…As Party’s Zoning Committee sits for resolution today
In its drive to save the country from further degeneration, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) has continued to close in on their objective of uniting the party across the country by building a unified front and fielding a consensus presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.
On Monday night, some of the party’s presidential aspirants convened late into the night at the Hilltop Mansion, Government House, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for a close-door meeting with Governor Udom Emmanuel, PDP presidential hopeful.
The delegation included the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, his Sokoto State counterpart, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the former President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Alhaji Muhammad Hayatuddeen, with Governor Udom Emmanuel as the host.
After the closed-door meeting, Dr. Saraki spoke on behalf of the team, thanking the Akwa Ibom State governor for hosting the team and praised his patriotism and dedication towards uniting the party and advancing ‘One Nigeria’ vision. According to Saraki, Udom is a significant stakeholder in the party and needed update to put the country’s interest foremost as well as the party.
“We’ve been going round the country and we are here to meet with Governor Udom Emmanuel as a key stakeholder, to brief him of our intention to find a way of uniting us and to put the country and the party first and to inform him of our intention to have a consensus arrangement, because that is what we believe will make the party stronger,” Saraki said.
“We’ve all agreed that where we are now in Nigeria, it has become very critical that we prepare well for 2023 and we can only do that when we are selfless and united. That’s why we are here,” he added.
On his part, Governor Udom Emmanuel hailed the delegation as “people who love Nigeria,” adding that they are excited to see what can be done to improve the country’s current predicament.
Most political analysts have proposed that Nigeria’s next ‘CEO’ must have the brains to solve worsening security crises, stimulate economic independency and improve social values in Africa’s largest population. Some also expressed sadness that 22 governors out of 36 could not attract any foreign direct investment in their state in recent times.
However, Mr. Borono Bassey, Akwa Ibom state PDP spokesperson observed that governor Udom Emmanuel has been one governor who respects the party choice a whole lot and is sound enough to secure Nigeria’s peace and economic development.
“Nigeria will be lucky to have a president like Gov. Udom Emmanuel. We will be safe all round. PDP is one party that always has a healthy dialogue mechanism. So we are going to put on table and decide what should be done about the zoning. We have respect for the Electoral Act.” He added.
Many political commentators have said it would be immoral for PDP to zone its presidential ticket to the North as the party currently enjoy majority of its support from the South.
However, the party seems to be treading on a minefield after throwing open the purchase of the presidential forms to all aspirants in the six geopolitical zone. Some experts have already predicted a huge crack in the party if its zoning committee emerge today with a restriction policy after aspirants across zones have already bought form and spend extravagantly on electioneering process.
Meanwhile, the immediate past Senate President, Saraki during the visit expressed optimism that only the PDP can reverse the hardship and insecurity currently plaguing Nigerians.
He explained that even though each of them may have had individual ambitions but the ambition of uniting Nigeria, rescuing it from insecurity and economic instability, is a greater ambition.
