Mr. Tukur resigned as PDP chairman on Thursday.

Some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Oyo and Osun states, on Thursday said the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, would strengthen the party.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria on phone that the resignation would further strengthen the unity and development of the party.

AN Ibadan based politician, Lekan Balogun, said the resignation was a development that would usher in more progress for the PDP, which he said remained the biggest party in Africa.

Mr. Balogun said Mr. Tukur had made the sacrifice for the party to grow, adding that the move was a challenge to the aggrieved members to sheathe their sword too.

“I am happy that such which happens in the United States of America has happened in Nigeria. I am proud to be a member of the PDP,” he said.

Asimiyu Alarape, a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said that the resignation was a positive development for the unity and development of the party.

Mr. Alarape said that the action had shown that the PDP paraded visionary leaders who were always ready to bow to the popular demand of its members.

“The defection of party members should be addressed. The aggrieved persons who defected on the basis that they want Tukur to resign should return.

“Others who are threatening to go should by now sheathe their sword and not allow the party to collapse,” he said.

Adebisi Olopoenia, a PDP leader, also described the resignation as a positive development for the party to move forward.

“Bamanga Tukur has sacrificed for the party. We are looking forward to seeing those that have defected and those about to return.

“We are watching and we pray that it all works well for the party as we appoint a new chairman,” he said.

In Osun, the PDP’s Publicity Secretary in the state, Bola Ajao, said the resignation of Mr. Tukur would unite the party and make it stronger in the promotion of government’s transformation agenda.

“Soldiers go, Soldiers come, the barrack remains. We are in a democracy,” Mr. Ajao said.

Isaiah Folarin, a PDP leader in Osun, said the resignation of Mr. Tukur would pave way for reconciliation among party members.

Mr. Folarin added that there was the need for the party to put its house in order now that the 2015 general election was approaching.

In his reaction, a PDP governorship aspirant, Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, described Mr. Tukur`s action as a honourable step to resolve differences in the party.

Mr. Akinlabi said the party’s interest must override the personal interest of any member.

Another governorship aspirant, Iyiola Omisore, said Mr. Tukur had made a great sacrifice to ensure the transformation of the party.

“If Tukur’s resignation as National Chairman of the PDP would be a remedy to the crisis in the party, then we congratulate him for taking such a bold step,’’ he said.

Ropo Oyewole, the immediate former Deputy Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, said the resignation was a sacrifice for repositioning the PDP.

Mr. Oyewole added that the future of the party was more important than the interest of any individual member. He expressed the hope that the resignation would result in genuine fence mending in the party.

(NAN)