konknaijaboy | On 02, Sep 2013

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has given the rationale behind the forming of a new Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee.

Abubakar stated that the party is being run aground by those who know little or nothing about party politics saying, “I have said it before and I am saying it again, that we are going in a wrong direction, now we have seen the result.

[READ: It gets worse: Atiku, 7 governors walk out of PDP convention (PHOTOS)]

He said this shortly after the new factional chairman of the party, Kawu Baraje gave his address.

The former vice-president implored other members of the party to join the new PDP so as to “restore the values of the founding fathers of this party.”

Atiku reportedly said: “Today is a very historic day in the life of our party. It is also a day of mixed feelings. It could also be a day of of happiness. It could also be a sad. Sad because the party we conceived in 1998 to be a rallying point for all Nigerians to be a source of unity, to be a party that will fulfill the aspirations of Nigerians, has today be dragged down by people who don’t even understand what party politics is all about.

“So, or sometimes I have always been trying to draw attention of leaders of our party, and the leaders of government that this democratic dispensation is supposed to make things better for the people of this country.

“Let us not deceive ourselves, the country is full of frustration, the country is full of anger, is full disappointment, therefore we have a responsibility, to see how we can reform our great party so that those lofty ideals, lofty goals can be achieved. They can not be achieved by the present leadership of the party. It cannot be achieved even by the presidency.

“I have said it before and I am saying it again, that we are going in a wrong direction, now we have seen the result.

“We are losing the party, we are losing the government, and for this very courageous people seated here, this idea was mooted to see whether we still have men with courage and determination to get up and stand up.

“I will therefore want to appeal to the rest of our party members who are still sitting on the fence to join this new PDP.

“I want to assure you we will restore the values of the founding fathers of this party. Let me thank all you for the courage and support to stand up because some people will be hiding somewhere. By the grace of God with your support, with your loyalty, the change will be achieved,” Atiku stated.