BUHARI MEETS WITH LEADERS OF APC AND PDP
country’s two main political parties; the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP).
The opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP was led by the Chairman of its Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, alongside the
executive members of the party to the meeting which was held at the new
Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.
Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC led executive members of his party to the meeting.
President Buhari in his address to the party executives, thanked them for finding time from their busy schedules to come and welcome him back from his medical trip noting that, the visit "signifies the unity of Nigeria".
According to President Buhari, " this visit signifies the unity of Nigeria. It is not a party occasion. It is not a political gathering. It is a symbol of our National unity. It is also an expression of the maturity of our democracy".
“Multi-party democracy is a very tried and tested form of government. Opposition does not mean hostility, enmity or antagonism. Democracy needs opposition, one which is vibrant but responsible".
The President implored the gathering to "please convey to our countrymen and women in your respective states my deep gratitude to all those who prayed
for my recovery. I am imploring all Nigerians to continue praying
for peace and prosperity in Nigeria".
Speaking to this reporter on the visit to the President by leaders of the two major political parties, Comrade Bello Hassan said the purpose of the visit was timely as, Nigerians were already receiving signals of a one party state which was not healthy for our nascent democracy.
According Comrade Hassan, there is a strong need to calm the frayed nerves of Nigerians following the calls for agitation, the insecurity and most especially, the quit notice order issued to people of Igbo origin resident in the north.
"That quit notice, which has however been rescinded, was capable of causing serious conflagration in the country. Government must be alive to its responsibilities", he said.
For the APC chieftain and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, " at last, good judgment has prevailed".
Dr. Atiku Abubakar who has been a strong advocate for restructuring of the country, has "appealed to the Coalition of Northern Groups and the Arewa Youths to go the whole hog and drop any other condition given to people of Igbo origin living in northern Nigeria or anywhere else in the nation".
Nigerians have appealed to the federal government to be alive to its responsibilities of providing security to every individual irrespective of tribe, ethnicity and religion as no group is superior or inferior to the other.
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