A group, the Generation Next Collective (GNC), has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to be proactive in choosing the presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.

The group urged the PDP to be more circumspect, creative, and decisive in the process of selecting a candidate that would give it the best chance against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.

This, GNC called on the leadership of the opposition party to present the Governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 election.

According to the group, “Tambuwal’s privileged interactions with different interests would enrich the contest and brighten the chances of the PDP” in the next year general election.

GNC, in a statement issued on Thursday by its co-conveners, Barrister Ruth Edehemon and Malam Rufai Abdulahi, said: “With no prejudice to other prominent aspirants from the zone in PDP, the party should build consensus around someone with less controversy or negative public sentiments, with an unquestionable vigour for the demanding job of a president, essentially now that public scrutiny is rising over age and other physical variables of potential candidates, ahead of the general election.

“One person, in our estimation, that ticks the right boxes, is the Governor of Sokoto State, and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. A lawyer, lawmaker, public administrator and chief executive of a state in the past seven years, it is our view and those of many, that the PDP would not be making a mistake with his choice and wealth of experience.

“Tambuwal’s privileged interactions with different interests, sectors and segments in and out of the Nigerian society, would enrich the contest and brighten the chances of the PDP, should it act fast and rally its faithful, contacts and resources around him.

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“Democratic governance has become progressively very dynamic that a person with an invaluable hands-on experience in the legislature, judiciary, and executive arms of government, such as Governor Tambuwal, would be an asset to PDP’s quest to return to power in 2023.”

The group added: “Across the nation, there is a general consensus, that 2023 election, should as a matter of importance, answer some nagging questions, among which are equity, justice and inclusion, the key tripod that ensure democratic balance.

“And PDP as a democratic party, should not shy away from this conversation that is rooted in fairness and truth. Beyond sentiments, the South and North are deserving of fair play and inclusion, a twin democratic feature that have been unwittingly starved by the government in power and would require an urgent restoration for the common good and unity of our dear nation.”

The GNC further called on the main opposition party to address the “lingering ambiguity” over which zone should produce the party’s presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 election.

The group stated: “It is expedient that the PDP addresses the lingering ambiguity over which zone the presidential candidate should come from; and follow it up by building an honest purpose-driven, robust consensus, as may be allowed by law, around a suitable aspirant that possesses not only the leadership skill to unite the nation, but also be a veritable linkage between the older and the current generations; such that the sublimity of wisdom and restraint of leadership would find a meeting point with the treasure trove of the energy, creativity, and ingenuity of the youth demography.

“Incontrovertible records show that the PDP as a party has managed the affairs of the nation at the presidency level for 16 years. And it’s a fact that the Southern part of the nation had held sway for over 14 years of the 16, through former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo 8 years (1999 -2007) and Goodluck Jonathan, 6 years (2010 – 2015). While the North had only ruled for a little over two years under the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua, who unfortunately died in office.

“So, we strongly believe that rather than this disturbing silence that is eliciting enflamed passion and seeming confusion, over the zone that should be supported for presidency in 2023 in the PDP, the party should be bold to speak up by putting this record into consideration, bring its leaders from both the North and South on a round table, address their deferent sentiments, do necessary in-house negotiations and present a formidable, united front that would give the party a meaningful chance in the challenge ahead.”

TheStar