2nd February, 2012
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has received a political boost to realise his ambition of becoming the next Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the coming National Convention.
The support is coming from Bamanga Tukur for PDP Chairman, South West Campaign Group. Declaring their support for the business magnate in Lagos yesterday, the South West Coordinator of the group, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, said the members, who are spread across the states in Southwest Nigeria, believe that the former chairman of Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, has what it takes to reposition the party.
“We in the South West are excited about Bamanga Tukur’s candidacy because of his promise to win back the five states formerly controlled by the PDP between 2009 and 2003 in the 2015 election especially Lagos State.
“He is an elder statesman with proven integrity both at home and abroad. He is best known for his innovation and restructuring of the NPA through which he contributed significantly to the advancement of the import-export economy of Nigeria,” said Dr. Pearse, a senior lecturer in the Department of English, University of Lagos.
“Bamanga Tukur is an amiable personality who has an array of friends and contacts around the country and he is widely regarded as an arbitrator. He will help to forge greater unity within the party and broaden the party’s base by attracting new members to it,” he said.
Dr. Pearse disclosed that all arrangements are in top gear for the formal declaration of the ex-governor of Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) for the chairmanship position of the PDP at an elaborate ceremony in Adamawa on 5 February, adding that the campaign group which is visible in all states in the South West is ready for the national convention which is scheduled to hold from 10-31 March in the country.
Prince Charles Akinloye, a former Commissioner in Lagos and one of the leaders of PDP in the South West, said that Tukur exhibited a high level of leadership quality which the PDP needs this time.
Some of the PDP leaders who were present at the event were Princess Agboola Fisher Thomas, a PDP leader from Surulere, Pastor Yemi Olayinka, Ekiti State’s Coordinator and former Personal Assistant to ex-governor of the state, Segun Oni, chairmen of the party from Agege Local Government, Prince Dele Ogedengbe, Niyi Aborisade (Apapa LG), Lola Alakija, veteran journalist, Chief Ansele Njokwu, one of the leaders of Igbo community in Lagos, Mrs. Odeje Haminat Gloria, women leader of Arewa Community.