PDP can’t make Nigeria one party state - Ciroma

Idowu Samuel and Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja - 07.05.2008

THE Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention Planning Committee, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, on Tuesday said the party could not turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Mallam Ciroma told the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party that the option of a one-party state would be inimical to its own well being and that of Nigeria.

Ciroma advised the National Chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, not to clamour for a one party state for Nigeria with PDP in the picture if he ever hoped for the continuous growth of the party in the country.

Ogbulafor had recently made case for a one party state in Nigeria and expressed the resolve of the party to remain in power for the next 60 years.

Ciroma spoke when he led members of the PDP convention committee to the national secretariat of the party to submit the report of the last PDP convention to the NWC members.

He said PDP could not afford to keep other political parties at bay if it was desirous of growth as, according to him, the PDP needed the opposition parties to compete with and assess itself always in its desire to be a dynamic party.

Ciroma also charged other political parties not to sit on the fence and watch the PDP dictate the political tune in the country.