PDP leaders enlist Obasanjo for 2027 comeback
PDP leaders enlist Obasanjo for 2027 comeback
Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo as part of moves to reposition the party for a possible return to power in the 2027 general elections.
The factional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, SAN, led other members of his executive to the penthouse residence of the former president at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The closed-door meeting with Obasanjo lasted for 40 minutes.
In the entourage of the new PDP leadership were the Board of Trustees Chairman and former Senate President, Sen Adolphus Wabara; the National Secretary and former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja; two former governors of Niger and Plateau states, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu and Sen Jonah Jang; the party’s governorship candidate for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, and Dr Wole Oluyede, among others.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH after the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ini Ememobong, said Obasanjo urged the leaders to maintain strict discipline within the party to safeguard its future.
He noted that the former president emphasised the importance of discipline as the foundation of effective party administration.
“It was a consultative meeting where we looked at the state of the nation, the state of democracy and the state of affairs. We had very fruitful discussions, and he tasked us to carry on and soldier on, but we should keep discipline as the core of our party administration.
“He practically and particularly said that we can’t allow indiscipline; that indiscipline destroys everything,” Ememobong said.
He explained that the party leadership assured the ex-president that it would take his counsel seriously, strengthen internal discipline and ensure that all members adhered to the rules and values of the PDP to safeguard the party’s unity and credibility.
“As you can see, the party is already on the path of discipline. If people act in ways that do not conform with discipline, we draw their attention to it because indiscipline is a destroyer,” Ememobong said.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, Turaki said they visited Obasanjo to get his support and guidance ahead of what he described as “the gargantuan task” of dislodging the All Progressives Congress in 2027.
Turaki described the former president as a highly experienced elder statesman whose legacy of building strong institutions helped to strengthen democratic growth in the country.
The former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs under former President Goodluck Jonathan said having just been given the opportunity to serve, the new leadership of the opposition party thought it wise to visit Obasanjo to draw from his wealth of wisdom and seek his blessings and support for the success of the new administration.
Turaki said although the task of sending the APC government packing in 2027 due to incompetence and maladministration might not be a tea party, the frank discussions the opposition leaders had with Obasanjo inspired them that the task ahead was not impossible.
