The newly Inaugurated National Reconciliation Committee of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged to heal divisions within the party and rally members behind a common goal ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, Chairman of the committee, Professor Pat Utomi, described the assignment as both humbling and challenging, saying the future of Nigeria depended largely on the success of the reconciliation process.

Utomi commended the party leadership for recognising the importance of reconciliation, while lamenting what he described as the growing culture of self-interest in Nigerian politics.

According to him, the tendency of political actors to focus on personal ambition rather than the collective good had weakened national unity and hindered progress.

He urged aggrieved members of the party to embrace reconciliation, stressing that the country’s greater good outweighed individual interests.

“We’re calling out to all our compatriots. People have been hurt in different ways, but the greater good will profit everyone just as it profits those who may be temporary winners,” he said.

Utomi said Nigeria’s political class must work together to “bake a bigger cake” capable of lifting the country and the African continent out of its current challenges.

He noted that Nigeria owed it to future generations to reclaim its leadership role in Africa, arguing that prolonged political divisions had prevented the country from realizing its full potential.

The economist also disclosed that he was involved in developing the NDC’s manifesto and policy framework, revealing that the party intended to place young people at the centre of its vision.

With Nigeria’s median age estimated at 19.5 years, Utomi said the country must create opportunities that would enable young Nigerians to become global champions.

He urged party members to set aside petty differences and actively involve young people in nation-building, saying every member who participated in the reconciliation process would have a role to play in building a better Nigeria.

“There is nobody who has entered this process that will not have a place in building this great Nigeria,” he said.

He added that the committee would encourage members to focus on expanding opportunities for everyone rather than competing over what he described as a “small cake.”

Also speaking, the committee’s Co-Chairman, Buba Galadima, thanked the National Working Committee of the party for the confidence reposed in the committee members.

Galadima acknowledged that reconciling aggrieved members would not be easy but expressed confidence that the committee’s experience and wisdom would help it accomplish its task.

He described the reconciliation effort as the beginning of the party’s journey to electoral victory in 2027.

The elder statesman noted that political contests naturally produced winners and losers, saying it was unrealistic for every aspirant to emerge as a party candidate.

Using an example from Kano State, he said a constituency where dozens of aspirants sought a single ticket demonstrated why disappointment was inevitable after party primaries.

Galadima, however, argued that the country’s Electoral Act made it extremely difficult for opposition parties to conduct primaries without disputes.

He maintained that some provisions of the law hindered internal democracy and created conditions that often generated rancour during candidate selection.

The NDC chieftain alleged that the existing electoral framework favoured the ruling party and made it harder for opposition parties to produce candidates through peaceful processes.

Despite the challenges, Galadima said the committee would remain patriotic and committed to persuading aggrieved members to place Nigeria’s interest above personal ambition.

He appealed to party members to support the reconciliation process, expressing confidence that unity within the NDC would strengthen its chances in future elections.

Galadima assured the party leadership that the committee would serve as ambassadors of peace and work to restore harmony across the party’s ranks. (Nigerian Tribune)