A former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, has asked Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and his New Nigeria Peoples Party’s counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso to swallow their personal ambition and return to the Peoples Democratic Party just as the Senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, left the New Nigeria Peoples Party and rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party.

Makarfi, a former PDP chairman, was a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, where he made this remark on Tuesday.

According to the 66-year-old statesman, there are only two parties in Nigeria – the PDP and the All Progressives Congress.

He also said frustrated youths are using Obi, a former Anambra State governor, as a symbol, adding that youths should not make decisions on the presidential candidate to vote for in anger. Obi had left the PDP in May and emerged as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.

Channels Television had reported that Shekarau, also a former Kano governor, from 2003 to 2011, dumped the NNPP after a rift with the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Shekarau was received in the PDP on Monday by the party’s chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; its flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar; amongst other PDP heavyweights in the north.

Speaking on the development during the programme on Tuesday, Makarfi said Shekarau’s move to the PDP was based on conviction and not personal ambition, noting that the new defector has abandoned his senatorial ambition for 2023 in the NNPP.

Shekarau had in May left the APC after a fallout with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Shekarau joined the NNPP but barely three months later, he dumped the NNPP for the PDP. The founding member of the APC in 2013 was also a PDP member in 2014.

He said, “Nigerian politics is a bit funny especially politics of the opposition. Before APC captured power, the opposition came together but unfortunately, we have a situation in Nigeria where the opposition wakes up and everyone tries to capture power.

“I want to make a plea to other opposition parties that let them think about Nigeria first and what is good for Nigeria; let us do what APC did – come together, talk amongst ourselves and arrive at something that all of us will agree to and bring positive change to this country.

“Peter Obi, personally, he respects me, I respect him. Kwankwaso still is my friend, I respect him but the issue is that we should all swallow personal ambition for the sake of this country and bring positive change by changing the government that is in power today.

“About the fears of the youths, I am not blaming them but when you are frustrated when you are angry, you may take a decision that will worsen your situation.

“I call on other opposition parties to actually come together, especially Peter Obi, I know he respects our presidential candidate (Atiku) a lot and many of us. PDP will be home to him, PDP will be home to his supporters, and Kwankwaso, we all started PDP together, let us come back home and do the needful for the sake of this country.”

Risentouch:
Op you should have created this thread on the crime section.

Svoboda:
Makarfi understands fully that Pdp has been split in 3, and this makes it easier for the apc in 2023 to win bearing in mind the apc defeated a united pdp in 2019. In other words, obi is hurting atiku more, likewise kwankwaso, which is all music to Tinubus ears.

Risentouch:


But Obi is not hurting Tinubu in SW?
Please tell us another lie, we have heard this before.

Svoboda:
Makarfi understands fully that Pdp has been split in 3, and this makes it easier for the apc in 2023 to win bearing in mind the apc defeated a united pdp in 2019. In other words, obi is hurting atiku more, likewise kwankwaso, which is all music to Tinubus ears.

SmartPolician:
He's a joker.

Obi should stay in Labour Party and build it.

The good thing is that it has nationwide reach.

Going back to APC or PDP goes against everything he stands for.

isahrabson:
Return to PDP, swallow your personal ambition – Makarfi begs Peter Obi, Kwankwaso


August 30, 2022


Former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, has urged the presidential candidates of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, and his New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Makarfi said Obi and Kwankwaso should swallow their personal ambitions and return to the PDP.

The former PDP National Chairman disclosed this on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily.

Makarfi urged aggrieved PDP members to unite and discuss their differences in the country’s interest.

According to Makarfi: “Peter Obi respects me; I respect him. Kwankwaso still is my friend, I respect him, but the issue is that we should all swallow personal ambition for the sake of this country and bring positive change by changing the government that is in power today.

“I call on other opposition parties to actually come together, especially Peter Obi.

“PDP will be home to him, PDP will be home to his supporters, and Kwankwaso, we all started PDP together; let us come back home and do the needful for the sake of this country.”

Svoboda:
Makarfi understands fully that Pdp has been split in 3, and this makes it easier for the apc in 2023 to win bearing in mind the apc defeated a united pdp in 2019. In other words, obi is hurting atiku more, likewise kwankwaso, which is all music to Tinubus ears.

johnmartus:
Peter obi shouldn't hesitate to heed to this calling.

Svoboda:



Peter obi is tapping his support from fragmentally loose elements on the margins in the SW and from the core of the pdp support. The Apc support is hardly untouched. You think Markarfi is a fool to make such an appeal?