By Dayo Benson, Political Editor

LAGOS — As part of his efforts to reinvent the ruling party, National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, Dr Ekwesilieze Nwodo, has offered to lay down his life for internal democracy to thrive in PDP.

Nwodo who said the last vestiges of godfatherism would be destroyed in the party at its forthcoming mini convention stated that the party’s flag would only be flown by candidates who know what PDP stands for.

 He spoke Sunday night at a media interaction with senior editors which was attended by party functionaries including national organising secretary, Chief Uchena Secondus..

According to him, “I will offer myself to die so that an Obama can come up in PDP.  I will sacrifice myself for internal democracy in PDP”

He said the change he wanted to bring about in PDP was called removing the chain, pointing out the democracy he desired was not the one that will hold the people to ransom.

He also lamented the situation where PDP at a point was de-registering people rather than winning more members, saying the party at a time became a winning machine whereby was  “winning elections but not the heart of the people.”

He said: “We ‘re reforming our party for greater efficiency. We want to reinvent PDP for those elected on its platform to know the meaning of the party and its colour. We chose the colour white because Nigeria had seen war; we ‘re fighting today because we want those elected to lead us. Red stands for past leaders who sacrificed their lives to leave a legacy for the country. Those lives were sacrificed for peace and unity.”

He said the party was seeking  peace in all facet of the nation’s life. “PDP means peace and we will make sure we have peace,” he said.

Nwodo emphasised that  aspirants would not  represent the party without understanding its manifesto, adding: “Those who don’t have pact with the people will not represent the party.”