By Lucky Isibor
A former Governor of Kaduna state, Senator and National Caretaker Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and presently a front line presidential aspirant, Senator Ahmed Makarfi Monday, met with the leadership of the Edo State chapter of the PDP in continuation of his nationwide consultation to discuss his ambition to succeed Buhari.
While addressing PDP leaders, Makarfi said he was home in Edo and poured encomium on Chief Tony Anenih, a former BOT Chairman of the party for his fatherly role and support just as he described the ruling APC as a concoction.
“I could not have excelled as caretaker chairman without the support of all party members, so for that reason I do not believe that for the role I played then I should be the sole candidate of the party for the Presidency”.
He urged the leadership of the party to ensure a level playing ground is provided for all aspirants and narrated how Kaduna state has been in turmoil over Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s insensitivity.
However, Senator Markafi said while he was in office as Governor of Kaduna there was relative peace among all the ethnic groups in the state under his reign and hopes to replicate this for the entire country: Makarfi said under him 80% of Kaduna state was already electrified.
Makarfi said, he is going round the country by road to see the nation’s problems first hand rather than fly. He said when he becomes President he will maintain a policy of full disclosure of all incomes and expenditure by the Federal government. Shockingly, he said he was offered a Senatorial position by APC in Kaduna but he rejected it because of the overall interest of the party (PDP).
The former caretaker Chairman of the PDP said, “APC is a concoction”, that is not good for any ailment.
He reiterated that Credibility and Goodwill remains his assets and appealed to the party to do the needful by exploiting these assets.
According to the presidential hopeful, his program will include, restructuring Nigeria, stating that he chaired the former President Obasanjo’s committee that produced terms of reference for the National conference under that administration.
Continuing, Makarfi said he will also address the issue of insecurity across Nigeria. “Security is not a political issue – Boko haram, herdsmen/communities, criminalities are becoming worrisome, “I will ensure security equipment are provided to various security agencies with achievable targets”, he said.
“The issue of power generation and distribution, removing leakages in power distribution, Localization of power generation, giving extra to national grid and halt politicizing the fight against corruption will constitute the mainstay of my 4- point program”, Markafi declared.
Responding, Edo State PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih said, “We want to make a passionate appeal to all aspirants coming to Edo to speak to issues and not seek to run each other down”
“From what I am reading in the media PDP has so many brilliant and articulate presidential aspirants to give Nigeria and chase President Buhari back to Daura”, he added.
You will recall that Senator Makarfi was the immediate past national caretaker chairman of the party before the Convention that produced Prince Uche Secondus. He had a long leadership tussle with one time factional Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff before the Supreme court finally ended the battle, affirming Sen. Makarfi’s NWC as the rightful Chairman to pilot the affairs of the PDP.
