Peoples Democratic Party flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, has said despite the internal conflict within his party, he does not see “a divided house”.
In a newsletter in Abuja on Sunday, the former vice president urged the opposition party not to lose focus on rescuing Nigeria.
He stated, “One of the characteristic attributes of democracy that I admire a lot is that it is a system with an intrinsic asset of crisis management. It becomes even more interesting that, perhaps, the most noteworthy outcome of a democratic process is the greater possibility of conflict generation.
“So, a remarkable lesson that I have learned in politics is that in some instances, conflicts are healthy realities. I know, for instance, that when conflicts arise out of genuine concerns about having an inclusive political process, it signposts the viability of that process and, more importantly, the eagerness of stakeholders to be active participants in the success of such process.
“As leaders and stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party, the simmering agitations in our party are a reflection of our credentials as a democratic party.
“Whatever our agitations are, I believe it is borne out of collective concern for the growth of our party and the country. Therefore, I don’t see a divided house in the PDP. I see an opportunity for us to come together stronger and united.”
“As a presidential candidate of the PDP, I shall ensure that I do my all to bring the party together under a formidable umbrella.”
In a move to resolve the crisis, the PDP has announced a nine-member reconciliation committee that would visit the Rivers State helmsman.
Disclosing this on Sunday, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, also cautioned party members against unguarded utterances that could further plug the party into a deeper crisis.
Governor Nyesom Wike has been at loggerheads with Atiku for choosing Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as his running mate.