From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has alleged that recent defections of members from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), were based on “stomach infrastructure”.
Tambuwal, also a former Governor of Sokoto, spoke at the Northwest Zonal meeting of the PDP in Kaduna.
He said “The defections were due to “stomach infrastructure rather than the interest of the people”.
“People leave parties for certain reasons or for different reasons, but what I have been observing in the past are defections not based on the interest of the people but based on stomach infrastructure,” he alleged.
“If you are talking about defecting in the interest of the people, I believe no one can go to the APC. If you are a politician with conscience, with the current policies being driven by the government of the APC and the current economic doldrum that the APC has driven Nigerians into and hardship across the country and the dismal performance of the Tinubu’s administration, there is nothing attractive outside stomach infrastructure.”
“No politician with a conscience would join the APC given its current policies and the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.”
“So, those based on stomach infrastructure are not worrisome. It is for all of us who believe in this country; who believe in the service of the people to continue to come together and work out something that will ensure that by 2027, we ease out this administration that lacks focus, that has no compassion; that do not have any direction and that is rudderless,” he said.
“Nigerians should come together and work towards ensuring that the APC is voted out by 2027.”
The PDP in the Northwest said it was poised to provide leadership and move the country. It also planned to take over the government from the APC in 2027.
A communique read by Alhaji Bello Gwarzo, the Northwest Zonal Chairman, stated that the PDP resolved to take its rightful position at the national level and provide leadership to move the country forward.
The meeting emphasized the need to swiftly resolve all issues of conflict at the national level, as the country looks up to the PDP for leadership.
Despite the fallout of the 2023 election, the party acknowledged its strong grassroots support and overwhelming national followership, which should be mobilized for success in 2027.
“We urge all party members to be patient and heed the advice of elders to solve problems and ensure success in the 2027 election,” the communique stated.
The party resolved to work together to oust the APC from power in Nigeria, saying that “in the Northwest, all hands will be on deck to make sure that we clear the bad leadership of the APC in Nigeria.”
Dignitaries at the meeting included former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, PDP National Youth Leader Muhammed Kadade Suleiman, the Zonal party chairman, Bello Gwarzo, party’s governorship candidate in Jigawa state in 2023, Mustapha Sule Lamido, and House of Representatives member, Sadique Ango Abdullahi, among others.
