A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has ascribed the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre to the peoples’ quest for alternative to a failed party.
He said, “Democracy is government of the people by the people for the people. So, if the PDP fails to deliver on its promises, people will go to the alternative. Change is always good, provided it is going to bring better alternative”.
Tukur stated this while featuring on a political programme of Kaduna-based Liberty Radio, ‘Guest of the Week’, yesterday.
He also blamed the PDP’s woes on lack of internal democracy.
According to the former PDP chairman, certain people in the party didn’t want him to practice internal democracy that he was preaching.
On the contrary, the former governor of Old Gongola State noted that the APC, by making all the elements relevant and allowing the people choose their leaders through elections, allowed the democratic system to prevail for the interest of all.
Recalling the political machinations that led to his as National Chairman of the party, Tukur said that, “Jonathan did not insist I leave the party, there are people in the PDP who felt I should not practice what I preach because discipline is very important, following the laws you established, is very important, why you do not want to follow the laws you established and you don’t change them, you have problem.
“President Jonathan could not protect me due to the powers of the governors. The governors are very powerful and therefore, if you do not do what they want, you are done away with and I believe nothing can be done to them.
“I was accused of being a virus in PDP, and I did not deny it, I told them I am a virus for good governance, virus for internal democracy, virus for equity and justice, I hope that virus will continue”.
On President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership style, the former PDP Chairman asked Nigerians to allow Buhari lead the nation at his own pace.
“I salute Muhammadu Buhari because he has integrity. He believes in discipline, he believes in fighting corruption and believes in good governance because, the only way we can go forward and be respected in the community of nations is by coming together and carrying our people along”, he said.
On the insecurity in the Northeast, where he hails from, Tukur said, “In 2013, when Boko Haram element started I said to Nigerians, ýif the country is attacked, all Nigerians must come together and attack the elements and indicate their principles including, strengthening both military and para-military defences, dialogue, so that they understand why they are doing what they are doing and diplomacy, by making sure they government talks to Niger, Chad, Mali and Cameroon”.
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