The presidential ticket of the Peoples Demoratic Party (PDP) should not be for the highest bidder but for the person with integrity, an aspitant Senator Ahmed Makarfi, said yesterday in Lagos.
Makarfi said contrary to certain opinions, money would not determine who picks the PDP ticket, and that money had never been a determinant factor in who became the President of Nigeria.
He said: “When did Nigeria start to produce Presidents because of resources? Former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and now Muhammadu Buhari did not become President based on money.
“In one of the southwest states I visited, a member said other aspirants have been giving them money and gifts, but I don’t have to give them money or gifts to vote for me in the primaries because they know I am the best man for the job.”
Makarfi said he was confident of picking the party’s ticket, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.
Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, was Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee. He is one of the 12 presidential aspirants.
The PDP aspirant, who has concluded meetings with PDP members in the Southwest, said his exceptional performance as chairman of the caretaker committee would give him an upper hand at the primaries.
“PDP has become a beautiful bride because of what I did. The party was considered dead until I came in as chairman of the caretaker committee and turned it round.
“No other presidential aspirant in the party has my pedigree. I have been assured of becoming the groom by members who are aware of those efforts and have sworn they will not sell their votes at the primaries.
“Since I joined the PDP, I have never left the party.
“My experience as a member of the Senate committee on finance for eight years is also an advantage. I will bring the experience to bear when I pick the ticket and emerge as president,” he said.
