Markafi urges politicians to protect Nigeria’s democracy

Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of Peoples Democratic Party.

Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged politicians in the country to indulge in activities that would protect the nation’s democracy.

He made the call in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday while declaring open a “non-elective convention” of the party.

Makarfi, whose committee’s tenure was extended by 12 months at the “convention” held at PDP’s Aba Road Secretariat, said politicians would have failed the country if they refused to support institutions that would strengthen its democracy.

The “non-elective convention” held at the party secretariat was in place of a full national convention scheduled to hold at the Sharks Stadium but was truncated.

The police sealed the venue of the convention and blocked all entrances to the stadium in the early hours of Wednesday, citing compliance with court order stopping the event as reason for the action.

Delegates, including governors, member of Board of Trustees (BoT) and other top members of the party, were denied access to the venue.

“When politicians make the growth of democracy their concern, then, the nation’s democracy will begin to yield positive results.

“What we have is a situation where politicians are making efforts to destroy institutions of democracy for selfish interests,” Makarfi said.

The former governor of Kaduna state alleged that some members of the ruling party in the country were bent on seeing the fall of PDP.

“Our democracy is under a huge threat; I urge the APC-led government to concentrate on governance and delivering of good service to the nation.

“The country already has enough problems facing it; politicians should not add to the country’s problems by pursuing their selfish intentions,” he said.

In his contribution, Minority Leader of the Senate, Chief Goodwill Akpabio, assured the party of the support of its members in the senate.

“In the senate, we are together in one voice, and we are in support of this convention; this is because we have a goal and target of producing the president in 2019.

“Our party will remain strong not minding the efforts of some enemies to stop the convention; the party will continue to move forward,” he said.

On his part, Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Mr Leo Ogor, said that the holding of the convention became necessary in order to uphold the tenets of democracy.

He said the PDP caucus in the National Assembly would do everything within its powers to ensure a united and vibrant party.

“I assure you that our members in the national assembly are solidly behind this convention and the decisions from it,” he said.