TheCable

The Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) on Wednesday said it was not just an opposition party but a government-in-waiting.

Ahmed Makarfi, chairman of the party’s national caretaker committee, said this in Abuja when he received syndicate reports of the strategy review committee led by Jerry Gana, former minister of information.

He said PDP would become the ruling party in 2019 if its members did the right thing.

“It is in the interest of Nigerians that opposition exists and is strong,” he said.

“Nigerians will not expect opposition that behaves in unruly manner; one that will be there to talk down on government all the time.

“I think we should not be unreasonable in our opposition.

“We should use our brains so that when we criticise and bring out alternative ways of doing things, we will convince Nigerians that we are better set of people to rule Nigeria.

“But, if we show that there is no difference, Nigerians will say ‘no, they are birds of the same feather’.

“That is why we must criticise, using our brain to actually connect with Nigerians so that we can convince them that we are what we say we are.”

On reconciliation in the party, the chairman said the PDP leadership must not withdraw from any opportunity to ‎reconcile with its members.

“We must not close door for reconciliation and negotiation but we must reconcile based on strong position. A unified judgment by court of appeal will place us in good stead,” he said.

He added that it was only the judgment from the court of appeal in Port Harcourt that the party was waiting for in moving forward.

“We are waiting for judgment that will restore hope,” he said.

“How the court will restore that hope is for the will of PDP members to be respected, and we are giving the legal right for us to go ahead to build a virile party.”