2019: nPDP talks tough
A leader of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Kawu Baraje, has said the group is ready to return to the negotiation table with the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the party provides a “welcoming environment.”
Last week, nPDP pulled out of a planned meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, in protest against the withdrawal of someDepartment of State Services operatives attacjed to the four principal officers of the National Assembly.
Saraki and Dogara are members of nPDP, a faction of the ruling party which left the PDP in 2013; to team up with the APC for the 2015 elections.
On May 7, the group wrote to the APC National Chairman, Chief John-Odigie-Oyegun, and listed several grievances.
They demanded a meeting with Oyegun and President Muhammadu Buhari in seven days.
They complained that despite the role they played in bringing APC to power in 2015, they were neglected in the scheme of things by the administration.
But, Baraje, who spoke on Televisison Continental (TVC), a Lagos-based stations, said they wrote the letter because they were ready for peace talks.
He added that if the party decided to act otherwise and “call our bluff”, the nPDP will then take a decision. He, however, did not state what the decision will be.
“We are ready to go back for peace talks. If we were not ready, we wouldn’t have raised that letter.
“For us to go back, the environment must be welcoming.
“Anytime the environment returns to normal, we are ready to go back but, the earlier the better because the party really does not have the luxury of time if it wants to win the 2019 elections.
“If they call our bluff, we will go back and take a decision. Baraje is just providing leadership for the group.
“Let the APC call our bluff first then we will go back to the people who sent us and they will take a decision.
“If you represent a group and the interest of that group is not being taken care of, you will have to look for a place where you will be catered for.
“Every individual has aspirations; if your aspiration will not be taken care of in a particular space, you have to change base.
“As far as the nPDP is concerned, we want to go into any group where there will be good governance,” said Baraje.
