They said rather than the promised change, Nigerians had got from the APC-led government hunger and agony, while insecurity had multiplied through kidnapping which, they said, had spread to almost all parts of the country as a result of increasing number of Nigerians losing their jobs under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The leaders said Nigerians must kick out the APC in 2019 and return PDP to the Villa in 2019, describing PDP as a government-in-waiting and a party that would make life abundant for the citizenry.
The convention approved the dissolution of the executives of the party in seven states Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Borno, Kebbi, Kwara and Adamawa.
Ousted national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as well as Senator Buruji Kashamu were conspicously absent at the event.
National chairman of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who spoke at the convention in Eagles Square, prayed for the quick recovery of ailing President Buhari so he could be the one to face the defeat imminent for the APC.
“Nigerians may wonder, what has PDP got. Well, what are you getting now? Are you not hungry? Are you not jobless? Are you not insecure? My God! Pray for PDP to come back.
“Kidnapping is part of insecurity and it has spread across the length and breadth of the this country and it’s because of joblessness.”
“There will be no hunger because there will be plenty to eat. There may be plenty in the market but you have zero cash in your pocket. Under PDP, there will be cash in your pocket because you have earned the cash,” Makarfi added.
Only PDP can take Nigeria to greatness —Jonathan
Former president Goodluck Jonathan, who received a warm welcome at the convention, admonished the APC to perish the thought of intimidating PDP into submission ahead of 2019 elections.
Jonathan, who defended his achievements in office, told the cheering crowd that PDP was primed to return in full force to battle for the presidency in 2019 and reclaim power.
“I’m here to assure you that nobody should intimidate PDP. PDP is the only party that can take Nigeria to greatness. I believe in the PDP. Even God believes in the PDP. This is August 12 and there’s no rain because God wanted us to celebrate PDP,” he said.
He said even though the party could not claim to be perfect as a human institution, as a party of vision and accomplishments, its achievements as at 2015 were clear for all Nigerians to see.
On corruption, he conceded that his administration might not have plugged all loopholes but introduced innovative programmes to reduce corruption including the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
PDP needs paradigm shift in leadership style —Okowa
In his welcome address, the chairman of the convention committee and Governor of Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa, noted that the prayers of Nigerians were answered when the Supreme Court judged in favour the NCC in the protracted leadership crisis.
“We must understand that our nation is at a cross roads. Therefore, our emphasis must be about building a party focussed on fashioning a better society founded on the principles of fairness, equity and justice. We must commit to making the needs – and aspirations – of the Nigerian people the centre piece of our party’s democratic agenda.
“We must call for a paradigm shift in our party leadership style. Too often, we have demanded service – and worship – from the very people we have been called to serve. That must change.
“We need leaders, sincere leaders, strong leaders who understand that power is held in trust for the people and, therefore, must be administered for their good and advancement.
Also speaking, Ekiti State governor and chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Ayodele Fayose, on Saturday, boasted that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) government at the centre would face a thorough defeat in the 2019 election.
Fayose, who spoke at PDP convention, described occupants of Aso Rock as “one chance people who don’t know what they are doing.”
He said the PDP had “bounced back fully and is going straight back to Aso Rock villa come 2019,” adding that the umbrella party would deliver Nigerians from the “agonies and pangs of hunger” that the APC had thrown them.
PDP S/West crisis resolved —Adeyeye
National publicity secretary of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said, on Saturday that the party had already resolved the crisis in the South West chapter in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court .
Adeyeye, who described latest reports of another round of crisis rocking the PDP in the zone as “a storm in a tea cup,” said the party was not worried at all about the situation in the zone.
“We are achieving relative peace in the zone, forget about the so call media attacks of the last few days. It has nothing to do with the national leadership of the party. And even in the South West, it concerns one or two states, as we are concerned in the national level we are not worriedat all, the Supreme Court had resolved so many issues.
“We have also used that level to resolve so many issues in the South West legally and constitutionally so there are no issues in the SouthWest,” he said.
The first step was the extension of tenure of the Senator Ahmed Makafri led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) by four months to enable it put the Party in proper shape and organize an elective National Convention for the emergence of the new National officers.
The motion to that effect was moved by Senator Godswill Akpabio and seconded by Alhaji Sule Lamido.
The Convention also ratified the NCC’s dissolution of Executive committees of the party at all levels in Anambra State and setting up of Caretaker Committee at all levels following the motion moved by Governor Nyeson Wike and seconded by. Hajia Inna Ciroma.
In the same vain, the Convention approved the dissolution of state Executive Committees of the Party in seven Sstates and the setting up of Caretaker Committees in the affected states.
The affected states are Adamama, Borno, Kebbi, Lagos, Kwara, Osun and Ogun following the motion moved by the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo and seconded by Dr Okeze Ikpeazu.
The motion in addition also approved the ratification and confirmation Zonal Executive Committees at the six zones and at all levels where congresses have been duly conducted before the crisis in line with the Supreme Court Judement as moved by Prof. Jerry Gana and seconded byHon Emeka Ihedioha.
All the motions were put to voice voting by the chairman of the Convention Committee and governor of Delta State, Senator Ifanyi Okowa and were unanimously carried.
and then