Ekweremadu, Bruce hail Atiku’s return to PDP, as Makarfi hints at own presidential bid

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has branded the return of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “a welcome development”, adding that it represented a positive sign for Nigeria’s democracy.

Also, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce welcomed the return of the former vice-president.

In a related development and potential new twist, Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, hinted that he might contest the party’s presidential ticket against the just-returned Atiku Abubakar.

Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, Sunday said, “The dumping of the APC by Alhaji Atiku is a welcome development for the PDP, but more importantly for Nigeria’s democracy.

“Nigeria is in dire need of a rescue mission to rekindle hope in our democracy, restore it on the path of prosperity and halt the worsening divisiveness that threatens our corporate existence.

“I, therefore, enjoin all former PDP faithful who left for various reasons as well as other progressive-minded Nigerians to emulate Alhaji Atiku; to reunite under the umbrella (of the PDP) to salvage the nation because I see a new and better Nigeria coming in 2019.

“I see a country where corruption will be eradicated; a nation that will be a pride to Africa and admiration of the international community; and a nation where no man will be oppressed, intimidated, persecuted or sidelined on account of ethnicity, religion or political persuasion. No amount of desperation will stop the will of God for Nigeria in 2019.”

On his part, Murray-Bruce described him as “the next president of Nigeria”.

Read also: As expected, Atiku formally returns to PDP, says he’s ‘home’ (video)

Murray-Bruce tweeted from his Twitter handle @benmurraybruce, “Just watched @atiku, the next President of Nigeria,#Atikulately announcing he would return to my party, the @OfficialPDPNig.

“We in the PDP already have a good retirement package for President @MBuhari. Time to#ChangeTheChange.”

Meanwhile, responding to a question about his 2019 ambition, Makarfi said, “I have heard the rumour, it has been there since 2007…I have thought of it. By the time I leave as caretaker committee chairman on 9th or 10th, there’ll still be ten months to the party primaries. By any law or the party’s guidelines, I’m not excluded.”

He made this statement in an interview in the current edition of The Interview magazine.

 

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