It is now time for peace and reconciliation, Turaki charges PDP BoT, stakeholders
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Tanimu Turaki, SAN has said that the major focus of his leadership is to achieve peace through genuine reconciliation of all stakeholders in the party.
He spoke at the opening season of the 83rd meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The chairman said he was fully prepared with other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to take up the quantum of responsibility given them by delegates at the Ibadan national convention to mend the broken fences, reconcile and reposition PDP.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs. We fought ourselves and we fought each other. Other people fought us from within and from without.
“Now, it is time for peace and like you stated, Your Excellency, Mr. Chairman, one of the cardinal principles that we intend to pursue under our leadership is the issue of reconciliation. We believe that there is no dispute, there is no disagreement, there is no misunderstanding that is irreconcilable, provided there is common objective and common will to grow and strengthen the party.
“It has been our desire since day one to go and have critical discussions, not only with our founding fathers and mothers, not only with past leaders whom this party had given opportunity to take responsibilities of leading this country, whether at the national level or at the sub-national level.
“In this regard, it’s my pleasure to inform the Board of Trustees that we’ve had an interface with former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, who is still a member of this party. We’ve had discussions with General T. Y. Danjuma. We’ve visited President Obasanjo, who was the first president elected on the platform of this party.
“We’ve had very deep discussions with the National Assembly members of this party. We’ve met and discussed with the Forum of State Chairman. We’ve met and discussed with national and ex-official members of this party. And yesterday, we had an interface with former ministers and former governors produced by this party.
“These interactive discussions will continue because we believe that if we must come back to our winning ways as a serious-minded political party, then we must carry our people along, not just our leaders.
” For us in PDP, every person matters because our strength lies not in the who and who that is in our party, but in the large membership that we have at the grassroots. And that is why PDP is people’s democratic party. And if this is a party that belongs to the people, then it is our desire,
“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to take this party back to the people. I’ve said that and reiterated that henceforth, the voice of Nigerian people will count in PDP.
“We have realized the mistakes we made and we are now willing to make amends, not only with our members, but indeed with all Nigerians. And so what we are saying on behalf of the PDP family to Nigerians, you knew us, you trusted us. We made mistakes but we are waking up from the slumber. We are now ready to correct those mistakes. We call on you to trust us again.”
The national chairman called on Nigerians to give PDP that benefit of doubt while assuring that his leadership will do things differently. “
We will listen to you. We will understand your body language. And then we will do what you want.
“There will be no more impunity. In PDP today, there will be no more cutting of corners. In PDP today, there will be no more imposition. In PDP today, every single process that will be carried out by this leadership will be done fairly, will be done honestly,” he promised.
In his opening address, chairman of the BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara congratulated members of the party for their resilience in turbulent period and the successful outcome of the national convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki – led NWC.
Expressing confidence in the ability of the new leadership, he said from the early days of their tenure, the signs are clear “the party is being repositioned, structures are being strengthened, and confidence is being restored across the federation.”
This, he said gives hope not just to party members, but to millions of Nigerians who look to the PDP as the credible alternative to the current state of affairs.
Wabara, however cautioned that as the party celebrate progress, members must also embrace unity.
“This is a moment that calls for reconciliation and healing I appeal to all aggrieved members, at every level of our party, to sheath their swords and return fully to the PDP family.
“Nigerians today are confronted with unprecedented hardship, rising insecurity, economic uncertainty. and a loss of faith in governance under the APC-led government. At such a time, the PDP must not be divided; we must stand together as a united force, ready to rescue our nation.”
Addressing the issue of recent defections, he urged party members not to be fazed or discouraged.
He said history has shown that the strength of the PDP does not lie in fleeting political movements, but in its deep-rooted connection with the Nigerian people.
“The 2027 elections will not be about defections or propaganda, they will be about the Nigerian people versus a failed government. And when that day comes, the PDP will stand firmly on the side of the people,” he said while charging members to remain steadfast, loyal, and committed to the ideals upon which the party was founded.
