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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kris Keme has reiterated the determination of the National Chairman of the party (PDP), Vincent Ogbulafor and his Initiative for Change and Equity (Voice 2007), to change the face of party politics and governance in Nigeria.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kris Keme has reiterated the determination of the National Chairman of the party (PDP), Vincent Ogbulafor and his Initiative for Change and Equity (Voice 2007), to change the face of party politics and governance in Nigeria.
Briefing newsmen in Lagos, Chief Keme said internal democracy has suffered a fatal blow in the PDP, promising that Chief Ogbulafor would restore internal democracy within the PDP and the nation by ensuring strict observance to democratic tenets no matter whose ox is gored.
Describing Ogbulafor as one of those that contributed to the expansion of the party's electoral fortune from 21 to 28 states in the 2003 elections during his tenure as secretary, Keme said he could vouch for Ogbulafor because he knows his ability.
'I have a lot of respect for Ogbulafor. He is an illustrious son of the South-East and an accomplished politician in the sense that he has been a minister. He has also been the national secretary of the party. He knows where the party has gone wrong in the past and those things that plunged the party into crisis.
'He is not a stooge, errand boy or personal assistant to anybody. He is working for the good of the party and the Nigerian state.
'The 60 years thing is what his detractors are catching on. There are other impressive comments he made. He told them to cooperate with the governors and stop this politics of unnecessary impeachment. He promised to set up committees in different states that will review the activities and the progress made in the states. He also urged them to work with the governors and ensure progress in the state."
Condemning those who twisted the chairman's view of PDP staying in power for 60 years out of context, Keme said the desire of the chairman is not to turn Nigeria into a one-party state or PDP dominating the political stage through rigging, godfatherism and violence, but to entrench democratic tendencies in PDP and the nation.
'Ogbulafor understands the crises the Nigerian State is going through and has promised that these problems will be addressed. There will be a new direction, peace in PDP and development in the country. The seven-point agenda of President Umaru Yar'Adua will be followed meticulously and all those that looted Nigeria through contracts and other means will be brought to book."
On how Ogbulafor emerged, Keme said the convention was conducted like a family affair.
'It is a new beginning for the party, with the possibility of a new opportunity for the party. We should be satisfied with it because most people didn't know that the convention will take place, considering the series of postponements, threats of legal action and all kinds of ominous signs in the air. The fact that the convention held at all, we should thank God. So, for me, it is 'thank you" to God for PDP and Ogbulafor.
On the view that Mr President handpicked Ogbulafor as the chairman of the party, Keme said the desire to save the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from serious division informed the spirited move by PDP governors to endorse Prince Vincent Ogbulafor for the national chairmanship position.