FALLOUT OF PDP GUBER PRIMARY!
‘PDP is One Big Family in Sokoto State’-Nigeria’s Vice President, Sambo
*Says ‘No Winner, No Vanquished’
*His Words: “We thank God, we came to meet and congratulate our people on how the PDP is one in Sokoto state. All the aspirants will go and inform their supporters that PDP is one”
* “Y. Suleiman, a Unifier is the only choice we are awaiting PDP caucus to announce as Sokoto Flag-bearer in 2015 Election’-Hon. Lukman Mohammed, Chairman, Sokoto State Citizens Abroad (North America)
* “I am expressing optimism that the successes achieved at similar reconciliatory meetings in Lagos, Zamfara, Yobe, Kebbi and Kaduna states, would be achieved in Sokoto State”-Umar Sani, Special Adviser to VP on Media
BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TEXAS & LUKMAN RILWAN, POLITICAL WRITER, ABUJA
AS the reconciliation among all Gubernatorial contestants of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded primaries in Sokoto State almost reached a consensus in a peaceful move brought about by Namado Sambo, Nigeria’s Vice President, under the knowledge of President Goodluck Jonathan, facts are gradually emerging that the ruling party would not want to lose this strategic state under any guise to the opposition. As such, the party has concluded plans to ensure a unifying politician, with a sterling track record to national service in the person of Yusuf Suleiman would eventually be made a rallying point of victory for PDP in Sokoto State in the 2015 Governorship election.
‘No Winner, No Vanquished’-Sambo
Naija Standard gathered that as a right step in the right direction, the PDP leadership and party caucus met severally behind closed doors at Wadata House and Aso Villa on the need to get the right, faithful, well-loved and stabilizing-politician as their final chosen candidate whose name would be sent to the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) by the party, immediately a consensus is attained and all the Gubernatorial candidates sign a reconciliatory memorandum for the interest of the party not losing the state to members of opposition party, already waiting by the wings.
The reconciliation meeting held between Sambo and the aggrieved governorship aspirants of the PDP on Saturday in Sokoto but there was no clear indication that the aggrieved aspirants agreed with the reconciliation moves.
As usual, pressmen were not privy to the details of the meetings were barred but Barrister Shagari told news men shortly afterwards that the reconciliation meeting was inconclusive.
“Like I said at the meeting we have discussed and we will continue with the discussions with our people. We are still going to meet to see how we can resolve the issue.”
Asked specifically whether the reconciliation was not achieved at that meeting, Shagari said that “Like the Vice President said, we are going to meet again.”
After the closed-door meeting, Sambo answering questions from the press was not specific as to whether the meeting resolved the issue of the PDP governorship candidate, saying however that there was no winner, no vanquished.
Speaking earlier with news men while the meeting was still on, Special Adviser on Media to the Vice President, Umar Sani expressed his optimism that the successes achieved at similar re conciliatory meetings in Lagos, Zamfara, Yobe, Kebbi and Kaduna states, was also going to be achieved.
“We have met in Lagos, Zamfara, Yobe, Kebbi and Kaduna and have achieved success in those meetings. As such, we will experience the same success in Sokoto State,” he said.
All the aspirants including, Deputy Governor of Sokoto state, Barrister Shagari; former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman; Sen. Abubakar Gada and the presumed party candidate, Amb. Abdallah Wali were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, Sokoto State indigenes are already applauding the timely move of Sambo in ensuring that the gubernatorial candidates come together in ensuring Suleiman is chosen as choice of the people.
Speaking with Naija Standard, Honorable Lukman Mohammed, Chairman, Sokoto State Citizens Abroad (North America) said “I have repeatedly echo it that Y. Suleiman is the only choice we are all awaiting that PDP caucus should announce as the party flag bearer because he is the greatest gift and most important unifying factor that can ensure PDP wins the 2015 Gubernatorial election. We know his antecedents, intentions and his evergreen legacies which no one can take away from him. Like I once said, we are offering him our overwhelming votes Insha Allah.”
