Sokoto state governor and 2023 presidential aspirant Aminu Tambuwal, has explained why he left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 and returned to the PDP in 2018.
Mr Tambuwal said it was not because he had disagreements with any former President Goodluck Jonathan or President Muhammadu Buhari, but with some of their policies.
“It is all about this country, nothing personal and nothing selfish. It is about altruism, patriotism and building our country together.”
The Sokoto governor addressed a meeting with the former PDP Ministerial Forum, in Abuja on Thursday, describing himself as a perfect bridge between the older and younger generations of the country.
“By the grace of God I am in the middle, not too old to run and not too young not to run.
“So, I see that bridge that is all around, not too far from the youth and not too far away from the elderly and that is the bridge that Nigeria is looking for today that will unify this country.
Mr Tambuwal also advised the party to focus on who to sell to voters as candidates for the 2023 presidential election, which he said was injured.
He said the only way to save the country was for the PDP to produce someone who would better understand the country through its national conference.
“What is key for PDP is a candidate that we can all work to sell together, a candidate that we can all want to sell together.
“I believe I am that candidate that we can all work to sell together and win this election.
“What is important for the PDP is to be able to win elections, not where the person is coming from.”
Mr Tambuwal, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said Nigeria needed a candidate who was able to run in an election that was sensitive to national change, with organizations, organizations and friendships across the country.
“I can assure you that I have the understanding of the Nigeria situation today. I have federal administrative experience.
“Yes, I was more in the legislature, but it is a federal government and I understand the nuances and what issues are in governance.”
Chairman of the forum and former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, described 2023 elections as serious business for Nigeria considering the issues of insecurity, leadership failure and injustice.
He said the forum believed there was a need for Nigeria to have a leader who would be able to build strong friendship bridges in various areas.
“We need a hybrid kind of leader that will be a little bit to the left and a little bit to the right, while maintaining his stand in the centre.
“We need a leader that is cosmopolitan; we need a leader that can listen to advice; we need a leader that can wield respect for other People.”
Mr Turaki said as ministers they considered themselves to be key players in the production of party candidates.
