2019: PDP begins build up for strategic alliance talks with friendly parties
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has inaugurated a Contact Committee with a mandate to seal alliance talks with genuine political parties willing to align forces with PDP ahead of 2019 elections.
He charged the team to avoid bringing parties that will create confusion for the PDP, saying PDP would do everything legitimately right to return to power in 2019 having observed that majority of Nigerians are no more in terms with happenstances in the country.
He explained that the decision to reach out to other political parties and individuals outside the PDP was informed by his open door policy aimed at making the party the preferred platform for all Nigerians.
He said, “When I formally took over the leadership of this party on December 11, 2017, I made the symbolic move at the entrance gate of this party headquarters when I threw open the main gate of the Wadata Plaza ajar, in order to indicate that the party under my watch, would be open to all people of like mind, irrespective of class, religion or tribe.
“I then called on all our people from across the country and from all walks of life, desirous of taking our beloved country to the next level, to come in and join hands with us in the great and urgent task of rescuing and rebuilding our country.”
According to him, the past three years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had convinced Nigerians of the need for a credible alternative in 2019.
Prince Secondus who lamented the spate of killings in the country, urged the members of the committee to reach out to Nigerians and groups on the need to forge a common front for the political salvation of the nation.
PDP chairman “Your committee and your nomination into it is a well-articulated decision of the party leadership to bring our open door policy to fruition.
“Just as your name connotes, you are to deploy your versed network to help open the space and allow into our party, all those whose union with us can help in rescuing this country.
“Like we always say in this party, this umbrella is big enough to accommodate all people of patriotic ideals.”
While accusing the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of foisting what he described as “a most disastrous government” on the people, Prince Secondus averred that “It is clear that as an alternative platform for national government, the APC is not ready and has failed woefully. We, therefore, cannot sit and watch our dear nation slide into destruction.
“We are all aware of the prevailing situation in our country today, a nation where human lives have been grossly devalued with daily reports of mindless bloodletting and yet there is supposed to be a responsible government whose primary duty it is to protect the lives and property of the citizens.”
Responding, the Chairman of the committee, who is also a former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Senator Liyel Imoke, assured to work assiduously in delivering on the mandate.
Other members of the committee include ex-governors, Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue).
Also in the Committee include a former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii; and former ministers, Kema Chikwe (Aviation) and Defence (Haliru Bello), amongst others.
