Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has admonished the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to bring his wealth of experience to rescue Nigeria from the shackle of All Progressives Congress (APC) bad governance.
He also urged him to ensure that he reconciles aggrieved members who had left the PDP, with a view to bringing them back to the party as they have no opportunity in the APC.
This is as the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu has assured that the party under his leadership will not give room for imposition of candidates.
Wike gave the advice at the Interdenominational Thanksgiving Church Service and reception organised by the Benue State Government in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State Chapter for the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, yesterday.
The governor noted that Ayu has vast experiences of the country having occupied various political positions.
He, however, reminded him of the enormous task ahead to rescue Nigeria from the evil hand of the ruling APC-led Federal Government in 2023.
“Today is not a day to talk about APC. Today is the day to join the people of Benue State in thanking God for his mercies. Today is a day we shall be able to tell our national chairman plainly what the People Democratic Party (PDP) expect from him and how we’re going to stand by him to make sure this party is rebuilt, in order to put themselves together and to take over power in 2023.
“History is beckoning on you. Yes, they have said you are former Minister of Industry, you are former Minister of Interior, you are former Minister of Education, even Environment. And former Senate President, but you have never been saddled with the responsibility to rescue Nigeria. As a former minister, you were not given the opportunity to rescue Nigeria. Nigeria was not what it is now. Therefore, the battle to rescue Nigeria, the battle to change leadership in 2023 is on you.
“It is not going to be easy for you. The time for work has come, and that is when we will know the experiences you have gathered, how you want to put them to use and rebuild the People’s Democratic Party. It is very important.
“We want you to use your experiences as people have said to make sure even those who have left the party, should be brought back to the party.”
The governor enjoined the national chairman not to be distracted on the political ambition of party members, but rather focus on rebuilding PDP into a formidable party.
“Let me also tell you Mr. Chairman, do not be distracted about who will be presidential aspirant, let them not disturb you. Go, focus and rebuild the party. When once the party is rebuilt, I can assure you, you have somebody that will stand in this party, and Nigerians will vote for that person. What is important for you now is to see what you can do. Be focused, let nobody distract you.”
Wike urged the chairman not listen to those who will come and tell him that governors want to hijack the party.
According to him, those who adopted the tactics in the past did so to divide and rule the party.
“I want to plead with you, let people not tell you to begin to go to one governor’s place or the other, in order for the Governors’ Forum to be divided. At the end of the day, the party will suffer. Your business is, if the governors are not united; unite the governors, so that they can work for interest of the party. It is very key.”
He observed the loss of confidence by Nigerians on members of the National Assembly, and urged Ayu to ensure that PDP members, henceforth, form a formidable team, speak with one voice as they were in time past.
“Today, we have lost focus in the National Assembly, and so you have to put our party together to make sure our members of National Assembly speak with one voice and be opposition party they’re supposed to be.”
Speaking further, Wike stated categorically that despite the fact that he supported and voted the national chairman, he will not hesitate to speak out when he is deviating from doing that which the party expect him to do.
“Yes, I supported you, I voted for you because I have the belief you can turn PDP to success in 2023. But if you’re not doing well, Mr. Chairman, I will shout, I will say Mr. Chairman this is not what we expected from you.”
Wike expressed happiness over the successful election that ushered in a new leadership of the party, and assured the national chairman of his commitment, with other governors of the party to ensure that he succeed in his bid to rescue Nigeria.
“I’m one of the happiest persons today that a new leadership has emerged. I am very, very happy, because I know that if we did not do this, this party would have collapsed. I’m very, very happy. And so most of you who refuse to listen that time, you have now realised that yes, changing leadership is the key for this party to win in 2023.”
In his homily titled, “Leadership Predicated on God for Service and Accountability to the People”, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Reverend Wilfred Anagbe, stressed the importance of thanksgiving to God in all circumstances.
He urged Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to always remain humble and magnanimous in victory as exemplified in his character as an academic.
Anagbe noted that the victory of Ayu is for the PDP and an invitation to serve Nigerians again.
He urged him not to be a dictator, but work collectively with members of the party to achieve set goals.
Highpoint of the programme was the presentation of a Holy Bible to Wike by Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Benue State, Rev. Akpen Leva.
Other governors that attended the programme include Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and the host Governor, Samuel Ortom.
However, the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyorchia Ayu says the party under his leadership will not give room for imposition of candidates.
Ayu spoke just as the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom aligned with the national chairman, insisting that imposition of candidates is undemocratic and will not augur well for the party in 2023.
Ayu spoke last Saturday, at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi, while addressing stakeholders of the PDP during his first visit to the state as national chairman of the PDP.
He stated that under his tenure, whoever emerges as candidate for any elective position will be protected, pointing out that he has a competent team that has been carefully elected for the enormous task ahead.
The former Senate president charged party faithful to go back to their wards and work hard to ensure victory for the PDP in all elections in 2023, stressing that the party must rescue Nigeria from APC’s misrule.
The national chairman acknowledged the support shown him before and after his emergence by Ortom, Senator David Mark and other critical stakeholders, saying it’s an indication of a united Benue.
He said with the commitment shown by leaders who stood behind him for his election, it is a clear indication that Benue can win anytime but “when we fight against each other, victory will elude us.”
Ayu pledged the commitment of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP towards rescuing and rebuilding Nigeria, stressing that the party is poised to reclaim power at the centre in 2023.
In a remark, Governor Samuel Ortom, corroborated Ayu’s position against imposition of candidates, saying, transparency, justice and equity should be allowed to play out, even as he encouraged consensus arrangement.
