By EricJames Ochigbo
Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, a former National Vice- Chairman, South-South, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged Nigerians to support one another to experience the warmth and joy of Christmas.
Ogidi, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, said that collective kindness and solidarity were essential to ensuring that every citizen have something to celebrate with.
The PDP stalwart decried the subsidy removal policy, saying that appropriate palliative measures were not put in place to stabilise the economy and absorb the effect.
He, however, said that in spite of the current economic situation in the country, Nigerians should not lose hope but support one another for a better future.
“We all have to lean on one another to find solution; we need to help one another because the situation is so bad now, and almost everybody is handicapped.
“Even the rich also cry; how will people celebrate Christmas now? It is going to be very difficult because the tunnel keeps extending but we must support one another,” he said.
Ogidi called on all members of PDP to put their differences aside and unite ahead of the 2027 general elections in order to return to power.
According to him, there are lots of pressures from Nigerians on the party to unite and play the role of credible opposition.
The PDP chieftain said that Nigerians would not forgive PDP should it fail to seize power in 2027 because of internal disagreements.
He said that the PDP had lost some traditional territories to other political parties in the 2023 general elections, describing it as “punishment for taking Nigerians for granted.”
Ogidi said that the votes were cast out of annoyance for PDP, adding that the disagreements in the party also gave rise to Labour Party (LP).
He claimed that after 10 years of APC government, Nigerians were now putting pressure on PDP and praying for the party to put its acts together as the leading opposition party to take over power in 2027.
“I must commend Nigerians; the government of APC has helped us a lot; Nigerians have now realised that with the APC government, it is difficult, but with PDP, it’s a great relief.
“We did not say we are going to turn around the economy in one day but we say we have the capacity to turn things around since we have done it before.
“It is well with PDP; we are beginning to find our feet; most of the disagreements are being taken off.
“We have realised that we are also in trouble because if we do not do the opposition properly, Nigerians will not forgive us; they can forgive APC but will not forgive PDP.
“Nigerians will not forgive the PDP if we do not take power in 2027 because they believe that we have the solution.
“This is a call to all members of PDP to sheath their swords, come on board and let us start playing the politics of opposition and be ready to take over government. We should realise that we can only be ready to take over power when we come together,” he said.
Ogidi identified lack of trust as one of the major problems bedevilling the country, as displayed in the controversy trailing the tax reform bills.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA