GALE OF DEFECTION FROM PDP: SARAKI SAYS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM

Former President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, has played down concerns over recent defection by chieftains of the People's Democratic Party in Delta State, including Governor Sheriff Oborovwori and former governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Senator Bukola Saraki said he had been inundated with calls by concerned PDP stakeholders seeking to know his position on the developments and its implications for the main opposition party. Senator Saraki believes that those who want to leave the PDP should leave now and allow those who want to stay to concentrate on rebuilding the party and refocusing it to play the role of a viable opposition and an alternative for the people of Nigeria. The former governor of Kwara State also stressed the importance for all Nigerians to work for the sustenance of democracy, which he said requires viable choices for people at every point. "...there must be a viable opposition to keep people’s hope alive and create credible alternatives to keep the government on its toes. A one-party state as being disingenuously designed by some people will not augur well for a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and highly diversified society like ours. It is even more dangerous when we eliminate alternatives and make people hopeless" he said. Writing in a statement on his social media handle, Senator Saraki noted that it was in the interest of Nigeria and the survival of democracy in the country for the opposition to be vibrant and strong enough, with the capacity to replace the ruling party at any point. "Thus, my charge to our party members is that the PDP is merely experiencing a rebirth. Those who want to leave the party should go and let those of us remaining have a clear view of who we are talking to and where their political loyalty lies. All we need is for those who want to stay back in PDP to show commitment and we can all work to rebuild the party" he declared. He appealed to PDP members nationwide to understand that the sustenance of democracy is not a sprint, but a marathon. "It is not a knock-out football match series. It is a league. 24 hours is a long time in politics and nobody can predict how the dynamics will evolve in the coming weeks and months. That is why PDP members across the country should not be discouraged, disillusioned, disappointed, or demoralised by the development in Delta State. We should stay strong and focus on strengthening the party. It is not necessary at this point to lament why they left." The former Senate President also admonished PDP members to refrain from blaming the problems of the party on the ruling All Progressives Congress party. "That would be a lazy approach. They are playing politics to win elections. It is our responsibility as party members to ignore their antics and seize the moment and momentum to make our party stronger and better."