Saraki, Kwankwaso, others ‘ll soon return to PDP- BoT Chairman

* As Mark leads BOT reconciliation Committee

The Board of Trustee (BOT) Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jubrin has disclosed that efforts are in top gear to bring back Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and other former prominent members of the party who left due to one reason or the other.

He also stated that the BOT has constituted a high powered committee led by Senator David Mark to reconcile all the aggrieved party members especially those who had some reservations with the December 9, 2016 elective convention.

Senator Walid made this disclosure on Tuesday while receiving members of the PDP Ward to Ward group at the Legacy House in Abuja.

He also commended members of the group for all the efforts they have been making and urged them not to relent as he claimed that 2019 is for the PDP.

He said that the party has opened its doors so that all members who left the party can come back.

He said, “The coming of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar back to this party, whether we like it or not, is a good omen for the party, by boldly coming back to his home. When Atiku left the APC, he did it peacefully unlike some of them, when they left our party, they tore our party card. He didn’t do that and that is why I am congratulating the APC for somebody not tearing their card.

“We are also expecting a big return of some of our former governors, our National Assembly members and very renowned party followers. And when this is done, which will be done very quickly, then the party will now come to its stable stand.

“We should encourage anybody who has left us to come back and reunite with us. We will not hate anyone or deprive anybody. It is a good omen for this party that we should receive people.

“We are therefore calling on the present Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and all our former legislators who have left this party to come back quickly. When they come back, then we shall all come together on the issue of leadership, we shall then look at it, who want to become the president of Nigeria will now depend on all of us. We all will decide who will be the president of Nigeria and we have set the machinery already.”

On the 2019 presidency, Walid said that the party has zoned the presidency to the North, adding that the BOT is doing its best to identify who is the best candidate that can wrestle power from the APC.

He said, “All of us as a party, we agreed that the president of Nigeria should come from the North. I urge you to support the North to bring and give you a very capable president, never a no do well president, a good qualitative president.

“We are all doing what we can in the North with all the leaders to identify who is the best candidate to rule this country, the best person that will take away power from the ruling party because 2019 is our own, 2019 is for PDP.”

He regretted the unfortunate incident that caused an “artificial tsunami” in party and assured that the BOT is prepared to work with the National Working Committee (NCW) led by Prince Uche Secondus to get the party back to its winning ways.

He said, “The BOT is working with party leaders, governors and NASS members to ensure that the party come together. The BOT is intact. We are not bombarded and shall not be bombarded.

“We are satisfied with the emergence of Secondus. He is a well tested leader and we have assured him that we are going to give him and his executives all the necessary support needed to move the party ahead.

“The governors have played a great role in uniting the party. They have tried to organise the party, as they greatly assisted to the success of the just concluded convention.

“All the governors supported the candidature of Secondus, and we supported him and we are going to work with him to bring this party together.

“When this party becomes stable and when we get back to government, we shall not forget you”.

On the BOT reconciliatory committee, he said, “We have also formed a committee under Senator David Mark to reconcile all aggrieved party members, cool them down especially the aspirant. They have two weeks to do this assignment.

“The committee comprises only BOT members while the Dickson committee is also working for the party. The BOT has decided not to take side because at the end of the day, the problem will still come back to solve the problems.

Members of the group had earlier in their address led by Hon. Ada Fredrick, said that they would not rest until power returns to the PDP.

Ada Frederick also said that members of the group are in all the states of the federation and have grass root mobilisers who are in touch with the grass root.

She commended the fatherly role of the BOT chairman and assured him of their continued support.

The delegation was drawn from representatives of all the states in the country.

Myke Uzendu