Chief Olisa Metuh
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the manner with which its National Executive Committee handled the exit of its former National Chairman - Dr Bamanga Tukur, shows that the Party will continue to win elections.
In statement by its National Publicity Secretary - Chief Olisa Metuh, the Party described the voluntary stepping aside of its former National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur and the peaceful resolution of its leadership challenges as a climax of political maturity and another eloquent expression of the internal democratic mechanism that form the building blocks of the Party.
Metuh said the development which came against the backdrop of "doomsday predictions by the opposition has again proved the in-built conflict resolution capacity of a Party whose leaders are ever mindful of its historic responsibility as the custodian of the fate of over 160 million Nigerians."
"On Thursday, the selfless efforts of our leaders to re-engineer and strengthen our great party peaked with the selfless example of our former National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, who voluntarily resigned. It was a denouement which brought to the fore, the unimpeachable democratic features of the PDP as a political party whose leaders and members are at all times willing to sacrifice personal interests in the overall good of the party and the nation. This is a true character of a political party attuned to the essentials of progress and national unity."
"Instructively, the occasion re-affirmed that despite our large size and diversity, our capacity to internally resolve all our challenges and by extension hold Nigeria together as well as boost her fortunes and improve the lots of the people is without rival."
"By this very development also, we re-established with emphasis, that the interest of the people is primary to every consideration in our party and that no amount of sacrifice is inconceivable in service to Nigeria."
The statement declared that the peaceful manner through which the PDP has continued to resolve its problems is an assurance that the challenges facing Nigeria today would equally be resolved with the cooperation of the people.
"We therefore wish to send a fresh clear signal to the opposition and detractors who must be hugely disappointed with the outcome of our National Executive Committee meeting that the PDP has come to stay and shall continue to win elections, having been deeply rooted in the province of the people. "
"For nearly sixteen years since formation, our great party has passed through numerous challenges and on each occasion emerged stronger. It has remained the only political party in this democratic dispensation which is truly national, that has neither changed its name nor logo and has not changed in its commitment to the people. The PDP has shown a true character of a political party strongly resolved on building a strong, virile democratic polity and which has numerous infrastructural developments to its credit."
The statement added, "we have shown a perfect example for the present and future generation of politicians to copy. The greatness of any political party is not only a function of its numerical strength and diversity, essential also is the patriotism of its leaders, the relegation of personal interests and the supremacy of the will of the people, all, core essential in nation building. This played out in full on Thursday."
The statement further commended the "heroic courage of Dr. Tukur, his father figure role and his unrivalled determination to push through his ideals on the reform of the PDP, while paying tribute to the wise and unbiased disposition of President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders of the party in resolving all party challenges."
It also assured Nigerians that the PDP will continue to be united so as to give all the needed support to the efforts of government to transform Nigeria and improve the welfare of the people.