A former Deputy National Chairman and a leading aspirant for the PDP National Chairmanship, Chief Bode George, has challenged other aspirants for the position to come out for an open debate.
The debate, he said, would afford the aspirants the opportunity to highlight their vision, agenda and motive in contesting for the PDP national chairmanship.
George, who said he was well-knowledgeable about the culture and practices of the PDP, argued that he remained the best candidate for the job.
He said, “Whoever wants to lead the party should not be afraid of a public debate that will showcase their grasp of the norms and traditional values of the party.”
This was contained in a statement issued by George Media Office after he visited PDP’s delegates in Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto states on Sunday.
While George told the delegates that the national chairmanship position of the PDP should be micro-zoned, he insisted that the fundamental resolve of the founding fathers was to promote equity and balance in the distribution of the party offices.
He praised Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, for his patriotism and his embrace of all Nigerians regardless of faith or ethnicity.
George was praised by the North-West Coordinator of his campaign organisation, Alhaji M. Bakori, for his selfless service to the party and his consistency despite crises of the PDP.
Bakori described George as the most experienced and tested among all the aspirants.
George, who was at the Katsina State PDP secretariat on Sunday as part of his campaign tour of the North-West, was applauded for his experience and pan-Nigerian attributes.
The Director General of the Bode George Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Aliu Ibrahim, observed that George had worked selflessly as the Director General of Yar’Adua/Jonathan Presidential Campaign organisation, and enjoined delegates from Katsina State to support him because of his track record.
Responding, George said the convention itself must reinforce all sense of fairness, civility and equitable in the PDP.
He enjoined delegates to be courageous and open-minded.
George said the December 9 convention offered the PDP a second chance to redeem itself and rectify the errors of the past.
George exhorted the delegates to have the fear of God at heart and be brave in their decision-making process at the convention.
He promised to come back to Katsina State after the convention because of the hospitality and warmth with which he was received by the leaders and delegates.