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TO effectively manage the outcome of the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has urged aspirants to hold regular meetings among themselves, to assess themselves and position the party to emerge victorious in the February, 2019 presidential elections.
Governor Okowa made the call yesterday (31/08/18) in Asaba when a PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atahiru Bafarawa visited the state to consult with delegates of the party.
Okowa said: “We want to plead that those of you who are leaders at the national level, particularly those of you that are in the presidential race, that there is a need for you to have sessions with yourselves to familiarize yourselves.
“We are not forcing anybody to step down but, we need to start talking with ourselves on how to manage the post-convention days because, we must come out of that convention strengthened in such a manner that as a family, we will go together complete and focused on the elections.
“It is our hope that there will be other interactions; it may not be with the presidential aspirants but, probably with your coordinators, interactions with those who are already delegates and those who will also, emerge on the 11th of September as Ad hoc delegates to the national convention,” the Governor pointed out.
He observed that despite the array of aspirants for the presidential position, delegates of the PDP in the state were patiently receiving all of them so as to assess them and take the best decision in the interest of the country.
While expressing confidence that the PDP will have a free, fair and acceptable primaries, Governor Okowa disclosed that his administration does not discriminate in the area of making political appointments as he believes in the unity of Nigeria, noting that it was expected that Deltans who find themselves in other parts of the country should also, be treated as such.
Alhaji Bafarawa had commended Governor Okowa for giving political appointments to people from different parts of the country, especially from the Arewa ethnic nationalities.
He disclosed that he was in the state to inform members of the PDP of his intention to contest for in the presidential race on the platform of the party.
Bafarawa who revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari is still his student in politics, but observed however, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a party that plans and distributes injustice. And about the APC Federal Government, the presidential aspirant said: “This government is trying to divide this country. We have to realize that there is unity in this country, whether you are a Muslim, a Christian, from the North or from the south, we are all Nigerians.”
Speaking from the point of view as a former national party Chairman, Alhaji Bafarawa said that the political party is supreme to anybody, pointing out that the president, governors and others are agents of the party. “When we follow the party’s constitution, democracy will come to stay,” he said.
Bafarawa gave background of his exploits in politics which he revealed began in 1976 as a councilor, rising to a council chairman, among others, culminating in his two-term as governor of Sokoto state.
As governor of Sokoto State, he revealed that he left N13billion in the coffers. “I did not live in government House. None of my children visited Government House,” Bafarawa said, adding: “I want you to put me in the first row when you are considering giving support to presidential aspirants.”