Nwodo To Media - 'Help PDP GET it Right'

ABUJA, NOV 21, (THEWILL)- The National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Okwesileze Nwodo at the weekend in Lagos pleaded with the nation's media to make reasonable contributions to the sustenance of the country's democracy by helping the ruling party ‘get it right.’ Dr Nwodo after unveiling the party's reform package aimed at restoring the core value of the founding fathers of the party said that the party needs the press to help Nigerians buy into the need to have a new PDP. A statement from Nwodo's media aide Ike Abonyi said the PDP boss told some media chiefs that when PDP gets it right Nigeria would have gotten it right in its journey to democratic Eldorado. He said that the need to create a new PDP became necessary when it was discovered that while the party was winning elections it was not winning the heart of Nigerians because of some waters that passed under the party's bridge in the last 12 years of its existence. Nwodo charged the Journalists to ensure that through their write ups and analysis the PDP is not hijacked by very few interests but always see the people as the place where power should domiciled. He said that the core of every democracy is having internal democracy within the parties and the PDP reform package is aimed at making its members imbibe this ingredient as the only way to go. Dr. Nwodo explained that the leadership of the party as coordinated by members of the National Working Committee (NWC) has resolved to give the party internal democracy and provide level playing ground for all its aspirants at all levels. According to Nwodo the option for the party to do the right thing is limited because the body language and the action of President Goodluck Jonathan as underscored by the appointment of Prof Attahiru Jega as the boss of the electoral body as well as his continued commitment to providing Nigerians free, fair and credible election makes it imperative that the party go into the race with its first eleven. He said that creating new image for party is not going to be easy because those holding the party through undemocratic means and who cannot stand the test of the people would not allow it but noted that with the press spreading the message that the best way is to return to the core values and allow democratic tenets take root in our system, the journey would have started to the right place. The Journalists appreciated the fact that the hitherto arrogant PDP is now aware of their unkind image and the need to repackage it but expressed doubt that the forces holding the party would want to leave it. They however urged the National Chairman and members of the NWC to ensure that it takes full control of the party and make sure that party supremacy returns.