2019: Makarfi Congratulates Atiku, Pledges Support

John Shiklam in Kaduna

One of the presidential aspirants of the People Democratic Party (PDP) who lost at the primaries, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has pledged to support Alhaji Abubakar Atiku who emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2019 presidential election.

Makarfi, a former Governor of Kaduna State and former National Caretaker Chairman of the PDP, in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, said he was willing to play any role expected of him to ensure that Atiku and the PDP win the 2019 presidential elections.

In the statement he personally signed, Makarfi congratulated Atiku for emerging as the PDP candidate, saying given Atiku’s doggedness, he was optimistic that the former vice president will successfully lead the party in the crucial battle to rescue the country and return it to the path of sanity.

According to him, the contest for the party’s ticket, as far as he was concerned, “was not just an expression of the legitimised rights of individuals to vent their aspirations, but also a statement on how the party has turned a new leaf in broadening the democratic process and space.”

Makarfi recalled that “prior to our party’s convention, we all came together to commit to the success of the party in the 2019 elections irrespective of the outcome of the primaries.

“I personally did that fully conscious of the fact that each one of the aspirants was eminently qualified to fly the party’s flag.”

He added: “Your emergence as the candidate of the party has gone further to reinforce the new philosophy and the promise that the PDP holds for both the present and future of this country,

“I therefore write, on behalf of myself, my campaign organisation and all my supporters, to warmly congratulate you on your success at the convention and to pledge our total support and commitment towards your aspiration and the party’s success in the 2019 polls.

“Having known your strength of character, never-say-die spirit as well as total commitment to the dogged pursuit of any cause that you believe in, I have no doubt in my mind that you will successfully lead us in this very crucial battle to rescue our country and return it to the path of sanity.

“I am available to play any role expected of me in the pursuit of this noble objective. Congratulations Sir!”