Former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs under Goodluck Jonathan Administration, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, have on Wednesday picked the presidential nomination forms of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
They expressed the hope that the PDP will defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the 2019 presidential elections.
Speaking with pressmen after picking the form, Alhaji Bafarawa like Turaki ruled out the prospects of stepping down for one of the 12 PDP aspirants in the race as consensus candidate. Both Bafarawa and Turaki however said any of the aspirants could willingly withdraw from the race.
Attahiru Bafarawa, who came to pick his nomination papers in person, said he was encouraged by the number of aspirants in the race, stressing that it was an indication of acceptability of the PDP among Nigerians.
“That is why people are aspiring, more are interested in joining the party unlike other parties where they run a one-man show. So, it’s very encouraging to all of us who are aspiring for this seat.
“We are brothers, we are family. Our ambition is to get rid of APC. Therefore forget about the number of aspirants of the PDP. At the end of the day, we are all democrats, we must accept (the outcome of the primary, win or lose.
“Therefore, anybody who wins, I believe collectively we are going to work together and see that we save this country from this mess”, Bafarawa said.
Speaking also, Turaki, whose nomination documents were picked on his behalf by the Director of Media of his campaign organisation, Mr. Sola Atere, said, “If we say that we are going for consensus, what are we going to do with it? We agree we are all brothers. We see it as a game. Therefore, if anybody is interested in withdrawing from the race, it’s a welcome idea.
“But talking of consensus, you are going to fall like the All Progressives Congress (APC) where we are going to have a one-man show. We don’t want to go for one-man show. We want to practise democracy so that people will choose their own better candidate.
“For example, if APC is playing democracy, they will allow at least three to four aspirants to aspire for the position. But because the party is a limited liability company, while PDP is a public limited company, it is welcome by everybody”.
