The Chairman National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying that the PDP would vibrantly play its role as an opposition.
Although he expressed his firm belief that “opposition is no madness”, he, however, noted that the PDP would give the ruling All Progressives Congress a run for its money and constantly keep the president on his toes.
He made this known during the committee’s visit to the President at Aso Rock, last Friday.
Makarfi also expressed gratitude to God for President Buhari’s recovery following an illness that kept him away from the country for over three months.
“It is on record Mr President that while you were away, being the major opposition party in the country did not stop us from praying for your quick recovery and return to Nigeria. This is because we honestly believe that the president of our country, whatever party flag he or she flies, is our president; and his or her health, is substantially linked with the nation’s health in so many ways.
“So, a prayer for your health Mr President, we believe is a prayer for the good health of our country. That was why at several fora, we did, and enjoined others, irrespective of party affiliation, to pray for your quick recovery. It is a thing of joy, that Allah has answered our prayers.
“In any case, this PDP firmly believes that opposition is no madness; it will, therefore, never wish ill of anybody, let alone the person saddled with the responsibility of leading our country. Mr President, you will agree with me that the PDP has more than a fair knowledge and experience of the weight of that responsibility.
“Mr President, having welcomed you back and prayed for you, let me seize this opportunity to assure you, and through you, the entire country, that the PDP, having assumed the leadership of the opposition in this country, is poised to play that role energetically, vibrantly, but very decently and with all sense of responsibility.
“This, we shall do by giving you a good run for your money and constantly keeping you on your toes as we all strive to make this country better,” Makarfi said.
Markafi also stressed that the PDP would cooperate with the government on any programme sincerely designed to take Nigeria to higher levels.
“We assure you of our cooperation as much as the opposition can possibly give to enable you give your best in the process of navigating the ship of our state into of a better tomorrow. We are glad to note that already, the legislators of our party are cooperating with those of the majority party in both arms of the National Assembly to ensure a smooth legislative sail for the system.
“We are also proud of the contributions of our governors to the deliberations and other activities of both the National Council of State and the National Economic Council,” Makarfi emphasised.
“Mr President, I want to reiterate our offer and assurances of PDP’s cooperation with the government on any programme sincerely designed to take Nigeria to higher levels. We identify with, and will continue to support the fight against terrorism as well as other crimes that have sneaked into our consciousness like kidnapping and banditry, as well as farmers/herdsmen clashes and other crimes camouflaged as such and all other anti-social vices that slow down our nation’s wheel of progress,” the PDP chairman said.