Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has once again lauded the contributions of erstwhile governor of Kaduna State and Presidential hopeful, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, to the survival of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking at the Coference Hall of the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo on Monday, whlile Senator Makarfi paid him a courtesy call, the governor said that he was not surprised at Makarfi’s dexterity at managing the crisis-laden PDP, having successfully managed an intricate Kaduna State, which he said was, like a mini Nigeria.
“We can’t forget your patience and tolerance. You have an unusual way of accomodating our diverse opinions and bringing everybody together. If we did not have somebody like you, PDP would have been no more. In Kaduna State when you were governor, you broke barriers and created an atmosphere of unity, as complex as the state is. I appreciate the fact that people like you have shown interest in the race for presidency,” the governor stated.
Speaking earlier in the similar vein, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the PDP, Obong Paul Ekpo, stayed that the decision of the party leaders to saddle Makarfi with the leadership of the process of repositioning the party at its hour of need was one of the wisest moves the party made in its existence, because his deft and mature handling of the various contending tendencies was was saved it from total collapse.
“Makarfi was never intimidated by anybody. His decisions were firm and these qualities ensured that the party survived. I have heard testimonies of how detribalised the presidential aspirant is, how he listens to people and treats them equally irrespective of religious leanings. If the presidency were won by nominations, we would have gathered and nominated Makarfi long before now,” he said.
The chairman who spoke as Senator Makarfi visited the state secretariat of the party in Uyo charged delegates to choose rightly taking into consideration that the country, at the moment was looking for salvation and thus only those tested and trusted should be entrusted with its leadership.
Senator Makarfi had earlier told his hosts of the need for institutional restructuring in the country. He noted that the security apparatus in the country should be restructured to serve the interest of the people rather than suppress the people and serve the interest of the people in power.
He equally maintained that jobs should be created as a way of wealth redistribution. He said students should be provided with loan schemes to pay back only when they are employed. This, he posited, will force government to create jobs so as to recoup their money.
Makarfi, who described his visit to the state as home-coming because of the battles he fought alongside the governor and the state Chairman for the soul of the party, said, “whoever stands with you in such crisis must be your friend.”
He charged delegates of the party to choose wisely from the many qualified aspirants to the seat at Aso Rock Villa, taking into consideration tje history and antecedents of the aspirants as well as their contributions to the survival of the party, stating that the party did not have the luxury of picking the wrong cadidate at this time. He also emphasized the need for the party to close ranks after the primaries to ensure its success.