Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose have declared  that the Peoples Democratic  Party (PDP) will in 2019 return to power at the federal level because the All Progressives Congress (APC) has unleashed untold hardship on Nigerians.
Addressing thousands of Rivers PDP supporters at the Port Harcourt International Airport, last Wednesday, after the Supreme Court judgment that validated the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, Wike said that the APC’s poor governance has led to mass insecurity across the country and the collapse of the standard of living.
He berated the Federal Government and APC for plotting to destroy the opposition, adding that without a viable opposition, there is no democracy.
He called on Nigerians to pray for the nation’s judiciary as it is facing its most perilous times as it is under threat and intimidation.
The governor said that Nigerians from all walks of life are celebrating the Supreme Court Judgment and thanking God that PDP is not dead.
He urged PDP supporters to stand firm and continue to work for the growth of the party.
“God has come out to rescue Rivers State and PDP. Nobody can intimidate us”, the governor said.
Also speaking, former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has described Sen. Ahmed Makarfi’s victory at the Supreme Court as a verdict that would bring PDP together.
Jonathan stated this on his tweeter handle in his reaction to the court judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.
Jonathan, who commended the Supreme Court judgment, said “I thank God for this day of justice and May God bless Nigeria.
“I believe in our jurists. We may have issues with some individuals but the Nigerian judiciary deserves respect and commendation.
“Today’s verdict is a judgment where there are no winners or losers. It is a verdict that will bring our party together.’’
He congratulated the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee, adding that “I strongly urge them not to see this as victory for a section of the party but as a moral victory for constitutionality over arbitrariness.
“Thus, they must take inspiration from Gen. Yakubu Gowon and declare a ‘no victor and no vanquished policy’.
“I hereby call on all those who left the party because of leadership issues to return to their natural home and build the PDP.’’
He added that the PDP was an inclusive vehicle, not an exclusive one, saying “we see Nigerians as human beings deserving of the rule of law, separation of powers and free market economy that provides level playing ground for all.
“The party that gave Nigeria the largest economy in Africa is a party with large heart enough to find a place for all Nigerians.”
Similarly, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, said the PDP will reclaim power from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government in 2019.
Fayose, who is the chairman of PDP Governors Forum, expressed optimism ahead of 2019 while reacting to the ruling of the Supreme Court which affirmed Ahmed Makarfi as the leader of the opposition party.
Speaking with newsmen through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and News Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said Makarfi’s victory shows that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
According to Olayinka, “the ruling of the Supreme Court shows that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
“You can see that the whole nation stood still waiting for this ruling. This is a welcome development for our democracy.
“This ruling is an indication that PDP will bounce back in 2019. The Buhari-led government should start packing their load, we will reclaim power in the next election.”
On if Fayose and other major stakeholders will allow the former chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff back into the party, Olayinka said, “Fayose is not in a position to make such a decision. The party will sit down and decide if Sheriff will be allowed into the party.
“At the party level, decisions are made after due consultation by relevant stakeholders.”
Giving further reasons why he was optimistic PDP will reclaim power in 2019, he said, “Nigerians are tired of this government. The very vibrant economy left for this government has been destroyed. Just few days ago, Etisalat announced they had left the country. It’s that bad and sad.”
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Makarfi, says his Caretaker Committee was open to reconciling with all aggrieved members of the party.
Addressing members and supporters of the party after the Supreme Court ruling which affirmed him as the leader of the PDP, Makarfi said reconciliation would strengthen the party for future.
The former Kaduna State governor described the apex court ruling as “no victor, no vanquished’’, adding that “we must be open to reconciliation, but there’s a caveat.”
He said, “reconciliation does not mean we take what belongs to people and give it to you. It must be based on equity, equality and values.
“With this caveat, we should be prepared and willing to reconcile with everybody.
“Anybody that can meet these criteria, we should be willing and open to reconciliation with such a person, no matter who they are.”
Makarfi called on the sacked chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff and his supporters to team up with him in moving the former ruling party forward.
He also appealed to party members not to discriminate among members who belonged to different factions before the court’s judgment.
He commended the judiciary for the fair judgment, saying PDP never lost faith in the judicial system.
Makarfi also disclosed that the National Caretaker Committee, in the next few days, would begin consultations with a view to come up with a programme of meetings with expanded PDP caucus.
“These meetings will include Expanded Caucus, Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee so that we can take far-reaching decisions on how to take the party forward,” Makarfi added.