Nigeria’s former Vice President and 2023 Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar says the People’s Democratic Institute, PDI has the capacity to transform the country’s democratic institutions for economic growth and prosperity.
He made this known while commissioning the newly renovated Institute in Abuja the nation’s capital.
Abubakar said the Institute was conceived and nurtured by him years ago to serve as a training and research centre on democracy, leadership and good governance.
He Promised to secure a permanent site for the institute if elected President in 2023.
“Let me also thank the governor of Oyo State who made it possible by way of funding to reactivate this institute. I commend his patriotism and his sense of intellectual discourse; because the National Democratic Institute was established to promote research, training and other aspects of human development of our party. This institute will conduct a number of things from research to training to capacity building among other things.“
The PDP National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu said the political party has plans for Nigerians and it is the reason for the institute.
“No society develops by fiat. It comes about by the rigorous work of carefully studying situations and analyzing them before evolving and implementing sustainable solutions. That was the idea that birthed the PDI on 31st August, 2000. It was supposed to be the Think-tank for the Party, an ideation center for the rigorous intellectual work of research, socio-economic analysis, policy development, training and capacity building of political actors, and the strengthening of our democratic institutions and culture. And the PDI lived up to its bidding: it hosted programs for both domestic and international audiences, engaged in research-based publications, and contributed significantly to the capacity-building of our Party functionaries nationwide.“
Governor Idom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state southern Nigeria and Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council believes that the institute will develop the capacity of Nigerians for a deeper democratic knowledge and empowerment, adding; “Through this institute, we will develop people.”
Senate Minority Leader Senator Philip Aduda said people would through the institute learn the act of governance which would lead to the nation’s prosperity.
The People’s Democratic Institute PDI is a centre for training, capacity building, research and development on democracy, leadership and good governance.
The institute also serves as a strategic intellectual and resource centre for the generation, articulation and transmission of ideas on Socio-Economic and political issues as well as a think tank for the People’s Democratic party.
The Institute’s overall mandate is to promote democracy in Nigeria, Africa and beyond
Restructuring Agenda
Meanwhile, the PDP has again promised to restructure Nigeria if elected in the 2023 elections.
One of Atiku Abubakar’s spokespersons Mr Frank Shuaibu gave the assurance during its Weekly media briefing in Abuja, the Nation’s capital.
Mr Shuaibi said power restructuring would be given the utmost attention in its bid to move the country towards socio-political and economic development.
“The PDP Presidential candidate, Mr Atiku Abubkar has set up committee seven Months ago with constitutional lawyers coming from all Geopolitical Zones as members of that committee and we speak there is ready draft bill for the restructuring of Nigeria, by the time Mr. Atiku is elected into office in the upcoming 2023 election and sworn-in in the 29th of May He will hit the ground running, that will be his first major assignment,” Mr Frank Shuaibu explained
The Atiku’s Spokesperson accused the ruling APC’s government of its inability to implement the party’s committee report on restructuring.
“The All Progressive Congress APC’s government has set up committee led Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasiru El Rufai that committee submitted its report four years ago and no implementation has being done and majority of the APC’s governors were members of that committee and this government has no pushed nothing further as well as restructuring is concern.” Atiku’s spokesperson noted
A member of the Media campaign council, Dele Momodu, appealed to the five PDP Governors to support the party’s presidential candidate
“So far so good we are happy that the five governors are still in the Party and there are still room for reconciliation, for the Atiku Okowa campaign remains focused nothing is going to distract our attention,” Mr. Dele Momodu reiterated
The five PDP governors, Nyesom Wike, Rivers, Samuel Ortom, Benue, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu and Seyi Makinde, Oyo, are yet to support Atiku’s campaign.
PIAK
