Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman has urged members of the party to work collectively to find solution to the country’s challenges instead of lamenting on issues.

Tukur spoke last Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of a 50-member advisory committee of the party.

“At a time like this when the country is facing a number of challenges, particularly the security situation in the country, all hands are required to be on deck,’’ he said.

According to him, the essence of constituting the committee which is made up of the founding fathers of the party is to avail Nigerians the opportunity to tap from their wealth of knowledge.

The chairman said that the committee would also assist him to rebuild the party, which was faced with some internal problems.

Tukur expressed optimism that the committee, headed by formal Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, would assist governments at various levels in finding lasting solutions to national problems and reposition the party.

“This is why I decided to ask all of you to assist me in not only repositioning our party but also proffering solutions to the enormous challenges facing our nation,’’ he said.

The chairman said although the party had grown tremendously in the last 13 years, it was still faced with some challenges that should be tackled.

He said some of the challenges were problems of coordination and cooperation among party members, respect for party constitution, problems of openness, inclusiveness, fairness, fair-play and internal democracy, among others..

He described most of the problems in the country as tough and had been made more difficult by the mindset of the people.

“We cannot reposition our party or be a leading force in deepening democratic culture in Nigeria unless we effectively address these problems and challenges,’’ the chairman said.

He said that the military culture of doing things had dominated the country’s political culture and stressed that a reversal of the situation was essential to enthrone true democratic culture.

He said “reducing corruption to a tolerable level and judicious application of the common wealth will be necessary if poverty reduction is to be effectively addressed and living conditions of the citizens bettered’’.

Tukur said that politicians of “deeds and not of words’’ who adhere to the rule of law were needed to achieve set goals.

He said that the protection of citizen rights, adequate protection of lives and property and modernisation of agriculture were needed to guarantee the country’s drive to nation-building.

Tukur urged politicians to rebuild the nation on the basis of shared responsibilities for all, irrespective of tribe and religion.

He expressed optimism that with the calibre of members of the newly inaugurated committee, things would begin to change for the better.

The party chairman urged the committee to be selfless in the discharge of its duty by giving useful advice that would enhance the growth and development of the country and the entire citizenry.

Responding, Ekwueme pledged that the committee would work with the party by giving meaningful advice that would move the nation forward.

He commended the chairman for appreciating that no one had monopoly of wisdom and for engaging the team to advise him.

Ekwueme assured the chairman that the committee would assist the party’s leadership to realise the ideas of its founding fathers which was to have an encompassing political party committed to serve the interest of the nation and its citizens.

Dr. Mohammed Shata would serve as secretary of the committee, which has Dr. Joseph Wayas, Chief Tony Anenih, Mr Richard Akinjide, Mr Solomon Lar , Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, Sen. Ike Nwachukwu, Sen. Barnabas Gemade and Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo as members.

Other members are Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Sen. Bello Maitama, Dr Sam Jaja, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, PDP National Secretary, Chief Bode George and Chief Don Etiebet, among others.