The national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Tuesday, said the party would not be deterred from its mission of reform, adding that the era of imposition within the party is over.
He added that the journey towards reform in the party is hinged solely on justice and equity for all members in the party.
Tukur stated this while playing host to three groups including: Society for Defense for Democracy, Hope for New Nigeria Global Initiative and the Arewa Political Women Frontiers at the party Wadata headquarters in Abuja.
Tukur said “Before it is men in front and women behind, this time it is women front, men behind. It is our hope for Nigeria, it is our hope for Africa. Not only that, our young men and young women have taken that stage of leadership for the development of our nation.
“This is very encouraging because political party is the platform for governance. When you have a strong united and peaceful political party you are sure of having a good developmental programme for the nation.
“I have listened with rap attention from all the three groups why they are here telling us they are all for peace and unity and development. We are very encouraged.
“What I am going to assure you here is the inclusiveness of our party. It is a political party but it is also a family platform. No stranger in our political party, we are all stakeholders.
“I can assure you in our journey to rebuild our party based on equity andjustice, there is no going back. Our process of election, no selection is what is going to happen. Our philosophy of consensus, not imposition is what is going to happen.
“Each and every member of PDP will have a platform to express their own intention if they are ready, and be supported by the majority and they will realize it by the grace of God.
“So, no going back in this struggle to entrench democracy and good governance in our country. No going back for seeking for peace and unity and reconciliation of our differences.
“I want all of you to understand where our family is and family always will adjust and move forward and do what is the best interest of the family.
“I urge you to spread this message of peace throughout our nation, the gospel of unity, the gospel of oneness and the gospel of being our brother’s keeper.
Meanwhile, one of the groups, Society for Defense for Democracy, yesterday lambasted the G7 governors for not challenging President Goodluck Jonathan on issues of infrastructure and development but rather on an alleged agreement signed by him
before he assumed office in 2011.
National Coordinator of the group Mohammed Musa Bago, also disclosed that it would mobilize 37 million people for the PDP in March 2014. He noted that the mobilization will commence from the north with 19million people from the 19 northern
states.
He blasted the Baraje-led PDP for their attack on the President Jonathan and national chairman of the party noting that most of the G7 governors are in their second term and are reportedly seeking for relevance.
“Why are they afraid of Bamanga Tukur, we will tell them that we are tired of their leadership in the north. Let them show us what they have done in the 8 years they have being in office” Bago said.
Bago said his group would rally support for the party in 2015 election, just as sneered at the G7 governors for considering themselves indispensable in the party.
Corroborating, Arewa Political Women Frontiers, pledged loyalty to the Tukur led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, adding also that women in the north are ready to work with the leadership of PDP under Tukur.
The women leader, Hajiya Ramatu Mohammed noted that they will do all it could take to mobilize women in the north to join the PDP and secure electoral success in 2015.
“As a genuine pressure group committed to the emancipation of poverty in the north, we will mobilize support for President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015” she added.
Also speaking, national coordinator of Hope for New Nigeria Global Initiative, Kingsley Isong called for Bamanga-Hope project aim at mobilizing support for the party in 2015