BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for its elective convention slated for December 9 and 10, 2017, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has warned stalwarts of the major opposition party to shun impunity and imposition of candidates.
He therefore called on party faithful to reflect on key issues that caused PDP’s downfall in 2015 and avoid a recurrence.
Senator Mark said it is important that all efforts are geared towards uniting the former ruling party through a hitch-free convention in December.
A press statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, quoted the former Senate President as saying; “We must learn from the mistakes of the past and do the right thing at the convention.”
According to the Statement, Senator Mark, who spoke when Chief Raymond Dokpesi, one of the aspirants to PDP National Chairmanship position visited him in Abuja, said; “We must say no to impunity. We must reject imposition of candidates on the party. Elders of the party including myself must ensure justice, fairness and equity. The people must be allowed to decide.
“Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the PDP and we must not fail them. We need a leader of the PDP that is a bridge builder, assessable, possess the character and integrity to lead the party to victory in 2019”.
The Senator, who recalled his efforts at resolving the intractable conflict between the Senator Ali Modu Sherriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions, stated that; “for me, I will always stand for the truth because only the truth will guarantee our success in future polls”.
He lauded Chief Dokpesi’s contributions to the development of PDP and urged him not to relent in that direction no matter what happens at the December convention.
Similarly, the former Senate President urged aspirants for various positions to comply with rules of the game and accept the Convention’s outcome without bitterness or rancour, hoping that the process would be free, fair and credible.
Speaking earlier, Chief Dokpesi said his decision to gun for the PDP National chairmanship position is “because I am eminently qualified, competent and capable of leading the party to Eldorado”.
He pledged to sanitize the Party’s processes while ensuring justice, fairness and equity in the administration of the party if elected.
Senators Yisa Braimoh and Grace Bent, who were among those on Chief Dokpesi’s entourage, extolled his qualities as the man appropriate for the job at the moment.
