Former Jigawa State governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has called on former party leaders who defected to other parties to return to the PDP in order to help the party reclaim power in the 2027 general elections.
Lamido emphasized that the opposition would not succeed in challenging President Bola Tinubu through emotion and anger. Speaking to various groups from the Jigawa PDP chapters, who gathered for a breakfast meeting at his community in Bamaina, Birninkudu Local Government Area, Lamido insisted that the PDP alone has the capacity and strength to defeat President Tinubu—provided the party reunites and regains its strength.
He pointed out that many current leaders in other political parties were once part of the PDP and had held significant public offices under its banner. Lamido specifically appealed to former Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Peter Obi, and Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, urging them to return to the PDP and join forces with former presidents and vice presidents to address the current administration’s challenges and rescue Nigeria.
“You cannot succeed in fighting Tinubu by emotion; by anger or by trying to revenge, it is not possible. It is better for all the leaders and chieftains of the other opposition parties to come back home and join the remaining family members to achieve the desired objectives,” Lamido stated.
He reassured the defectors that there is no shame in returning to the PDP, urging them to rejoin the party with which they once achieved good governance between 1999 and 2015. “Come back to your home, there is no shame in coming back home. Rejoin your initial and trusted family members with whom you achieved and provided good governance in the country between 1999 and 2015.”
Lamido further argued that during times of national difficulty, it is crucial to focus on the collective vision of progress rather than personal grievances or emotional responses to the government. He added, “We need to be more reflective, sober and honest to ourselves in looking at the country. See what it was before this government came in, are we better off now than under PDP? The answer is no; we are worse.”
He also praised the PDP for its pivotal role in Nigeria’s history, stating, “Remove PDP from Nigerian history from 1999 till date, there is no Nigeria. All those who parade themselves as former governors, ministers and parliamentarians are all creations of PDP. They should come back home. There is no shame in coming back home.”
In closing, Lamido commended the remaining PDP leaders, members, and legislators for their commitment and foresight, highlighting their dedication to working for the social and economic well-being of the common people.