The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is happy former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has finally realised that he was being deceived by his former party.
In a statement issued Sunday by its national publicity secretary Dayo Adeyeye, the PDP also welcomed the former vice president who rejoined the party a few days after he left the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“We are indeed glad that he (Atiku) has realised the unbridled lies/deceit of his former party, the All Progressive Congress (APC),” the statement said.
“The PDP remains his home; a house he was part of building and which he helped to nurture. We believe his return will add value in the process of rebuilding our party to greater heights.”
The PDP described Atiku’s return as another milestone recorded by its leadership in the quest to reconcile, rebuild and restructure the party ahead of the 2019 general elections and beyond.
With the development, Adeyeye said the PDP leadership would continue to remain transparent and dedicated to the service of the party while he called on former party members in other political parties to return home.
“We are equally extending our invitation to all those in the APC who are frustrated by the party’s failure to deliver the goods. Anyone who is desirous of a return to the era of abundance and freedom under the PDP administration is welcome; the umbrella is big enough to accommodate all.
“We enjoin our members nationwide to come together as one family, as we march to Eagle Square, Abuja on Saturday 9 – Sunday 10, December 2017, to elect our new leaders who will manage the affairs of our party at the national level,” he said.
APC Has Let Nigerians Down – Atiku
The former vice president announced his defection to the PDP on Sunday afternoon in a Facebook video where he said he has decided to return home after the issues that led to his exit had been resolved.
He had also accused his former party of failing to effect the change it promised Nigerians, saying the party has let the people down.
“I want to let you know that I am returning home to the PDP as the issues that led me to leave it have now been resolved and it is clear that the APC has let the Nigerian people, and especially our young people, down,” he had said.
Atiku was the vice to former President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 after Nigeria returned to democracy.
After the end of Obasanjo’s administration, he contested and lost the presidential election of 2007 on the platform of the then Action Congress.
He had declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2011 but also lost to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The former vice president joined the APC in February 2014 and remained in the party until his exit on November 24, 2017.
