PDP Still In Shock Of Defeat, Says Abdulsalami

Ex-Military Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to come to terms with its 2015 election loss.

Abdulsalami, while receiving Chief Raymond Dokpesi at his Minna residence on Thursday, expressed sadness that the PDP has failed to live up to its responsibility as main opposition party.

Dokpesi had visited the former Head of State in the light of his bid to become the party’s next chairman.

While noting that other PDP Chairmanship aspirants had also visited him, Abdulsalami said the party must assume proper opposition role.

“I must say it is very sad that you have not played your role properly in opposition,” he said.

“May be you are suffering from the shock of defeat, but I thought that at least six months down the line will have been enough to come out of the shock, to really face the governance.

“It would have been enough to perform your role in giving a credible opposition which I am afraid you have not done.

“You being one of the major parties in Nigeria and found yourself in opposition; since you did not perform that function, the smaller parties also found themselves in this way.

“I am happy now you are waking up and I hope this is the end of acrimony within your party.

“You will now come and build formidable party that will play the role of opposition.”

“You need now to check why you slid from ruling to opposition party to see what you have done wrong and correct with a view to learning from some of these things.”

Abdulsalam said the chairmanship aspirants must go to the upcoming PDP national convention without bitterness.

“If I am right, there are about five or six of you interested in the chairmanship position.

“You have your visions and aspirations which legitimately as politicians, you have the right to play a role not only in your party but in governing the country.

“I do hope that you will go through this convention without bitterness because you have seen what rancour caused the party,” he said.