The Former Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Markafi, on Monday, consulted the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Party over his 2019 presidential ambition and promised to run an all-inclusive government, if elected.
Addressing the party faithful at the State PDP Secretariat, Senator Markafi said “Akwa Ibom State is a home for all and the testimony to that is how the State Governor, alongside the Party Chairman who doubles as the Chairman of the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, worked harder with me during my tenure as the Caretaker Chairman to solve the problems that were bedeviling the party. By the grace of God and our collective efforts, the crises were resolved indefinitely.”
Senator Markafi informed the gathering of his interested to run for the office of the President in 2019, according to him, “I have a history of trust and overcoming challenges, especially during the Sharia crisis in Kaduna when I was the Governor. So, you cannot overcome challenges if you are not trusted. That is the difference between me and others. Because of this historical trust, I worked with other stakeholders to unify PDP and sustain the unity till date.”
He also promised to fundamentally restructure Nigeria, when elected President, ensuring that “concern institutions would be strengthened for effective restructuring to take place. These institutions will be allowed to independently take up their responsibilities likewise create an atmosphere that will allow Nigerians elect their desired leaders at all levels. Under my watch, it will not be business as usual. All necessary efforts will be made to create jobs for our teeming youths.”
Responding, the State Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, commended Senator Makarfi for coming to Akwa Ibom State to discuss the Nigeria Project, saying “the capacity to nominate any aspirant is in the hands of the delegates and those delegates are here to analyze your disposition and they will come together to harmonize your opinions which will bring forth the common decision to nominate the best candidate to fly the party’s flag in the 2019 elections. If the Presidency was by nomination, it would have been easy to nominate any aspirant, but since it is in the hands of the delegates, we are certain that they will do the needful. So, we will leave the elections into the hands of the electorates.”
The event, which had in attendance members of Senator Makarfi’s Campaign Team, State Working Committee of the party, Chapter Chairmen, stakeholders and supporters, featured the presentation of souvenirs to the aspirant.
