- Says PDP Crisis Would Be Resolved Soon
By Abiola Olawale
Dr. Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor of Osun State, and a host of other stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, visited Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria at the Pent House in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the visit is believed to be part of the ongoing engagements of PDP, with influential stakeholders across the country.
Saraki, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, led a host of the party members to visit the former president in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
The former Senate President who arrived at the OOPL complex at about 12.21 pm, immediately went into a closed-door meeting with Obasanjo and the meeting lasted for about two hours.
Also present at the closed-door meetings are: Ibrahim Dankwanbo, former Governor of Gombe; Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State; Ibrahim Shehu Sema, former Governor of Katsina State; and Mulikat Akande Adeola, former Majority Leader, House of Representatives.
Speaking after the meeting, Saraki called for joint effort from everyone in addressing the insecurity issues in the country, adding that the battle is beyond what the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can handle.
Saraki also called for the support of the international communities and private sectors in tackling the issues facing the country.
In his words, “These are issues across party lines and what is required now, is for government to provide leadership in bringing all stakeholders together. Let us discuss and see how we can address some of these issues. I think what is important for us now as I keep on repeating is that these issues are issues that should involve everybody. I think that when we talk about kidnapping when we talk about a sense of belonging, these are issues that cut across party lines and what is required now is for government to provide leadership in bringing all stakeholders together. Let us discuss and see how we can address some of these issues. We are very hopeful for the future of this country, we are very hopeful that everybody will have a sense of belonging. I think it is important that we all must be able to be at the table and discuss. We can tap into a lot of resources, even on the issue of security, there are lot of people with a lot of experience that we can make use of. My advice to the government this time is that this problem is a huge problem that cannot be left to just the government and the ruling party. I think this is the time the opposition, the ruling party, our international friends, the private sector and all of us must come together on the round table because the challenges before us are enormous and we need to address them. As we talk about lots of politicians, we talk about 2023, we still have two years before that and it is our responsibility that all of us to see that during those two years we all work to address that, but the initiative must come from the government. I think once the government does that, then my own advice is that everybody that has something to contribute should be able to come together and see how people will have a sense of belonging. Part of that sense of belonging is to be on the table to be able to discuss a way forward for this country.”
While speaking on the crisis in PDP, Saraki assured that the crisis would be resolved soon, as all hands are on deck.
“I think that we are making some progress. There are people who were not ready to sit at the same table to discuss, we have been able to achieve that. We have given more time for ourselves in trying to do that and we are hopeful that in this month of March, we will begin to see a lot of progress, that will unite the party and with that, unity will also be able to bring in more members to our party,” he added.
