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ABUJA — AHEAD of tomorrow’s governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where the party’s candidate would emerge for the October 11 gubernatorial election, former National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has warned the leadership and members of the party against imposition of aspirants from the opposition political party on the people.
Tukur
Tukur
Tukur who urged delegates to tomorrow’s primary election to use their votes in getting the right person to be the party’s flagbearer,  stressed that Nigerian politicians must ensure the enthronement and sustenance of equity and justice in their political crusade and dealings.
Addressing the delegates at a one-day sensitisation seminar organised by the party’s state executive in Yola, Tukur, whose first son, Awwal, is one of the 14 cleared aspirants for the primaries,  warned that any attempt to exclude fair play, equity and justice in the nation’s  political dealings will have catastrophic effect on our resolve to use democracy as the country’s choice of government.
It will be recalled that the PDP recently granted waiver to former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFFC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; erstwhile  Military Administrator of Lagos and Borno States, Brig. Gen. Mohammed  Buba Marwa (rtd) and 2011 ACN governorship candidate for Adamawa State, Marcus Gundiri.

In a statement by his spokesman, Prince Oliver Okpala, Tukur noted that equity and justice remained the bedrock for the consolidation of democratic structures and ideals, noting that it was such vices of exclusion of equity and justice that have  given room for acts of dictatorship and imposition in our political structure and parties.
Warns against imposition of candidate
Tukur warned that acts of imposition of candidates on political parties was absolutely adverse and negative to democratic principles and ideology, adding that democracy must be seen as an avenue through which  people choose and decide who will rule or govern them in elections that are free and fair.
According to him,one of the cardinal policies and principles he introduced and fought for as the national chairman of the party was election instead of imposition, discipline, equity and justice.
He urged electorate to stick to the exercise of their constitutional rights by always using their votes to vote- n people they want and vote out people they do not want.
Tukur traced the history of PDP formation of which he is a founding member while submitting that the founding fathers formed the PDP as a party for the people by the people and for the people.
Vote wisely
According to the statement, “he warned of the dangers of imposing people from opposition parties against the interest of consistent and loyal members of the party who have suffered for the party for the sake of being the flag-bearers of their new party on executive or legislative elections.
“Dr. Tukur finally urged the delegates to always use their votes wisely as their votes were not for sale and any act to make their votes a mercantile affair will be inimical to internal democracy of our political parties and political dispensation.
“A former Federal Minister of Education, Dauda Birmah, who also addressed the delegates commended Tukur for his efforts and struggles for the enthronement and sustenance of democracy in our country.
“He remarked that Tukur was one of those who fought for the democracy we enjoy today even at the risk of their lives.
“The Deputy Chairman of the state PDP executive, Jingi Rufai, who spoke earlier also thanked Tukur for his services to the nation and the PDP.
“The Deputy Governor of former Gongola State who served as Deputy Governor to Tukur, Mr David Barau described Tukur as a detribalised Nigerian who has no place for tribe, ethnicity or religion.
news source: vanguard 

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