Two former chieftains of main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim and erstwhile National Chairman of main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh – yesterday expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to unite Nigerians.
They spoke after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Anyim, who was also Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, was accompanied by Metuh.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, the PDP bigwigs expressed satisfaction with the first steps of the President Tinubu administration.
They said there is hope for the country.
Anyim, who declared his aspiration in 2022 to contest the last presidential election, was suspended by the PDP in March for alleged anti-party activity, apparently for supporting the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Mr. Francis Nwifuru.
Also, Metuh had, last October, announced his resignation from the PDP and partisan politics.
In a letter, dated October 25, 2022 and addressed to the party’s national chairman, Metuh said his decision to leave the party was taken in the course of his recent medical trip abroad.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Anyim said though there were other heart-to-heart discussions, the visit was primarily meant to encourage and congratulate the President on his inauguration and the successes he has achieved.
“It was a great honour to pay a courtesy visit on the President and congratulate him, first and foremost, for his successful inauguration as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to encourage and congratulate him for the bold steps he has taken so far.
“We had a whole lot of heart-to-heart discussions, but primarily, it’s to congratulate him.”
Metuh expressed confidence that the Tinubu administration would unite the country.
“We came to see the President, to commend him for his very good takeoff, the policies he has brought, his inclusiveness, and, most of all, to canvass the idea of participatory governance, participatory democracy.
“We believe that for policies and programmes, there have to be options and alternatives for those programmes. But it’s only when we are together that we can achieve success.
“Our nation has bled for over eight years, but we believe that from now onwards, Mr. President has shown the way that the country will come together and then we’ll be able to live happily.”