November 3, 2017

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Nigerians to develop good attitude to governance and engage in constructive criticisms to deepen national politics.

Abubakar made the remarks when a National Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Governor of Ogun State, Mr Gbenga Daniel, paid him a courtesy call in his palace on Friday in Sokoto.

He described vibrant opposition as good for democracy but cautioned politicians against unwanted actions.

Abubakar urged Nigerians to strive for unity, peace and progress of the nation in all their dealings.

The monarch maintained that unless people fear Allah and do the right thing, no amount of policy restructuring of governance would lead to the attainment of the desired objectives.

He urged the aspirant to have a listening ear, as it was a good quality of leadership.

Daniel described the Sultan as a great leader and asset to humanity, stressing that his visit was to seek for royal blessings and guidance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the candidate also visited a chieftain of the party and former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa.

Bafarawa maintained that the PDP was ready to recapture power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

He described Daniel’s stewardship as governor of Ogun state as successful and believed that the candidate would lead the PDP well if elected national chairman.

“Daniel as a leader is capable of taking the PDP to greater heights if elected as the national chairman of the party; I have no doubt that he will move PDP forward.”

The former governor, however, stressed that the party must put its house in order and prepare adequately for the onerous task ahead.

According to him, recapturing power from the APC would not be an easy task, except the party’s leaders are ready to put aside their selfish interests and join hands together for the task ahead.

Bafarawa posited that a successful convention was necessary to enable the party adopt strategies to defeat the ruling APC.

He restated that he will stand by his words on transparency and according equal opportunity to all contestants during the convention.

“The PDP of yesterday is not the PDP of today, I am grateful to God that change has come for the PDP because we now have a focused and purposeful leadership,” Bafarawa asserted.

At the state secretariat of the party, the Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, said the PDP must focus on strengthening internal democracy and transparency in all its dealings.

He told Daniel that the party had embarked on peace building so as to resolve differences among its loyalists, especially at the grassroots level.

The state PDP chairman expressed optimism that the party would win the 2019 elections because of its records of achievements and popularity.

In his remarks, Daniel said that Nigerians made a mistake in voting for APC in 2015, as the lives of the people had worsened.

“Two years ago, our people voted for change but now they are regretting it.

“It is true PDP made a mistake by taking our people for granted, so, we want to change the change and take what belongs to us,” he said.

He pledged to do his best in steering the affairs of the party, if elected.