A former Senate President and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that no political party can win an election at the centre, without first winning in the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria, .
This came as Saraki and his team visited another former Senate President, and an erstwhile Minister of Industry, Senator David Mark, and Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, as part of the engagement of the founding members of the party, and how to move the party forward.
Saraki on his verified Twitter handle wrote: “As we continue our engagements with influential Leaders in our party, this afternoon, the #PDPReconciliation & Strategy Committee is meeting with the former Senate President, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, at his home in Abuja.”
When the team left Ayu’s place, it headed straight to David Mark’s residence, also for the same reasons and engagements, details of which have been kept away from the public, allegedly for strategic reasons.
In another tweet, Saraki stated: “As we continue to engage with Leaders across our great party, earlier today, the #PDPReconciliation and Strategy Committee met with key Stakeholders from Niger State. At the meeting, we discussed solutions to the issues that have fostered disunity in the party at the State level.”
Saraki, while speaking with some PDP members, said that the North Central zone of the country, holds the key to winning any central election in the country.
He noted: “The facts are there for anyone to check. You cannot win any central election in Nigeria, without winning the elections in the North Central geopolitical zone.
“Also, you cannot win the North Central zone elections, without winning the election in Niger State.”
He further explained that, that was the reason his Committee commenced its engagements and reconciliations with Niger State.
He continued: “I stand for truth and justice. Those who think that we cannot reconcile, should go out and see those who we have reconciled in real terms.”
Late on Saturday, Saraki also met with a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, after which he tweeted: “As part of our ongoing efforts to reconcile the Leaders and members of our great, last week, I had a meeting with the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose.
“As a follow-up to that engagement and consultation, this evening, I just wrapped up an extensive, but fruitful meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
“As we continue to listen to, and learn about the concerns of Stakeholders of our party, it is great to observe their willingness to work towards forging a stronger and more united Peoples Democratic Party.”
He, therefore, called for real term reconciliation based on justice, as this is the only way the PDP could speak with one voice, and fight for the return of the party to Leadership at the centre.
More news later…