Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur will not quit the political scene just yet, despite clocking 78 years last Sunday.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Oliver Okpala, Tukur debunked suggestions of senility in some quarters, saying he remains a force to be reckoned with in partisan politics, and enjoining younger politicians to show him respect and learn from him.
“We, the older politicians should not be written off yet, or regarded as spent political forces. We are still relevant to the nation and the younger politicians will benefit from our experience, wise counsel, guidance and discipline,” he said in the release.
“At my age, I feel obliged at this point to give back to society the benefit of my experience. Experience, they say, is the best teacher and experience is a commodity of inherently high value.
“Our country will progress more rapidly with the right blend of old and young politicians. This will facilitate cross-fertilization of ideas and frank exchange of views on how to move the country forward. No young generation that treats her old and experienced statesmen without respect and decorum ever succeeds.”
Speaking further, he urged the country’s politicians to see politics as an avenue and opportunity to offer selfless and meaningful services to the people, conduct themselves responsibly, and be discrete in their actions and utterances to avoid overheating the polity.
“Politics is a noble process and that it would be nobler if politicians played the game in line with the rules, party constitutions and the country’s constitution,” he went on.
“Discipline is a sine qua non to party politics. Any organisation which lacks the capacity or the moral authority to instil discipline in its members is doomed. The need for politicians to be disciplined cannot be overemphasized.
“We cannot expect Nigerians to entrust their destiny into the hands of politicians if the politicians do not believe in themselves. Like Caesar’s wife, a politician must be above board in all ramifications.”
