The People`s Democratic Party, PDP on Wednesday handed the party`s Certificate of Return to its flag bearer for the 2023 presidential election, the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
In his acceptance speech, the former Vice President was excellent and impressive. It was short, yet near comprehensive. He used the medium to appeal to the soul of the party and its entire membership to gear up for the daunting task ahead of him and the party.
It was a rallying call for all hands to be on deck as the party goes into the bigger battle with the ruling party – the All Progressive Party, APC for the country`s seat of power – the Aso Rock.
What was very remarkable in the acceptance speech is that the Waziri of Adamawa, who will be a 4 time contestant for the country`s most exalted political throne, described himself as PDP`s “best foot forward”.
This is certainly a claim that many in the party will be ready to argue till the end of time, that is – Is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the best that the People`s Democratic could have offered Nigerians?
This is especially considering the likelihood of far brighter and more promising candidates likely to emerge from other political parties.
For instance, on Monday, the Labour Party elected Mr. Peter Obi to fly it`s flag in the same election after leaving the same PDP, where he stood no chance of emerging successful.
He left the PDP not because of any credibility question but due to controversies, unequal playground and “dollarization of the process”.
National purse indicates that Mr. Obi would have been PDP`s “best foot forward”, and his candidature would have been impossible to defeat by any other party, not even the ruling APC with its incumbency advantage.
Going down memory lane, the former Vice President said that when he “came in April and informed the National Working Committee of my intention to offer myself for consideration as the Presidential flag-bearer of our great party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, in the forthcoming Presidential Election, I was well received. The NWC assured me that it would be fair and provide every aspirant a level playing field.
“I was also assured that once a candidate emerged from our primary election you would all support that candidate and work very hard to ensure our victory in the Presidential election and of course the governorship and legislative elections across the country.
“I am honoured and quite humbled to receive this Certificate of Return, having emerged as our party’s Presidential Candidate in our just concluded Special Convention. This victory is a victory for all of us, for our party and for the vast majority of Nigerians suffering under the misrule of the APC. It was a collective effort, and I am very grateful for everybody’s contributions.
He went further to thank various personalities and officers of the party, saying:
“Let me first thank the Organizing Committee for the Convention under the leadership of the rock-solid Senator David Mark, for putting together a rancor-free and successful Convention.
“I want to specially thank the National Working Committee of our Party, led by the National Chairman, the unflappable Senator Iyorchia Ayu, for the excellent way that it has steered the affairs of this party, including overseeing the successful Convention.
“I am particularly grateful that you kept your word and gave us contestants fair treatment despite your likely varying sympathies and what must have been a pressure-laden and difficult situation.
“Your integrity and even-handedness must be commended. I commend our party’s National Executive Committee for putting our party and our country first in its deliberations and decision-making.
“I thank all those who assisted my campaign in a variety of ways to enable me to crisscross this vast country and make my case to our delegates and other party elders and members.
“To all those who volunteered their time to help with organizing the Convention, as well as all the security personnel and agencies who ensured an orderly event and the safety of the attendees, I say thank you very much.
“I also thank my family for putting up with my demands and the disruptions this quest to serve obviously bring about.
Reorganizing the need for party unity going forward, and also the need to garner as much support as possible from his fellow party members, he said:
“My chairman, my dear friends, while I am excited and happy for this opportunity to bear our party’s flag, let us all remember that what just happened is a contest within a family to decide how to put our best foot forward. The main contest is the one to win the Presidency of our country for our Party.
“And it requires the entire PDP family and other supporters and sympathizers. We must pull everyone together. Nobody should be excluded. I have already visited some of those who contested against me as a way to lead in that effort to unify the party so that we can face our real opponents, defeat them in the elections and begin the process of rescuing and rebuilding this country.
“The callous and dangerous APC misrule over the past seven years is there for everyone to see. However, we should not take their defeat for granted. We must unite and work extremely hard for every single vote in this country. There is so much to do and there is little time to waste. So, let’s get to work.”
The former Vice President on Saturday night at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja defeated Governor Wike and other contestants to emerge the People`s Democratic Party candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
