A former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, has said that reconciliation and unity were imperatives needed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reclaim power in 2019.
Adeniran stated this while declaration his interest in the national chairmanship of PDP on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said that reconciliation, unity and rebuilding were keys for consolidation of the party after the 23 months leadership crisis it contended with.
Adeniran, also a former Ambassador to Germany, expressed confidence in Sen. Ahmed Makarfi to conduct a credible national elective convention of the party.
He said that the convention scheduled for Dec. 9 remained an opportunity for the party to regain power.
“Now it is time for a new beginning for our great party. We must reconcile, unite, rebuild and we must reposition to face the challenges that lay ahead.
“These are, indeed, the imperatives before us as a party.
“I have full confidence in the present leadership of the party, ably led by Sen. Makarfi to conduct a credible and transparent national convention to usher in a new leadership of the party.
“This will guarantee the survival of the party for the years to come,’’ Adeniran said.
Soliciting support across the six-geo-political zones, the aspirant pledged to lead in the task of making PDP a strong, credible, reliable and leading political party again.
He promised that if voted in, he would restore the sanctity of internal democracy and rule of law within the party.
He added that he would also work with stakeholders to return the party to the people in tandem with the spirit and intent of its slogan – “power to the people.”
“My team shall work to reaffirm and entrench the founding principles of our great party and rejuvenate it to original state of strength, devoid of impunity, imposition and subversion of the will of the people.’’
In his remarks, a former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, urged PDP members to rally support for Adeniran in the December convention.
Mantu described Adeniran as God’s choice for the national chairman of the party, saying that God revealed the professor as the right candidate when he fasted and prayed about it.
“I fasted for 30 days and nights, asking God to show me who would lead the party. God showed me Adeniran.
“Let’s now look forward and make sure that we elect a credible chairman. We should make sure that nobody short-changes us at the national convention,” he said.
He said that time had come to take PDP back to the people, adding that some people came to the PDP with nothing and left with billions. We need to bring the party to the people now.
On his part, a former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Waziri, urged party supporters to work assiduously for the task ahead, saying that the road to the Villa in 2019 would not be an easy one.
He urged members of PDP to support Adeniran as he had proven to be a loyal partyman since the formation of the PDP in 1998.