The Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, was present at the commissioning the newly renovated Peoples Democratic Institute, PDI in Abuja on Friday.
According to Atiku, the PDI has the capacity to transform the country’s democratic institutions for economic growth and prosperity.
The former Vice President of Nigeria, said the Institute was conceived and nurtured by him years ago to serve as a training and research centre on democracy, leadership and good governance.
“Earlier today, I led other senior members of our great party, the PDP, to commission the Peoples Democratic Institute. It’s a development that I’m proud of, particularly. The Institute will play a key role in helping recover democratic values in our country and the sub-continent. -AA”
Atiku promised to secure a permanent site for the institute if elected President in 2023.
“Let me also thank the governor of Oyo State who made it possible by way of funding to reactivate this institute. I commend his patriotism and his sense of intellectual discourse; because the National Democratic Institute was established to promote research, training and other aspects of human development of our party. This institute will conduct a number of things from research to training to capacity building among other things.“
The PDP National Chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu said the political party has plans for Nigerians and it is the reason for the institute.
“No society develops by fiat. It comes about by the rigorous work of carefully studying situations and analyzing them before evolving and implementing sustainable solutions. That was the idea that birthed the PDI on 31st August, 2000.
“It was supposed to be the Think-tank for the Party, an ideation center for the rigorous intellectual work of research, socio-economic analysis, policy development, training and capacity building of political actors, and the strengthening of our democratic institutions and culture. And the PDI lived up to its bidding: it hosted programs for both domestic and international audiences, engaged in research-based publications, and contributed significantly to the capacity-building of our Party functionaries nationwide.“
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Idom Emmanuel, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, believes that the institute will develop the capacity of Nigerians for a deeper democratic knowledge and empowerment, adding that’ll: “Through this institute, we will develop people.”
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda said, people would through the institute learn the act of governance which would lead to the nation’s prosperity.
The Peoples Democratic Institute, PDI, is a centre for training, capacity building, research and development on democracy, leadership and good governance.
The institute also serves as a strategic intellectual and resource centre for the generation, articulation and transmission of ideas on Socio-Economic and political issues as well as a think tank for the Peoples Democratic party.
The Institute’s overall mandate is to promote democracy in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.