By Hussaina Yakubu
The National Chairman of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, says the party has resolved to rebuild unity and strengthen internal reconciliation efforts following a strategic meeting with party elders in Kaduna on Thursday.
Baba Ahmed, who spoke with journalists after the meeting, described the deliberations as productive and focused on resolving long standing challenges affecting the party.
He said the gathering brought together concerned elders of the PRP who were committed to restoring cohesion and repositioning the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is the meeting of PRP elders, some concerned elders who requested to meet with me as national chairman.
“It has been a very productive meeting. There have been massive problems in the past in the party.
“Our effort here is to try and resolve these problems, either in one sitting or on a gradual basis. It has been useful,” he said.
The chairman expressed appreciation to the elders for what he described as their constructive and responsible approach during the discussions.
According to him, the party is now building a consensus on how to address internal disagreements and move forward as a united political platform.
“A number of people are aware of the fact that some PRP members have been left behind, but we are now building a consensus around how we can solve this problem.
“PRP is now on the road to providing the next leadership in this country and, with the support of these elders here, we will do so by the grace of God,” Baba Ahmed said.
He added that the party leadership and elders had agreed to work together to strengthen the PRP nationwide.
“We have millions of members of the party, but these are some of the elders who have been members of this party for more than 30 years.
“They have seen every element of the history of this party.
“We have now agreed to work together. We have identified some problems and we will work towards resolving them.
“But we now have a healthy party with one leadership and we are trying to involve everybody,” he added.
Baba-Ahmed urged party members across the country to remain confident in the leadership and legacy of the PRP, adding that the current leadership has also been reaching out to them from Abuja and assuring them that we are available and willing to work together.
“We are ready to contest the 2027 election, either on our own or in some kind of alliance with others, and we believe we stand a very good chance of forming a government,” he said.
Also speaking, elder statesman and longtime PRP member, Alhaji Shehu Isa Kaita, said the meeting marked a turning point in the party’s internal affairs.
Kaita said many older members who played major roles in sustaining the party over the years had previously been sidelined, but were now being reintegrated into party activities.
“Today’s meeting was as a result of the invitation of the present chairman of the PRP.
“We were mostly old members together with Malam Balarabe Musa’s associates, and for some time we were not involved in running affairs of the party despite the fact that we carried the party for more than 20 years,” he said.
He commended the current leadership for reaching out to elders and restoring confidence among longstanding members.
“Now that we have seen his desire for progress in the party, we are willing and ready to inform our people that the PRP is set to move forward and, by God’s grace, take over government,” he added.
Kaita noted that previous misunderstandings within the party stemmed largely from the actions of former leaders who allegedly neglected committed members.
“Many active people in the party were neglected, but we never formed a faction.
“Now, that era is over. We will participate fully in all party activities because we have now seen the willingness to accommodate us,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the renewed cooperation between elders and the current leadership would positively impact the party’s fortunes ahead of future elections.
“People across the country respect us and look up to us for direction.
“Now that we are fully involved and have seen the capacity of the present leadership, we are ready and willing to work with him for the betterment of the party.
“Within the next one or two weeks, Nigerians will begin to see a positive change in the prospects of the party,” Kaita said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
