By JACOB KUBEKA, Abuja –
Former President of the Senate, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, declared at the weekend that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was on the path of rebuilding Nigeria with a view to restoring hope to the disillusioned citizens of the nation.
While lamenting that Nigeria had been pushed into a state of hopelessness by those he described as cabals and bad, nepotistic leaders, Ayu however said Nigerians should not lose hope as the PDP was capable of reuniting the country without recourse to military dictatorship.
Senator Ayu spoke in Abuja on Saturday when a delegation of professionals, the academia, friends and well-wishers, led by Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador Professor Iyirwuese Hagher, paid him a visit of solidarity and goodwill in his residence.
On Thursday, the former Senate President was chosen by PDP stakeholders from the North as their consensus candidate for the National Chairmanship of the party ahead of its national convention scheduled to holds in Abuja from October 30 – 31, 2021.
Ayu blamed bad leadership for the current economic, security and other challenges confronting Nigeria, including corruption and loss of value of the Naira, but noted that his emergence as a consensus candidate of the North had again demonstrated one thing: “that Nigerians are not as divided as it would seem.”
According to him, “Nobody would have expected that given what has been happening, the whole north would come together and choose me – a minority, a Christian and a Tiv man, knowing how I have consistently stood up to challenge what I felt was injustice unfairness.”
Ayu repeated what he had said in his acceptance speech on Thursday, that he PDP would be back to its winning ways, promising that after the October 31 Convention, “we will work tirelessly to rebuild the party to take over power to rebuild the country.”
He however stressed the need for all hands to be on deck as the PDP alone would be unable to bring about the desired change. “We must all come together – whether you are a creative writer, the media, youth and private sector person. The clergy should also pray for us. Both pastors and Imams should ask every congregation to pray for Nigeria.”
He also challenged the youth of Nigeria to stop sitting down and complaining instead of coming forward to take power.
“If prepared youths come forward, there is an opening for them. The PDP as a party was created for all ages and we in the party believe that the youths of Nigeria have the capacity. We have manpower in all sectors,” Ayu said.
He thanked Ambassador Hagher and his delegation for coming in a formal way to felicitate with him, assuring that the original PDP people who migrated to the All-Progressives Congress (APC), “virtually all of them will come back to the party.”
Earlier in his remarks, Ambassador Hagher (himself a Second Republic Senator and one-time Minister of Health and Mines & Power), explained that they were on the visit to rejoice with Dr. Ayu as he gained momentum to emerge as National Chairman of the PDP at the next convention of the party.
Hagher said, “Today is a moment of history. True and qualitative change is here at last. We are encouraged that the change we desire and need in our country will come through a genuine patriot, an uncompromising defender of the sanctity of democratic governance and selfless political leader, whose presence is unmistakable on the political firmament of our great country.
He told Ayu: “The progressive-minded people of Nigeria have seen in you the qualities of a great leader. You are always called upon at the nation’s trying moments and you have never disappointed.
“Many years ago, when you held the high office of President of the Senate, you were called upon to defend democracy. You stood firmly for the actualization on the June12, 1993 election won by Chief Mko Abiola. This was at expense of your personal comfort and risk to your political career. You paid the price in various ways. But you never gave up.
“Your imminent ascendency to the leadership of the PDP today is by no way your personal ambition. Nigeria is not only at a crisis point, the very existence of the country is being challenged by multiple crises, violent agitations for self-determination, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping etc.
“The government of the day has failed woefully to stem the tide and the people of Nigeria are anxiously looking to a new direction for rescue.
“We are pleased to note that at this point, the PDP has again found you worthy to lead the initiative to rescue Nigeria. Like in the past, we are very confident that you will discharge this assignment with distinction.
“As you assume the National Chairmanship of the PDP by the grace of God, we pledge our unalloyed support in ensuring you lead the PDP to victory in the 2023 general elections.”
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