PDP will always keep you on your toes, Makarfi tells Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told President Muhammadu Buhari that it will always keep him on his toes.

Ahmed Makarfi, chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, said this on Friday during a meeting which his party members and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had with the president.

He assured Buhari of the party’s willingness to partner with him in ways that will strengthen Nigeria’s unity and “rebuild bridges of our beautiful relationships that seem to be cracking at the moment”.

Makarfi said the party was poised to play its role as an opposition “energetically, vibrantly, but very decently and with all sense of responsibility”.

He continued: “This we shall do by giving you a good run for your money and constantly keeping you on your toes as we all strive to make this country better.

“We identify with, and will continue to support the fight against terrorism as well as other crimes that have sneaked into our consciousness like kidnapping and banditry, as well as farmers/herdsmen clashes and other crimes camouflaged as such and all other anti-social vices that slow down our nation’s wheels of progress.

“We also offer our support for the fight against corruption and appeal that the institutions saddled with this onerous task be given a necessary encouragement and independence to do the right thing.”

Makarfi urged the president to show “greater respect” to court decisions as well as for the fundamental rights of Nigerians.

“There is no way we can have a respectable voice in the comity of civilized nations until we rebuild our institutions and imbue them with the necessary independence and confidence that will improve both their visage and standing with the citizenry,” he said.

“The government should lead the charge in this regard by, especially, exhibiting greater respect to judicial pronouncements as well as respecting the fundamental rights of all Nigerians.”