Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The former governor of Plateau State and ex Nigerian ambassador to Kenya, Fidelis Tapgun, has said to revive the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a strong Character will be needed as Chairman to pilot its affairs.
Tapgun said since the emergence of the former Vice president, Atiku Abubakar as its Presidential candidate, the party has suffered so many setbacks.https://sundiatapost.com/2023-atiku-anyim-obi-others-capable-of-leading-pdp-tapgun/
He said if the party must get its footing back, it should carefully select who will lead it out of the woods.
Tapgun, who spoke to our correspondent at the weekend in Jos, said he has always wanted the two former Senate Presidents, Sen. David Mark or Sen. Bukola Saraki to lead the party.
Recall that Saraki has been under pressure to be chairman, news sources has said.
The move has seen him visit the former governor of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in his Abuja residence.
It was also gathered that Wike had earlier visited Saraki in his residence all in the bid to figure out his chairmanship ambition. https://sundiatapost.com/pdp-national-reconciliation-ctte-chairman-saraki-others-meet-in-ibadan/
Tapgun however said he sees nothing wrong with Saraki visiting Wike as the bid to become Chairman of the Party needs inclusiveness of all party stakeholders.
Describing Saraki as a very strong character that will lead the party to reclaim its lost glory, Tapgun said: “Saraki has the capacity, personality and muscle to carry everyone along. He is respected in the party and with such qualities the PDP is sure of getting its footing back on track”, he said.
When asked if Atiku will be comfortable with Saraki’s visit to Wike, given the fact that Saraki was in Atiku’s camp during the 2023 presidential elections, Tapgun said Atiku does not have problem with anyone, adding that Atiku is more interested in anyone that can bring the party together.
Recall also that Atiku and Wike fell out during the last presidential election, a situation that people say also contributed to the fall of the PDP at the polls. https://sundiatapost.com/kwara-pdp-chairman-defects-to-apc-insists-he-cannot-work-with-saraki/
Atiku and Wike’s fall out, fictionalized the party into two camps with Saraki rooted in Atiku’s camp.
So for Saraki to visit Wike, many political observers have wondered what could be the permutation in the presence of the nascent face off.
However, Tapgun did not see Wike as the only problem that brought the PDP down, he argued that the exit of the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 presidential elections, Mr Peter Obi, also contributed to the fall of the PDP.
He said the issue of Obi was not properly handled in the party, saying that the PDP could not have allowed Obi to leave.
On whether the appointment of Wike as an FCT Minister under the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), seats well with the PDP, Tapgun said Wike would have consulted the PDP stakeholders before accepting the appointment.
He said he does not think the APC will use Wike as a spy, adding that there is nothing happening in the PDP that the APC does not know.
