Odey made the statement while reacting to the claim of the All Progressives Congress and its supporters that the party has gone deep again into another round of crisis, which he debunked and said was a midwifing process, where it is naturally characterized by disagreements, negotiations and eventual understanding.
He said the party will be stronger when the legal mechanisms are properly put together for all leaders, members and supporters to have a sense of belonging in accordance with the tenets of internal democracy in respect to the rule of law and constitution of the country.
He said: “My quest for national office in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of which I’m a foundation member, has been largely actuated by patriotic zeal, with a vision to partner with the other national officers and party stakeholders to rebuild, rebrand and reposition the party that Nigerians and the international community can trust.
“And my mission in the office of the National Legal Adviser is to use my experience to revamp the legal departments at the headquarters, state offices and chapters to play major roles in the enforcement of party guidelines and compliance with the Party constitution, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with emphasis on alternative dispute resolution to reduce the unmanageable number of protracted litigation that virtually brought the party to Its knees in the past.
“With thirty years of active legal and political experience, and having represented the Peoples Democratic Party in over three hundred cases across the country in all strata of courts in mainly political cases, I’m well positioned to serve the party and country.”
According to him as an astute advocate of internal democracy there will be less conflicts and agitations within the party when members are afforded the requisite level playing field to aspire and contribute to the development of the party, as opposed to the negative consequences of impunity and imposition by those upon whom leadership has been entrusted by God through the people.
He also stated that being a gender sensitive social and political activist he will continue to advocate and support inclusiveness for women, and also promised support for the young people in the party to actualize their dream and political pursuit.
“As a gender sensitive social and political activist, I will continue to advocate and support inclusiveness for women.
“The youth are not too young to run for political offices. Our political elders of today started occupying high offices at very youthful age, and today’s young people must be given a chance to play their own part towards national growth”, he said.
