Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has arrived the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.
He is accompanied by a large crowd of supporters, PDP leaders from Adamawa State, and the governor of Niger State, Babangida Muaza.
After he was received by the spokesman for the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Atiku held a meeting with members of the National Caretaker Committee of the party led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
READ ALSO: Ex-Vice President Atiku Announces Defection To PDP
Atiku in his address said his visit is to reunite with members of the party, as he his coming is to show his face, to establish the fact that he has come home
He thanked the Makarfi-led committee for working hard to unite the party, appreciating those who stood fast, never decamped even when it was almost hopeless for the PDP.
“Now that we have learned our lessons, those who left and those who remained, its time to build the party on the principle of internal democracy,” he said.
“And that is to make sure that we build an all-inclusive party, a party where every part of this country will have a sense of belonging and a sense of participation.
“All that I have come to do today is to come and show my face. Many people have read in the media that I have returned home. This is the home where me in conclusion, My Chairman, pay tribute to the past leadership of this great party.”
He called on other members who have left the party to return to the PDP, saying the records of the PDP in government, cannot be surpassed by any government.
Atiku left the PDP in 2014 to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) where he contested for the party’s presidential ticket with President Muhammadu Buhari and others.
Responding to Atiku’s remarks, Makarfi confirmed that he has long before now been discussing with Atiku, on the state of the nation.
Atiku’s comeback, according to Makarfi is as a result of the confidence he still has for the PDP. He says the PDP has opened its gate for all who left the party and all who are willing to return and to contest on a level playing ground with those who have remained are welcomed.
On his part, Makarfi gave an assurance to its faithful that PDP will give everyone a level playing ground.
This according to him, should be the benchmark for democracy that entails freedom.
He said, “Everybody is treated fairly, justly and given a level playing field to pursue his or her personal aspirations. That is what PDP must stand for if it is to survive. And I believe PDP will stand for that.
“That we treat everybody fairly and give everybody a level playing field. And that is how democracy must be practised and that is how democracy will be practised.”
He promised to continue working with Atiku for the rebuilding of the PDP, as they target the presidency seat in 2019.
