2019: PDP Waxing Stronger in Kaduna State as Stakeholders Endorse Makarfi for 2019 Presidential Race

2019: PDP Waxing Stronger in Kaduna State as Stakeholders Endorse Makarfi for 2019 Presidential Race

Zainab Tanimu –Kaduna, NIGERIA

The People Democratic Party, (PDP) Secretariat in Kawo, Kaduna on Friday was filled with enthusiasts of the party who anxiously had been waiting for the golden opportunity to decide who their presidential candidate for 2019 general election would be.

 As the political landscape continues to heat up with the 2019 general election getting closer, and the main opposition party and contenders strategizing and mending fences, the stakeholders of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna State Chapter informally endorsed former Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi for the presidential race.

Speakers after speakers had during the State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting all expressed optimism as they agreed that Makarfi was the right man ‘to be’

 The immediate past governor of Kaduna state, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, was the first to call for voice endorsement which was lauded by the teeming PDP members who  chanted the words,  ‘Nigeria sai Makarfi’ signifying their support and informally endorsing him as their 2019 presidential candidate.  

With this development, If Makarfi agrees to contest, it then means that he would have to face other top contenders, including former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who political observers say seems to be pulling more weight as days go by.

Other interested candidates are former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, incumbent Gombe Governor, Dankwambo, former Kano State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and  Umaru Saidu from Nasarawa State.

Whoever emerges victorious in their parties primaries would be the one to slug it out at the 2019 polls with the incumbent President,  Muhammadu Buhari if he declares his intention to contest for 2019 election. If not, the dial then falls on whoever emerges the winner in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.  

The former governor of Kaduna state Dr. Ramllan Yero while fielding questions from journalists had unfolded the reason behind the meeting which he said was to appreciate Senator Makarfi for his selfless service to the party as well as him using the foray to thank members for their unflinching support.

“ First and foremost, We thank God Almighty Allah for making our son, Dr. Ahmed, Muhammed Makarfi to finally succeed in re-uniting the PDP at the national level and also for conducting the convention successfully. It is also to thank him for what he has done for the party and what he has done for the state. And it is for him also to thank the entire members of the party especially here in Kaduna state for all the support they have given him as well as to call on all the members of the party to be united so that we can succeed in the 2019 general election. This in a nut-shell was what transpired.”

Responding on what he has to say about the present government, he has this to say.

 “Well, since l left the government, l had not spoken my mind on the government and what the government is doing. When the time comes for us to talk on what the government is doing, we would.  Don’t forget, you were the people that chose the government and we know where we stopped. We are aware of what is going on and we know when we are going to speak. On peoples inquisitiveness as to whether l am going to context in the fort-coming election or not, we are waiting for the voice of the people because It is what the people of Kaduna state want us to do, that we would do and not what we feel like doing.”

Bearing his mind was one of the party’s stalwart Alhaji Mustapha Aliyu Bamalli who decried what he described as the unfavorable policies of the ruling party. The masses he said are suffering and therefore there is the need to “change the change.”

 “People are tired of hunger, insecurity, economy hardship, name it. All their policies are not favorable. So we are hoping that come rain, come shine the Nigerian people would “change the change.”

As for his choice of presidential candidate for the 2019 general election, these are his words.

“Well, that is for Nigerian people to decide. We are optimistic. As you can see the crowd now even the security men are unable to control them. That speaks volume.

Another People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) chieftain in Kaduna state, Honourable Joseph Sarjuri, has described this present administration as a goner. PDP he said are better organized and that senator Makarfi is the right person for Nigeria.

“PDP is better organized than the ruling party. These are devilish administration. Nigerians cannot wait to get rid of All Progressives Congress (APC) regime at the general elections in 2019.

 “Makarfi just called to thank them for supporting them but the endorsements came pouring in and I think he can make a good candidate.

“When Makarfi contested the Kaduna State Governorship election in 1999, nobody thought he would win, but he did.

Speaking on Obasanjo’s letter, he said he aligns with the former President, saying that President Buhari has failed.

The Former Commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Jonathan Kish adding his voice said, “The party came to celebrate a distinguished Nigerian, a former Governor of Kaduna state and a former Chairman Caretaker Committee of the PDP.

“We came to celebrate the good job he did, how he was able to work with other patriotic Nigerians across the country to rebuild the PDP and get it back to the point where the PDP is a party to be reckoned with”.

In her own re-action, the Kaduna PDP Women Leader, Mrs. Comfort Amwe was full of optimism of their party sweeping the polls come 2019 general election saying, the APC has failed to deliver on their campaign promises.

“We are not entertaining any fears about winning the elections. They gave a lot of hopes but we have not seen anything on ground. They are rounding up their three years. They have failed.

 “Nigerians have realized that the PDP is better and would queue behind the party,” she said.

 She is of the view that there is no better time for Makarfi to win than now advising that President Muhammadu Buhari should resign and not think of contesting the 2019 presidential election to avoid his name being dragged to the mud.

The endorsement of former PDP Chairman, she sees as the right step in the right direction.

 Some political pundits are of the view that the recent open letter by former President Obasanjo seems to give the PDP a hope of a smooth 2019 but not without caution for it is not ‘huhuru’ yet as they put it because that same letter could be a source of strength for the APC to begin to put the right peg in the right hole and before you know it becomes a new song altogether.