Makinde, Saraki Call for PDP Unity, Stress Need for Ideological Rebirth at PDI Inauguration

At the inauguration of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) elite research and intelligence arm, the People’s Democratic Institute (PDI), Governor Seyi Makinde of the Oyo State has urged stakeholders of the party to strive to reconcile the party as a panacea to fixing Nigeria.

Going down memory lane, Makinde said PDP’s problems started in 2015 due to disagreement among stakeholders.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki also appealed to members of the party to ensure a stable PDP as no one can aspire to any office without a stable political party.

Both Makinde and Saraki spoke at the inauguration of the PDP’s PDI Board of Governors on Thursday in Abuja.

Speaking as the special guest of honour, Makinde said that Nigerians have tested the All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP and clearly state between the two parties – which has a better ideological background to move the country forward.

According to Makinde, ”As the popular saying goes, when you marry two wives, you know who is better. We have tested the PDP and the APC. We now know which one is better. Please return to your first love which is the PDP.”

Referring to the APC-led federal government, Makinde said that the present administration has ”brought renewed trouble to Nigerians. Things are bad. Things have turned from bad to worse. We are now in renewed trouble. The PDP has to bring back a real renewed hope for Nigerians. We really need a new direction for Nigerians.”

“As we approach 2027, it is clear the PDP has to provide real hope for Nigeria. And by revitalising the PDI, that real hope is being provided for our people.

“Our country needs direction. Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to provide an ideological foundation.”, he said while unveiling the PDI board of governors.

On his future role in the PDP, Makinde vowed never to be a part of the processes that would destabilise the PDP.

He said: ”For me also, from 2019, I’ve been benefitting from PDP. So, I want to say thank you to our great party, and all the stakeholders gathered here today, for giving me the opportunity to get not one, but two mandates, back-to-back, under this umbrella.

“The only thing I can promise you is that since I fetched water from that well, and have been drinking since 2019, I will not pollute the well when it is time to exit that position. I thank the stakeholders for giving me that position back-to-back

”The PDP can, and will do everything in its power to fix Nigeria. We can fix Nigeria. We’ll fix PDP and then PDP will fix Nigeria. And that will be the basis of real hope for the people of Nigeria.

 ”So, I have a final question. When the history of Nigeria is written, because history is being made today, you and I will be remembered as the people who stood up to say, yes, that’s a Nigerian dream.

”That dream will be shaped by a clear political ideology and the clear political ideology by the PDP through the PDI will shape that ideology. So, my question is, are you ready?

”Nigeria needs an ideological rebirth and this is the idea of the PDI and the unveiling of the road map”, while appealing for support of PDP stakeholders for the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.”

Speaking also, the former senate president said, ”We’ve built this party.  Parties are built on ideas, philosophies and policies. Let us move away from building ideas on self, on ambition. We cannot have an ambition if we don’t have a party.”

According to Saraki, ”We cannot have a party if we don’t have ideas. This is where it starts from. This is the foundation that is important.

“Let us desist from talking about who is running for councillor, or who is running for governor, or who is running for president in 2027.

”Let us talk about what is PDP. What does PDP represent? What are the issues and policies that we must take into account?

This is what is important for us. This is what Nigerians outside want to know. This is what is important.”

Saraki who pledged his support to the PDI with N10 million added: “I hope all others will support it. Because this is the foundation”.

The acting national chairman of the party, Amb. Illya Damagum, represented by the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, said the aim of inaugurating the PDI board of governors was to revitalise the intellectual arm of the party for the growth and development of the PDP.

The Director General of the PDI, Dr. Edward Adie, said the reinvigorated PDI would be the think tank of the party as well as training of all elected officials of the PDP

He said that it is modelled after the United States, National Democratic Institute (NRI) and the National Republican Institute (NRI)

Chuks Okocha

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