Forum of Ex- Presiding Officers Of House Reps Backs Makarfi, NCC

The Forum of former Presiding Officers of the Federal House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The forum was on a solidarity visit to the leadership of the party and pledged to support the PDP ahead of the 2019 polls.

Led by former Speaker, Honorable Dimeji Bankole and Austin Opara, the forum called on the NCC to carve out roles for its members, promising to give its best always.

Responding, Makarfi thanked the ex-lawmakers for finding time to visit the party. He noted that now that the Supreme Court has resolved the leadership crisis in the party, it was time to translate same to political success.

“We’ve gotten judiciary victory, we need to consolidate and translate it into political victory. Political victory means expanding the scope of the party, reconciling with the reconciliables and attracting members into the party that will enable us regain political power at the centre by overwhelming majority.

“What I don’t want is for one party to dominate. We want a healthy competitive democracy where people will freely choose their leaders.

“We must have a large heart, but having a large heart doesn’t mean that we will not be conscious of the role played by each and every one of us,” said Makarfi.

The NCC chairman further said the PDP is championing a level playing field where all the electorate will choose their representatives without any form of rancour.

“Let’s build a strong and virile political party. Let there be a level playing field for people to freely chose who they want to present as party’s candidates. That is the surest way to get to power come 2019. That is what internal democracy is all about,” he stressed.

Makarfi also stated that objectivity and transparency in running the affairs of the party so that nobody, whether old or new member would feel excluded is the way to go.

“We will stick to the party guidelines and constitution in doing whatever we do. We must stop cutting corners. We live in a high litigious society. When you cut corners thinking that nobody will see you, a lot of people will see you, at a time you least expect…

We must consult “on fundamental issues, use consensus as much as ‎possible and move forward,” he noted.