Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and frontline leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), told ALABI WILLIAMS that only God could decide what would happen in 2015.COULD you make clarifications on reports that you are rallying former PDM members towards 2015; is the PDM still of strong relevance, considering that you could not count on it during the presidential primary of January 13, 2011'The PDM, as a political movement, which gave the PDP a foothold in 1998-99, is bigger than me, or any individual member. You have to understand that the PDM is not a political party; it is a political idea, which will continue to survive partisanship and the tumultuous waters of Nigerian politics.Today, its members are spread across all political parties. That these members are regrouping as part of the re-alignment of forces towards 2015 is also part of the democratic process.As responsible adults, I cannot stop them from meeting to share ideas. I have no right in a democracy to say PDM members should not meet to discuss their interest as long as their interest does not conflict with the interest of the nation.On the issue of support, do not forget that I didn't go into the January 2011 presidential primary as a PDM candidate; I went into the race as a member of the larger PDP family. Therefore, whether PDM did or did not support my aspiration back then was never an issue.On what you call the PDM generation and governors that shifted loyalties, we should not forget that in every political party, there is a collection of other interests that form the larger body. That is the reality of political organisations. Whether as governors or any form of interest groups within a political party, aspirants reach out and negotiate with these interests.On your question of relevance, every interest group in a democracy has its own relevance in the re-alignment of forces. I cannot dismiss any group as irrelevant. Interests re-assert themselves from time to time in a democracy. Negotiations and bargains are part of politics, something they call horse-trading.So, are you still interested in 2015'Let me assure you that politics does not recognise the language of finality. In 1999, General Obasanjo openly said he didn't want to be a president when interest groups approached him to contest. Ultimately, he found himself the candidate of the PDP. Former President Shehu Shagari had wanted to be a Senator, but he ended up a President. Political decisions are, therefore, contextual and fluid.To answer your question directly, I am not driven by personal ambition but by the burning desire to contribute positively in the affairs of my country at whatever level once the opportunity presents itself. We should not conflate the two. Only God will determine what becomes of any individual at any point in time and 2015 is not going to be different.Do you believe in the capacity of the present PDP leadership to reform and reach out to estranged members'The new PDP leadership under my brother, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has declared its commitment to initiate reforms. To achieve that, however, the leadership needs the support of all. My expectation is to see these reforms and reconciliation effectively implemented before 2015 so that the party will remain relevant to the needs and aspirations of Nigerians. It takes a lot of courage and political will to implement reforms.For the reforms to succeed, every member of the PDP, no matter his position, should unite behind the national leadership of the party. Therefore, it is not about whether the new PDP leadership is capable or not, but that it should not be expected to succeed without support.The biggest challenge to the leadership of the PDP is confidence building and mobilising stakeholder cooperation and goodwill.Will northern political leaders, such as Adamu Ciroma, still be relevant in 2015'Even in retirement or private life, elder statesmen like Adamu Ciroma are still relevant in the life of this country. They have valuable advice and ideas to share with others. Their opinions are sought from time to time.Ciroma is a patriotic Nigerian and a man of integrity. Even if others disagree with him for whatever reason, you must admire his courage of conviction.The fact that a man is in private retirement from active politics does not mean that he automatically becomes irrelevant. Mallam Adamu Ciroma looms large on the political horizon of Nigeria and he is widely respected by the people. I don't believe he will be irrelevant just because he is outside active politics. We need statesmen like Adamu Ciroma because of their invaluable experience and strength of conviction.
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