FORMER Senate   Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie has called for the rebuilding of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stating that those who conspired against the party were the first to be swallowed by it.  Owie said that Governor Babangida Aliyu, who led anti-party activities against the party, was one of the victims of the party’s last electoral defeat.

Sen. Owie

The senator disclosed this while congratulating the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari on his victory. He also urged him to be cautious in seeking counsel from some of the country’s famed political leaders and particularly, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He also extolled President Goodluck Jonathan for what he described as uncommon virtue of sportsmanship for conceding defeat, an act,  he said, delivered Nigeria from descending into anarchy. Owie said:  “I congratulate Nigerians for their commitment to democracy and particularly congratulate President Jonathan for choosing to The Way of The Cross, by quickly conceding defeat in this election, which averted the impending chaos that would have enveloped the nation.

“Nigeria would have been burning now particularly in the north. Keen observers of events in Nigeria since the 2011 general elections, when President Jonathan was elected, know that Boko Haram activities escalated in Nigeria.  “Innocent citizens, mainly Christians, were murdered and churches burnt down. Why? Yes! Politicians and non- politicians mainly in the North believed that a northerner should have replaced Jonathan in 2011 to continue with late Yar’Adua’s tenure.

“Half way into the tenure of Jonathan, a man who sees nothing good in anybody, except himself, Obasanjo, started trouble shooting by naming presidential and vice presidential candidates. First it was Governor Lamido as president and Amaechi as his vice. The anger was that power must return to the north. “To  Buhari I thank God for you but you must deliver on your promises and also build on what President Jonathan did. Above all, you must run far from Obasanjo. If he can’t control your government, he will fight you. He has done it to all former Presidents of Nigeria