The governor advised the NWC of the PDP to work as a team in order to ensure victory for the party at all levels in 2023, saying the APC’s failure is an opportunity for the PDP to reclaim their position and rebuild Nigeria.
While thanking Senator David Mark and other Northern leaders for standing firm to ensure the emergence of Ayu, Ortom announced that the PDP in Benue will be receiving other ranking politicians into its fold in the days ahead.
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, acknowledged the degree of responsibility the nation has placed on the PDP, saying the party has no excuse but to succeed.
He prayed God to grant Ayu the wisdom and courage to lead the party in the right direction, saying Benue people will reciprocate the gesture by standing firmly behind him.
Ayu and other members of the NWC of the PDP were later decorated in the Benue unity attires by Governor Samuel Ortom and other top government officials.
Earlier on Friday, Ayu had vowed that the National Working Committee under his leadership will return the party to the people.
Delivering his inaugural speech titled “Let Us Rescue And Rebuild Nigeria” at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Ayu said “today marks a new journey and a new direction for the PDP. As one who was part of those that founded the Party in 1998, I am well aware of its core values and vision which are centred around the people and their well-being.
“Our task at this auspicious moment is to return the Party to the people. But to do that, the Party needs to be reinvigorated, reinvented, and repositioned. We are not unmindful of our missed steps and actions in the past, but we have learned our lessons, both in government and in opposition. Today, we stand tall, and with a firm resolve to rebuild our great party and rescue our nation”.
He said the PDP is back to rescue and rebuild Nigeria.
“Under the new NWC, PDP will strengthen its internal democratic processes. We shall endeavour to reach out to all party members, young and old, male and female.
“This National Working Committee will create alternate platforms within the Party to actively engage the young people and our women, not only for mobilizing and winning elections but for advocacy, policy formulation, and the design of a new development agenda for the Party.
“We shall return the party to vigorous discussions; pay serious attention to new thinking and the implementation of policies and programs that will secure and improve the quality of life of all Nigerians.”
He said the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) will be revived and strengthened to drive this process.
“Before the next election cycle, we shall present a PDP manifesto that will bring back hope to our people. We will unite the people. We will deepen the content of our democracy. We will rebuild our collapsed economy. We will make Nigerians the focus of development. We will expand our international vision beyond the Niger Republic. We will check the rampaging insecurity. We will restore Nigeria’s lost glory. And we will reclaim our dignity, destiny, and pride as the Giant of Africa”.
According to him, the PDP is the only organic political party. It has remained a credible, tested, tasted, and trusted mass movement since the return of democracy in 1999 where other parties have either fizzled away or merged with others.
“Some have mutated into a contraption like the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), without any clear ideology or a coherent program of action. This contraption seduced Nigerians with propaganda in 2015. Today, Nigerians have seen the limit of propaganda and demagoguery. The only thing the APC is doing successfully is irresponsible borrowing.
“The PDP, on the other hand, has a history of performance and legacy achievements. In our 16 years in power, we not only gave Nigerians good governance, but we also strengthened democratic institutions so as to add value to the people. In an unprecedented move, we stabilized our democracy by sanitizing the armed forces of politically exposed officers.
“We gave Nigeria her first-ever successful transition from one civilian administration to another in 2007. To the disbelief of all watchers of African politics, we willingly conceded defeat in 2015 and handed over power to an opposition party in 2015.
“It was the PDP-Federal Government that created value-adding public institutions like the EFCC, ICPC, NAFDAC, the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) among many others.
“The PDP administration also strengthened the governance process by enacting laws to effectively drive public administration in Nigeria, namely: the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Mid-Term Expenditure Fame-Work, the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Personal and Payroll Information Systems (IPPIS) just to mention a few.
“We negotiated and obtained forgiveness of over $30billion of debt, making Nigeria almost a debt-free country. Foreign direct investments flowed in. Cumulatively, the foregoing made Nigeria, not only the fastest growing economy in Africa but also the biggest economy on the continent,” he said.
Ayu said the APC has given the country two recessions and turned Nigeria into the poverty of the apital of the world. Today, close to 40million Nigerians have no jobs.
He said “In the last six years, the APC-led government has mismanaged our diversity; divided the country along regional and religious lines. It has exacerbated religious tensions in the country.
“And through its marriage to nepotism, the incompetent APC- Federal Government is fuelling secessionist agitations in the East and West of Nigeria”.
He said Nigeria is drifting dangerously towards a failed state. “Terrorists are now sharing sovereignty with Nigeria. Nigeria is simply ungoverned. Nigeria is collapsing under the leadership of a retired general!
“The APC used both the mainstream media and the social media to access power. Today, it coordinates a systematic assault on the media, civic freedoms, and freedom of speech.
“Let me give you the grim legacy of the APC: Two economic recessions in six years. A sluggish GDP growth rate of below 2percent. About 40million Nigerians have been pushed into extreme poverty in six years. Inflation is at an all-time high at 18%.
“A weak and devalued Naira, devalued by over 300% since 2015, has made our currency the worst in Africa. Unemployment now stands at 33%. Meaning: Close to 40million Nigerians, willing and able to work, can’t find jobs.
“A total debt stock of over $90billion now hangs over Nigeria. An erratic exchange rate regime has depleted N324 against the US Dollar in the last six years.
“Kidnapping for ransom is now big business. We share sovereignty with terrorists who kidnap and rape our women, including our mothers and under-aged children.
The terrorists even kill them when ransom is delayed. These are not political alarms, but statements of facts.