Two delegates to the National Conference representing North Central, Mr. John Dara and Gbemi Saraki on Wednesday said the national conference was not a waste of resources.
Some Nigerians had said that the conference was a waste of time and resources.
But Dara and Saraki stated that the conference was a golden opportunity for Nigerians to build bridges and discuss issues that could strengthen the unity and development of the country.
They spoke in separate interviews with journalists after registering as members of the Peoples Democratic Party during the PDP membership registration exercise.
While Dara registered at Ipee Ward in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Saraki registered at Ajikobi Ward in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
They all expressed satisfaction at the large turnout of people for the registration, adding that it was a signal that PDP was a strong party in the state.
Dara claimed that at the end of the registration exercise, no fewer than 400,000 people would have registered as PDP members.
According to him, this was a clear signal that PDP will win all elections in the state.
He added that it also showed that Kwara residents had rejected the leadership of Dr. Bukola Saraki who was a governor of the state for eight year. Bukola is currently the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Environment.
“The National Conference is a big opportunity for Nigeria. We have been very worried about the future of our country. What the conference has done is that, through the wisdom of President Goodluck Jonathan, we now have a platform where all grievances and disagreements can be brought on the table. Then we, as mature and patriotic citizens, will find solutions to the problem.
“The implication is that at the end of this conference, Nigerians would have exercised boldness in taking the country in the direction it ought to go and speedily move on to the Promised Land so that Nigeria will fulfilled its destiny as the greatest black nation in the world and to be among the top nations of the world in 50 years or thereabout.”
Saraki said it was necessary for Nigerians to discuss so as to strengthen the bond of unity and progress of the nation.
She urged residents of Kwara State to remain peaceful and focused for better governance and improvement in their welfare.
“We have over 150m people with so many ethnic tribes and different languages. We have over 300 languages in Nigeria, and we live together in harmony. We need to talk constantly. We need to have confab and to keep making adjustments for improvement. The manner we want to live changes and our relationship with people change. So I do not see how coming together to discuss can be a waste of resources.
“I am very happy as the turnout for PDP registration is very massive. I am particularly happy by what I have seen in my ward, Ajikobi ward, and I know that this is the same exercise in other parts of the state. So we are pleased to have seen the development and improvement and a reflection of PDP in Kwara State.
“We should be peaceful, focus and close ranks. PDP Kwara has shown that from every point in time, from when the President came, that by our action and not by our words only, that we are solidly on ground.
“It is not gimmicks. We are not making figures of how many people that have registered or not registered. We are talking of genuine people that have come out. We are excited and that people are happy to associate and embrace PDP,” Saraki said.
