By Laleye Dipo in Minna
Barely 48 hours after regaining his freedom, the Niger State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Tanko Beji, has said he is now prepared for the 2019 political battle in the country.
Beji, who was granted bail by a Minna High Court last Friday after spending four days in the Minna medium security prison and another nine days in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cell in Abuja, regained his freedom after meeting the stringent conditions handed down by Justice Aliyu Maiyaki.
Speaking with journalists in Minna Sunday, he said: “What has happened has made me stronger and prepared me for the tasks ahead. I am out now, I am ready for the tasks ahead and other challenges.”
Beji said what he had gone through was part of the learning process in politics in a developing country, adding that he was destined to pass through the path.
“I hold no grudge against anybody. I believe in destiny and faith as a Muslim. I have been destined to toe this line, there is nothing anyone can do about it.
“What goes around must always come around,” he said and counselled politicians to desist from persecuting and intimidating their opponents.
The PDP chieftain admonished the party supporters not to be “intimidated by the clampdown on our leaders, instead what is happening should strengthen us for the great task ahead”.
He expressed gratitude to those who stood by him during his travails, especially the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the media, “our party supporters and my immediate and distant relations”.
Beji asked the people of the state to continue to pray for the peace and stability of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
“As true believers, we should shun acts capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order in our communities and also cooperate with law enforcement agencies to secure our society,” he said.
