‘true coalition’ that would represent what Nigerians needed. The PDP posit that they are that coalition.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Wednesday, said “Nigerians would recall that in the heat of 2015 elections, many citizens, who claimed to have become tired of the PDP and its government, opted for a coalition of strange bedfellows who had little or no experience in governance as a vehicle for electoral victory. Expectedly, in their confusion, they have plunged us into this regrettable situation that has brought our nation to its knees.
“Repeating the old mistake of congregating political strangers cannot help our nation at this time, more so, when the few concerns raised by the former President about the PDP no longer obtain under the refocused and rebranded PDP.
“The PDP is now standing on a truly democratic ground that perfectly represents and reflects the hopes and aspirations of all Nigerians irrespective of their class, creed or tribe.
“That is why our great party has now, more than ever before, become a center of the new patriotic and broad-based engagements by well-meaning Nigerians and coalitions across board, including past leaders, in rekindling our democratic process that places priority on returning power to the people.”
Stressing that there is an extensive dissimilarity between it and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PDP noted that while it remains nationally populist and development-driven,
According to the PDP, they remain the best platform through which Nigerians are free to express themselves, politically engage and freely aspire for any office without regard to divisive considerations.