BY BENEDICT NWACHUKWU, ABUJA
Former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, has warned the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, to avoid a repeat of the mistakes that led to its defeat at the 2015 elections which handed power over to the All Progressives Congress.
The ex-governor, popularly known in his days in office as Servant Leader, gave the warning on Saturday in Abuja while addressing the National PDP Professionals and Business Group during their 4th National Convention/Election.
He said the happenings in the party at present was worrisome and noted that the party’s national convention was earlier scheduled for December but due to some crises, the convention was brought forward to October.
He called on the professionals and business group to join forces in making the PDP regain its past glory noting that the body should be a force to reckon with as the party prepares to take power back from the ruling party.
“You must be ready to play a major role that will lead to the recovery of our mandate from the government in power come 2023. Our convention was supposed to be held in December but now because of the crises was brought forward to October,” he said.
The former governor also said that the zoning system has thrown up a lot of issues.
“And now, because of the zoning system, a lot of things are cropping up. The zoning is supposed to be for two things but now you can see what is happening. After one thing another will follow. Till tomorrow we have not been able to zone where the chairmanship should go to in the north even though it has been zoned to the north. So this is where you come as those who are actively participating in the process,” Aliyu added.
He charged the group to make sure they are fully involved in politics at all levels from the Ward, local government, state and national by registering in their various wards as not only card carrying members of the party but also eligible voters.
The former governor argued that it will take commitment to truly contribute to the quest for returning the party to its winning ways at all levels saying, “If I ask now, how many of you have registered properly in your wards, you are not just floating in the air, not just Abuja PDP, in your own wards, then you see what I am talking about. I’m not saying it is wrong to belong to politics in Abuja but you must go to your own wards, identify with the people, so that you can help the centre, that is the way to win elections.”
The Talban Minna disclosed that the PDP has major points to talk to the people about as 2023 inches closer.
He said the party will arm itself with four major areas the ruling APC has failed woefully.
“We will talk about poverty, security, restructuring and education. I hope you people know that education is very important but this government has completely relegated it to the background and no nation can develop under such condition, so PDP will make education a priority,” he said.
He condemned the neglect of women and youth in the APC-led federal government saying that women are catalyst for development.
“Like they said, when you educate a woman, you educate a nation but when you educate a man, you educate an individual,” Aliyu stressed.
Speaking further on the neglect of women in politics and governance, the servant governor commended governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom for not only the infrastructural development of the state but also for giving women a place in his administration.
The former governor disclosed that if PDP fails to win in 2023 many of the members will retire from active politics while many will leave the party.
“As professionals and business people, you must help our party to win the forthcoming election. I have said if we do not win 2023 many of us will say bye bye to politics, many will say bye bye to PDP and indeed many people will find their ways out of PDP. So we need to do what it takes to win the election in 2023,” he said.
