Tambuwal meets PDP state chairmen, says party must unite to win 2023 Presidency

 

.Ogun PDP crisis free, I’m sure of victory – Adebutu

 

 

Obiora Ifoh, Abuja

 

Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri has tasked leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to stay united in a bid to realize its bid to win the 2023 Presidential election.

 

Tambuwal, a Presidential hopeful on the platform of the PDP said consultations are ongoing preparatory to possible declaration for the big contest.

 

Speaking at a consultative meeting with chairmen of the 36 state chapters of the party at the Sokoto state governor’s lodge, Abuja, Tambuwal said PDP is the party to beat in 2023.

 

He said: “Unity of purpose and understanding and working together for us to actually realize the all important goal of rescuing Nigeria is very important.

 

“Consultations are ongoing and we will have to comply with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC guidelines as a responsible political party. So nothing stops the consultations from continuing.

 

“Our party stands a chance and it is the party to beat in Nigeria today,” he said.

 

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Hassan Hyat, chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of PDP said Tambuwal who doubles as chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum convened the meeting to officially inform them of his intent to vie for the Office of the President in 2023.

 

He called on all aspirants to close ranks and urged them not to forget that the Office of the President would only have a single occupant at any given time.

 

“We are more interested in the unity of the party as our number one cardinal objective because we believe that the party has to come back to rescue Nigeria and we are asking everybody to join forces.

 

“We cannot have more than one President at a time and therefore, among all others, there must be unity of purpose amongst them like just among all other members of the party. We want to move together and we want to make sure that whoever picks the ticket wins the election.

 

“So to us, it is not just an issue of primaries, it is an issue of the secondary election which is more important,” That stated.

 

On his part, former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa said he is in the “Tambuwal for President” ship because “I know personally he is capable and can do it.”

 

He urged the party chairmen to take their place in the sun by cultivating productive friendship that would impact positively on them even after elections are over.

 

“All aspirants want to see the chairmen now After the elections,  they will forget about you.

I’m telling you, the man seated with me here (Tambuwal) will never in life abandon you. If I know that he will abandon you, honestly speaking, I will not be with him. So I know who I am following and I am confident that he will never abandon you,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, A gubernatorial aspirant in Ogun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Ladipupo Adebutu has assured the party that Ogun State PDP chapter is crisis free.

 

Consequently, he said he is sure of victory at the poll during 2023 governorship election in the state.

 

He spoke with journalists after picking the expression of interest and nomination forms to contest PDP Ogun governorship ticket at the party national secretariat, Abuja on Thursday.

 

Hon. Adebutu said he has paid his dues in the party and contributed immensely to the growth of PDP in the state adding that he went through political persecution but his good intent exonerated him.

 

He said despite all odds against his aspiration in the past, he remain in the PDP because of his firm belief that the with the cooperation of all stakeholders, PDP will regain power in the state.

 

Recalling pre- 2019 election in the state, he said “I aspired to serve the people of Ogun State as governor. The party chose me to be the PD0 candidate but some people circumvented it and the court stopped me.

 

“But today, Ogun PDP is one and the party is truly united. There is one electoral college and we are approaching the 2023 election as a united front.

 

Hoping to pick the PDP ticket, he said “with free and fair contest, I believe I shall be the party’s nominee, I shall be the PDP candidate.

 

“I will be able to bring to play the manifesto of the PDP and my personal aspirations and programmes  for the people of Ogun State”.

 

The PDP aspirant said he has nothing personal against the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun who he described as a cousin from the same town, Iperu Remo.

 

Coming from same town or related he said is not a barrier to holding different political ideologies and will not be basis for enemity.

 

“In Iperu, we are cousins and we live together as cousins though in different political parties.There is no problem with that”, he said.

 

When asked to rate the performance of the Dapo Abiodun – led APC administration in the state he simply said “I don’t want to rate the incumbent. I won’t say they have failed in doing roads,failed in education or health. Rather,I will tell you what the PDP I’d capable of doing.

 

“By the time PDP come to power, during PDP government, all separatists agitations diminished. Interest of different component of this nation is not well satisfied under the APC government.

 

“Under PDP, Nigeria will return to peaceful atmosphere”.

 

His ambition is to “continue on a journey which we have pursued for few years. We have devoted self for decade in-service to mankind because we believe this is our heritage”.