Buhari meets APC, PDP leaders, charges them on unity

President Muhammad Buhari at the State House on Friday met the national caucuses of the ruling All Progress Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The APC chairman, John Oyegun led his party’s group while their counterparts from the PDP were led by the party caretaker committee chairman, Ahmed Makarfi. This was the first time Buhari would meet with such large delegation of PDP members.
Buhari thanked the delegations of the two parties for coming to see him, noting that it signified the unity of the county stressing that opposition politics does not mean hostility and antagonism.
He said the event was not a party gathering and showed the improving maturity of party politics in the country adding that democracy needs responsible opposition.
He says: “This visit signifies the unity of Nigeria. It is not a party occasion. It is not a political gathering. It is a symbol of our National unity. It is also an expression of the maturity of our democracy.
“Multi-party democracy is a very tried and tested form of government. Opposition does not mean hostility, enmity or antagonism. Democracy needs opposition, one which is vibrant but responsible.”
He asked the delegations to extend his appreciation to their other members and Nigerians who prayed for his recovery from ill-health.
Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman of the PDP, said the party rayed for Buhari’s recovery from his health challenges, as the party has never wished him ill, but told him bluntly that the PDP would give him a run for his money by keeping him constantly on his toes to ensure he does the right things for the country.
“This PDP firmly believes that opposition is no madness; it will therefore never wish ill of anybody, let alone the person saddled with the responsibility of leading our country.
“Mr. President, you will agree with me that the PDP has more than a fair knowledge and experience of the weight of that responsibility.
“Having welcomed you back and prayed for you, let me seize this opportunity to assure you, and through you, the entire country, that the PDP having assumed the leadership of the opposition in this country, is poised to play that role energetically, vibrantly, but very decently and with all sense of responsibility.
“This we shall do by giving you a good run for your money and constantly keeping you on your toes as we all strive to make this country better.”
He pledged the cooperation of the PDP with the Buhari administration on any policy or programme genuinely designed to take the country to greater heights, including the war against corruption, but tasked the government to be credible and law-abiding by respecting all court orders.
“We also offer our support for the fight against corruption and appeal that the institutions saddled with this onerous task be given a necessary encouragement and independence to do the right thing.
“This will help in further strengthening our institutions and insulating them from undue political interferences. It will also help give them a more credible outlook in the eyes of the public.
“There is no way we can have a respectable voice in the comity of civilized nations until we rebuild our institutions and imbue them with the necessary independence and confidence that will improve both their visage and standing with the citizenry.
“The government should lead the charge in this regard by, especially, exhibiting greater respect to judicial pronouncements as well as respecting the fundamental rights of all Nigerians”, Makarfi stated.
The PDP boss said the party would also continue to support government’s fight against terrorism, kidnapping and banditry, as well as farmers/herdsmen clashes and other anti-social crimes and vices.
Speaking afterwards, Oyegun said it was quite instructive that the two major parties were joined in the courtesy call initiated by the President.
He expressed the hope that the message inherent in such cooperation would permeate the entire country as there were far too many national challenges needed to be surmounted besides politicking.
Some of the prominent personalities at the event include PDP Board of Trustees chairman, Walid Jibrin; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Senator Ben Obi; Osita Izunaso; Inuwa Abdukadir; and others.