Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says millions of Nigerians are looking to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to save the country.
Makinde spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of the board of governors and the unveiling of the roadmap for the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI).
PDI is the research arm of the PDP. It was established in 2000 to “promote a new democratic culture in Nigeria and Africa through the provision of value-added education, training, capacity building, research, and documentation programmes”.
Makinde said the party will be repositioned to serve as a beacon of hope for Nigerians.
“We will fix PDP and then PDP will fix Nigeria, which will be the basis of real hope for the people of Nigeria,” the governor said.
“As we approach 2027, it is clear that the PDP has to provide real hope for Nigeria. By revitalising the PDI, that real hope is being provided for our people.
“Our country needs direction. Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to provide an ideological foundation.”
Makinde said with the inauguration of the board, PDP is moving a step closer to defining the ideology it stands for.
He pledged his commitment to strengthening the country’s democracy through the PDP.
“From 2019, I’ve been benefiting from PDP. So, I want to say thank you to our great party, and all the stakeholders gathered here today, for giving me the opportunity to get not one, but two mandates, back to back, under this umbrella,” he said.
“The only thing I can promise you is that since I fetched water from that well, and I have been drinking since 1999, I will not pollute the well when it is time for me to exit that office.”
Bukola Saraki, former senate president, advised members of the party to stop building ideas on personal ambitions.
“We cannot have an ambition if we don’t have a party. We cannot have a party if we don’t have ideas. This is where it starts from. This is the foundation that is important,” he said.
“Let us desist from talking about who is running for councillors, or who is running for governor, or who is running for president in 2027.
“Let us talk about what PDP is. What does PDP represent? These are the issues and policies that we must take into account.”
