
ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. In order to regain the confidence of the people, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, apologised to Nigerians for failing to meet their expectations during its 16 years in power.
The party has kick-started series of initiatives to bring it back to reckoning after losing power to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election. Towards this end, it is organising a national conference in Abuja on Thursday which would involve its founding fathers to analyse its mistakes and plan the way forward.
Chairman of the National Conference Committee of the party, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, gave the apology on behalf of the party during a press conference in Abuja. He said:
“Now, you ask us what are we apologising for. You must have seen Ekweremadu’s report and that report was very explicit.
“The report acknowledged the fact that the party made a lot of strides during the last 16 years and also there was no internal democracy, there was impunity within the party and there was no level playing ground for members of the party, zoning principles of the party were abandoned and a gamut of all other issues, which will come out during the conference.
“For all these and the people who have been offended, for people whose toes were stepped upon, we tendered our unreserved apology.
“One major problem the party had was the decision of former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 election when he should have served out late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure and additional one term to enable power to return to the north. He said the conference would critically review the issues fundamental to the promotion and sustenance of good governance and democratic ideals in Nigeria.
“Make no mistake, the PDP is aware that there were errors made along the way. “We admit that at certain times in our past, mistakes have been made, we did not meet the expectations of Nigerians. But the past is exactly what it is.
“While we should not forget the past and its errors, We must look forward and begin to show true leadership within and outside our party.
“A leader is not just the one sitting on top of the pyramid looking down at his followers, barking instructions to them, a leader is the one that sees as essential the grooming of those at the lower levels of the pyramid with the intention of having an effective succession implementation scheme in place.
Dokpesi stressed that the PDP was intent on giving the youth a chance in the running of the affairs of the party.
Among those present at the meeting were Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, former governors Babangida Aliyu, Achike Udenwa, Ikedi Ohakim and Ahmed Makarfi; NWC members including former Senate President, Ken Nnamani and former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu. Among the former ministers in attendance were Onyebuchi Chukwu, Bala Mohammed, Olajumoke Akinjide and Nenadi Usman.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)