‘PDP won’t be a platform for contesting elections alone’

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to ensure that its members believe in and are committed to the actualization of the ideology, policies and programmes of the party at all tiers and arms of government instead of viewing the party as just a platform for contesting elections.

The was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a 2-day PDP retreat for the President, Governors and National Assembly members-elect held at the International Conference Centre Abuja on the  3-4 June, 2011.

The communiqué was signed by PDP Acting National Chairman Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed, Senator David Mark (for senators-elect), PDP National Secretary Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi (for governors) and Dr Abdulmumin Jibrin (for House of Representative members-elect).

The Retreat, organized by the PDP in collaboration with the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI), examined legislative and executive relationship with a focus on developing a new synergy for national transformation.

Noting that the outcome of the April general elections showed that Nigerians expect a different kind of politics based on unity and faith, peace and progress necessary for the creation of a booming economy, the retreat resolved that all party members and elected public officials must collaborate to execute the policies and programmes that would transform the country and further endear the party to Nigerians.

To achieve the synergy, necessary to attain the goals of good governance, the party was mandated to enforce discipline among its members while monitoring the performance of its elected and appointed officials.

The communiqué  called on the National Assembly to take steps to review the Land Use Act to make it possible for peasant land-owners to be able to use land as collateral to generate capital while being careful not to allow a few to appropriate most of the land to the detriment of the larger community.

Advising the executive to create a new synergy between it and the legislature with a view to ensuring smooth passage and implementation of the budget since it remains the cornerstone of the transformation process, the communiqué also underscored the need for the PDP as a party to mainstream programmes of transformation across all PDP controlled states as well as the Presidency and the National Assembly.

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