Picks Abuja to host national convention October 31 •Says we’re more experienced in politics, governance than APC •We must go into warfare united — Tambuwal •PDP’ll do better if trusted again — Atiku

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has apparently resolved the weeks-old leadership crisis that had bedeviled the party, ratifying its October 31st national convention date and selecting Abuja as the host city.

Rising from their 92nd meeting at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Saturday, the highest decision-making body of the main opposition party also set September 9 for its next meeting to receive and approve nominations for appointments into its committees including the national convention planning and zoning committees.

Briefing journalists on the resolutions of the meeting, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, who revealed these also said that the NEC affirmed the indivisibility of the former ruling party.

NEC also asserted that the the PDP has more experienced hands in party politics and in governance than the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), noting that if given the chance to rule again, the party would do better than before.

The meeting was presided over by the acting National Chairman of the party, Elder Yemi Akinwonmi as the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, complied with the latest order from Cross River state High Court to stay way from it.

Just before it’s commencement, Secondus media aide, Ike Abonyi, circulated a statement saying that the erstwhile party boss had permitted Akinwonmi to preside over the meeting.

The communique read by the party spokesman maintained: “NEC emphasized the indivisibility of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

“Stresses the need to remain united as a party as we work assiduously towards removing the inept, indolent and corrupt APC from government, come 2023.”

“Urges members to continue to make personal sacrifices in the overall interest of the party.”

“Commend PDP governors’ effort in commissioning landmark projects in all states of the federation where our party has been handed over the responsibility of government.”

“Urges Nigerians to take a cue from our deliverables in our respective states as a sign of the improvements that our party wishes to deliver when elected in 2023.”

“The party boasts of more experienced hands in party politics as well as governance, says its internal crisis management mechanism is far better than the operations of the APC as a party and even as government.

“NEC commends all party members for their various involvements in resolving issues that have recently occurred in our party.”

“NEC is confident that the PDP has earned the trust of Nigerians once again and our party will do better when given the opportunity to lead the nation.

“NEC condemns the media gagging and the attempt by the APC and Buhari government to promote obnoxious laws against the freedom of speech as well as media practice 1n Nigeria.

“NEC condemns the harassment and intimidation of media outfits in a desperate ploy by the APC to stifle free speech.

“NEC has resolved that Abuja will be the venue of the PDP National Elective Convention slated for October 31, 2021.

“NEC to meet on the 9th of September to approve the various nominations into the respective national convention committees.”

Speaking at the commencement of the meeting, the acting National Chairman, Akinmonmi recalled that the party had been engaged in series of meetings to resolve its crisis, noting that the meetings had yielded results.

He observed that the APC government has plunged the nation into its worst state in history, saying that the PDP members must unite to salvage it.

While noting that the meeting was called to take decisions on the national convention, he said: “You are aware of the furry activities of our leaders to foster cohesion in the party. I am please to announce to you all that those interventions are yielding desired  results.

“Let me say clearly that Nigerians are looking out to PDP to salvage this country from the mis-governance and backwardness of that the APC-led to federal government has plunged the country into.

“Nigeria is more than ever divided. The insecurity are so worsening that even military installations are not immuned. Our people can no longer go to the farm, our women are being raped, schools are targets of kidnappers, bandits and terrorists, the level of unemployment keeps on ever rising unimaginably, while the value of Naira is now at the lowest ebb.

“Of course, Naira is the worst of all countries in Africa subregion today. We have never had it so bad like this. We must resist every attempt to sew disunity our rank but work together to salvage the country.”

Speaking of behalf of state governors elected under the PDP, the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, told the party leaders that they are going into warfare and cannot win the war divided.

He said Nigerians are waiting for PDP and the party cannot afford to fail them.

The Sokoto governor said: “With reference to the issues of the moment, challenges, disputes and disagreements are part of life, and indeed, politics. But what is important is how they are resolved.

“We have activated all mechanisms that we have in PDP, to resolve all of our issues. And as chairman of PDP said, I concur. We shall continue to hold together, remain together because we are the hope of the people of Nigeria and Nigerians are looking forward to PDP and we cannot afford to fail them.

“The challenges are quite many and it’s important for us to continue to work together as a family. We are going into warfare and we must go to a warfare united, you cannot win if you are divided. So, let’s not lose hope. We must remain focus with our eyes on the ball. And we shall, by the grace of God, score that goal.”

He affirmed that PDP states are doing well saying: “Of course, you know, that whenever I hear any major event activity, or commissioning a project is happening only in PDP states. We shall continue to do our best. And we assure you of our total loyalty to our party.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar observed that the PDP is more experienced than the APC and its government in crisis management, noting that if trusted again by Nigerians, the party will do better.

He said: “If you look at PDP, it has the most experienced people in this country, whether in the executive wing, whether in the legislature, whether in party administration, we have the most experienced and most competent individuals in this party.

“Therefore, PDP in internal crisis management is far far more efficient and far more better than APC and the APC government itself.

“So, II want to use this opportunity to commend and thank everybody who has been involved in trying to resolve the recent crisis. And Nigerians should no longer be in doubt, of our sense of patriotism, and our sense of commitment to get this country moving again.

“We are being taken aback by the APC government and we have shown to Nigerians that, when we are trusted again and we will do even much better than we had done before.”

Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe, also said that Nigerians are waiting for the PDP as they have become tired of a ruling party that he said cannot even set up a board of trustees.

He stated: “I want to assure you that the National Assembly, we are with our party. The chairman and Deputy Chairman have this morning made statements to show that there is no crack in PDP.

“As we were coming yesterday, I think we’ve seen from the news that there were alternate Chairman deputies and all that. But today, I think it’s clear to everyone that PDP is one and we’re moving forward.

“I want to thank our chairman of the Governor’s Forum for assuring us that PDP will take over the government in 2023. Nigerians are looking for us.

“Nigerians are tired of that a party that doesn’t even have a board of trustees, not to talk of any other organs of the party.

“Nigerians are tired of the party that is looking for a way to gag you the press. In an interview that was done that showed clearly how things are going bad in this country, and people are being summoned to answer queries at the NBC, which has never happened in this country.

“And so PDP is coming, Nigerians wait for PDP, and in 2023 give us your votes and will we deliver you back to where we came from.

“As I always said, it was the leverage in democracy that was given to the same party that they exploited to tell lies, and use those lies to confuse Nigerians. Now, like they say, everybody eyes are open.

“We have seen APC, and they are full of lies and deceit and they can no longer deceive Nigeria.”

Culled from the Tribune News Nigeria