A presidential aspirant and the former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, has said that the quest for the party’s presidential ticket for 2019 “is not a do-or-die affair” for him.
Makarfi said this on Sunday in an interaction with newsman in Umuahia when he came to consult with the leadership of PDP in Abia on his presidential ambition.
He said that he was not desperate and would not lose sleep should he fail to clinch the party’s ticket.
“I know that there are some that would want Nigeria to burn if they do not win. For me, it is not a do-or-die affair,” he said.
The former governor of Kaduna state also spoke on the security challenges in the country and opined that the phenomenon could be tackled by equipping security agencies to function effectively.
Earlier in a meeting with the PDP stakeholders at the party’s secretariat, Makarfi said that he came to formally inform the stakeholders about his aspiration and solicit their blessing.
He said that although he was not a money bag, he possessed the capacity, knowledge and experience to lead the country.
He spoke extensively on the agitation by a cross section of Nigerians for the restructuring of the country, saying that the measure would address the critical national question.
Makarfi warned that no aspirant should canvass the issue of restructuring as a campaign stunt, saying that it was a cardinal policy in PDP manifesto.
He said that the country must be restructured to be able to move forward, pointing out that institutions of government must be restructured to be able to discharge their mandate effectively.
“We should have institutional restructuring. The armed forces, security agencies and other institutions must be restructured so that they do not take directive from one man.
“If we fail to restructure then we are going nowhere as a nation,” he said.
Makarfi described himself as a detribalized Nigerian, saying that his affiliation cut across tribal and religious boundaries.
He said that he also believed in the oneness of the country and recalled that during his administration as former governor, an Igbo man won election to the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
He also said that he had the recipe for steady power supply in the country through a pragmatic power generation and distribution module.
In his response, the state PDP chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, extolled the sterling qualities of the party’s former caretaker committee chairman.
He said that although Makarfi looked fragile, he was imbued with sound intellect and firm character; hence he was able to rescue the ship of PDP from total wreckage.
He also said that Makarfi had proved himself as a detribalized Nigerian, adding that he believed in the equality of all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious and ethnic background.
“You are a man of integrity, sound knowledge and detribalized Nigerian. My closeness to you also shows that you are not a religious bigot,”
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