9 March 2008
Lagos — President Umaru Yar'Adua and the new Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor yesterday vowed to restore the dream of the founding fathers of the party. They also promised to run an all-inclusive party.
The duo spoke after the selection formality that was the high point of the National Convention of the party yesterday at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Yar'Adua said the contest was "an intra family one, so there is no victor nor vanquished. Let us join hands with the new executive to further the growth and development of our party as we continue to maintain our superior position in the politics of our nation. We have an enormous responsibility to continue to demonstrate unity and discipline in party organisation"
He also commended the many sacrifices and commitment to service that party members have individually and collectively rendered over the years.
Represented by Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Yar'Adua who left the convention because he had to attend the funeral rites of Emir of Katsina, described the Convention as another milestone in the development of party democracy in Nigeria.
"You will all agree with me that the National Convention of our party which is the seventh on the roll was an epitome of order, demonstration of progress in democracy, transparency and the respect for the rule of law. I have no doubt that our aspiration for democratic excellence in our beloved Country can benefit from our current efforts in institutionalising values and very core principles that support and enhance internal democracy.
"The PDP has come a long way in our quest to bequeath to Nigeria an enduring democracy, development of both our infrastructural and human capacity as well as transformation of our national economy. I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate us all for the successful conduct of the wards, LGAs, States and Zonal congresses", the president said.
In his own remark shortly before he was sworn in, the new national chairman pledged to work towards the return to the party fold of all founding fathers of the party still outside its fold.
He also extended a hand of fellowship to the other aspirants who stepped down for him to emerge. He said a meeting would soon be held with them for them to make inputs into getting the way forward for the party.
"This executive will undertake without delay steps to make sure that all the founding fathers of the party return to the party with immediate effect. This new executive will make sure that we work in harmony with the National Assembly. This new executive will make sure that we move and unite everybody in the party" he pledged.
Ogbulafor also promised to continue from where the last executive led by Dr. Ahmadu Ali stopped. He said: "We assure you of our sincerity; we assure you of our desire to work hard; we assure you of our interest to continue from where the immediate past executive stopped."
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