The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as well as Atiku Abubakar and Tanimu Turaki, has described Wednesday defection from All Progressives Congress (APC) to its fold by Governor of Sokoto State Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as a welcome development.
The party both at South West and national levels and other stalwarts also welcomed other defectors with a particular dinner held in their honour in Abuja.
Reacting to the wave of defections Wednesday, the PDP welcomed Governor Tambuwal, and Kano State deputy governor, Professor Hafizu Abubakar, following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP in a statement issued by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Governor Tambuwal’s decision to quit the governing party as courageous and patriotic, adding that his choice of PDP portrayed him as a statesman who puts the interest of the nation above all.
“In welcoming Governor Tambuwal, the PDP notes that he had continued to conduct his activities in strict adherence to democratic principles, both as former speaker of the House of Representatives and executive governor of Sokoto State.
“The party has no doubt that Tambuwal will, indeed, contribute immensely towards the rebuilding of our dear nation on the platform of the PDP,” the statement read.
While lauding Tambuwal’s return to the PDP, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, described the party as the genuine home of democracy in Nigeria.
He congratulated Governors Tambuwal and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, Abubakar and Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, for teaming up with like minds on “the mission to rescue Nigeria.”
A statement from his media office noted that when in December 2017, Atiku urged the APC to embrace the true tenets of democracy or lose its soul, he was greeted with hostility and his warnings were scorned.
“At that time, Atiku had warned that without justice, there could be no unity and without internal democracy there could be no internal cohesion,” the statement read.
Similarly, PDP presidential aspirant, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, called on the party to provide all defectors with a level playing ground to pursue their aspirations.
Turaki described the PDP as the biblical Noah’s Ark in which you either get on board or get drowned, he was quoted as saying in a press statement issued by the director of media of his campaign organisation.
He assured those defecting that the National Executive Committee of the party, led by the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus had enthroned equity and justice which have made members to be proud of the party.
He said: “The party needs a candidate with integrity, credibility, education, knowledge and capacity to lead, in addition to being a bridge builder who will bring hope and strengthen the unity of the country besides enjoying the trust and confidence of the people.
Meanwhile, the South-West leadership of the PDP has formally welcomed the defectors to the party saying that Nigeria has been wobbling and dangerously perching on a precipice, thereby necessitating the need for patriots to depart from the APC to join their compatriots in PDP to salvage the nation from the vicious grip of those it termed as mediocre currently oppressing the nation.
The statement was signed by Mr. Ayo Fadaka, zonal spokesman of the PDP.
The PDP last night, hosted the defectors to a dinner at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Welcome to the People’s party Governor Animu Tambuwal.
Apc and Buhari’s ranks shrinking.
#Atiku2019 the way for Nigeria and Nigerians.