TheCable

Walid Jubril, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) board of trustees, says the party leaders are ready to visit and sympathise with President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

Buhari has received top dignitaries at the Abuja House, London, where he has been staying since he commenced his vacation on January 19.

Among them are Senate President Bukola Saraki; Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives; and Ahmad Lawan, majority leader of the senate.

Others are Bola Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Bisi Akande, former governor of Osun state; and Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun state governor

But in an interview with NAN on Tuesday, Jubril said PDP leaders were ready to visit Buhari if given the opportunity.

He denied the reports that the party promoted the rumoured death of the president, saying the PDP had been praying “fervently” for Buhari’s safe return to Nigeria.

“Let him be well and come back and continue with his leadership of Nigeria,” he said.

“If we are to be given the opportunity, the PDP leaders will even go to London to wish him well and sympathise with his family.”

He also spoke on the lingering crisis in the party, saying efforts were being made to resolve the problems and “forge ahead”.

“By the grace of God, we are coming clean and the PDP will never die, it will remain as a very strong party,” he said.

“There could be differences; differences will come and go, we will emerge stronger and ready to win all elections like we have won in Rivers, Taraba, Gombe, and we are going to win in Anambra, Ekiti, hands down.”

Jubril cautioned key stakeholders against confusing party members, and advised them to allow ongoing reconciliation efforts by well meaning Nigerians, including former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said apart from Jonathan, other stakeholders in the party have been engaged in the reconciliation efforts.

“I am very sure that there are moves by very responsible party leaders on way forward for our party and we are making a lot of contacts,” he said.

“People should give the former president the opportunity to make proper scrutiny and come out with agreeable solutions on this matter.

“They should not be in too much hurry to further confuse members; we are talking about political solutions.”