ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asserted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must put its best candidate forward in order to wrest power back from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former vice president called on the party to brace for unity for the sake of Nigeria, emphasising that the PDP could not afford to be in opposition again from 2023.
He spoke on Friday when he paid a visit to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri at Government House, Yenagoa.
Atiku described himself as one of the proponents of restructuring, a struggle he said he stood for while in office, noting that devolution of more powers and resources must go to the states for economic survival.
The presidential hopeful asserted that the country needed leadership that could confront the challenges bedevilling the nation’s battered image head-on.
He emphasised that his government would replicate the same by addressing the division brought upon the country by the APC-led federal government, adding that Nigeria must be at peace before governance could take shape.
Atiku said: “We must put our best forward. Meaning who we believe can bring us back to power. It is very important.
“We must brace up as a political party. We must unite to return our political party back to power. We cannot afford to be in opposition again.
“There must be peace and unity before this country can be governed. That is why I emphasise unity and the need to unify the country. What I mean is that I am going to give every part, every section, religion and faith a sense of belonging in this country.”
On his part, Governor Douye Diri said the decision of the PDP to throw open the contest for its presidential ticket is sacrosanct as it was done in the overriding interest of the party.
