Chuks Okocha
13 March 2008
Abuja — The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor yesterday attributed his election at the just concluded national convention of his party to divine intervention, declaring, "I never expected to become PDP chairman."
His declaration came as chairman, Governor's Forum and Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki said the election of the new national executive committee is capable of repositioning the party for future challenges .
Ogbulafor spoke in Abuja when former ministers between 1999 to 2003, led by the former minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran came to pay courtesy visit to him.
Speaking at the occasion, Ogbulafor who described his election as the national chairman of PDP as "divine intervention" said, " That we are here is destined by God.
According to Ogbulafor, " I never expected to become the National Chairman of PDP. I never expected it. I never printed posters. I never made one advertisement, but here I am serving as the national chairman of our great party."
He therefore told his colleagues who were members of the Federal Executive Council between 1999 to 2003, "Therefore anything I can do, I better do it now because there may not be another opportunity." The PDP Chairman who reiterated his hundred and one percent loyalty to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, said, "This time around, we have a President who is a smooth operator, a President who is desirous to move the country forward."
"I have said it that the President we have, he needs our support. We have pledged One Hundred and One percent support for him. We have to join hands with him to make the party and the country great." Ogbulafor declared.
The new PDP chairman spoke of his dream to make all Nigerians to join the party saying, "Now as the National Chairman, the entire Nigerians must be PDP."
Referring to the former members of the Federal Executive Council, he said, " I am sure we need quality men and women like you to lift Nigeria forward. Please reach out so that we can serve Nigeria, together we can make this place a better place."
Professor Adeniran told Ogbulafor that they came to offer their support and make necessary sacrifice with him.
Those in the delegation included former minister of Sport, Damishi Sango, former minister of state for Works, Senator Isaiah Balat, former minister of state for Industries, Lawrence Nwuruku, former minister of state, Water Resources, Precious Ngelele and former minister of Environment, Ime Okopido.
Prof. Jerry Gana and former Minister of Finance, Malam Adamu Ciroma sent in their congratulation cards to the new PDP Chairman.
Also yesterday, Brigadier - General Buba Marwa and Chief Chris Uba from Anambra state were at the PDP Secretariat to see Ogbulafor and members of his National Working Committee.
Saraki commended governors from the North-Central zone for conceding the National Secretaryship position of the PDP to Kwara State, which produced Alhaji Abubakar Baraje as the National Scribe.
"I want to tell you that the present leadership of the party, headed by Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, is really in a position to re-engineer the party to meet the ideals of its founding fathers.
"We are happy that Kwara State has produced the National Secretary. I want to use this opportunity to thank my colleagues from the North-central that stood firm and agreed to give the position to Kwara state," Saraki said in Ilorin yesterday shortly on arrival from Abuja.
Meanwhile, the party held its first national working committee (NWC) meeting with all the 37 members of the NWC in attendance.
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