From Cyril Mbah, Abuja.
Concerned by the worsening status of the party in national politics due to several lingering disputes among members, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has made a passionate appeal to warlords in the party and their followers to sheath their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the party.
Diri made the appeal in Abuja on Thursday at the PDP National Secretariat while speaking with newsmen soon after the inauguration of the Southsouth Caretaker Committee of the party.
Diri urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to focus energy and other resources in resolving the numerous internal challenges in the party to strengthen its capacity and position as a leading opposition party.
Gov. Diri said peace has become necessary because the party’s success depends on its ability to unite it’s members and stitch together every leaky area before the next general elections.
“The inauguration today was seen as a good step in the right direction. However, this is coming on the heels of the fact that a lot of people have accused the APC-led Federal Government of destroying democracy,” the governor said.
Diri stated that the PDP ought to assume it’s proper role as a strong opposition leader, saying that the role should not be based just on launching verbal attacks on the Federal Government.
“The main question now is whether the PDP can serve as a ready and vibrant opposition going forward. We have to look inwards. If you listen to the BOT chairman, we have to, first of all, fix our own problems,” he said.
The governor condemned members who fan crisis in the party simply by focusing on external issues while ignoring the internal weaknesses within the PDP.
“It’s very easy to point fingers at others, but what is happening within us? The PDP has to sit back and fix its own internal issues, problems and challenges. That is the only way we can stand up to compete with others in 2027,” he said.
Governor Diri called on PDP leaders to remold the party into a more competitive force in Nigerian politics, pointing out that the party still remains the oldest political association ín the country.
“We are indeed the oldest political party in Nigeria, so we have no reason to be accusing outsiders over our internal affairs. Let us look inwards and fix our challenges and I am sure that by the time we do that, we will be very competitive,” he stated even as he declared that no single individual is bigger than the party painting out that collective effort must be used to restore peace and PDP’s dominance in politics.
“The political will is with the people, the members of the party. The moment we all come to that resolution – that we need to fix our party – there can be no one person that is bigger than the party,” Diri said.
When asked where the newly inaugurated South-South Zonal Committee should work on in the party, Diri said that the mandate of the committee from the National Working Committee (NWC) was broad based and all-inclusive.
“They will look into every area that concerns the party. So, it’s not just one area,” he declared.
Earlier, the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum
inaugurated the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee under tight security and he called on party members to stop encouraging the meddlesome attitude of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in PDP affairs.
He charged PDP members to be courageous enough to resist the meddlesome antics of the APC stating that surrendering shows weakness and fear on the part of members.
Damagum said “I believe from your choices, some of you I have known and related with. I have no doubt that you will be diligent in your responsibility and usher in the new, soon-to-be-elected Executive Committee of the Zone.”
He said that the tenure of the previous Zonal Committee expired and that the caretaker committee was necessary ahead of the forthcoming Zonal Congresses just as he urged committee members to work with fairness and diligence, ensuring all-inclusive leadership that would reflect the party’s strength in the region.
Damagun expressed hope that the PDP will spring back to life before long, adding, “This party, the PDP, is still the party to beat. A party that has been tested for 27 years, one of the oldest parties. All these shenanigans you see around – the APC, the others – have not been more than 10 years old,” he said.
He expressed disappointment in the attitude of some members who surrender to APC’s alleged intimidation adding, “I’ve noticed that maybe because of fears, you find sometimes leaders encouraging this present administration at the center. I find it really very disgusting. Let’s tell ourselves the truth.
“So please and please, let’s be up and doing. Don’t fear anyone. Nigerians belong to all of us. There’s nobody who is a better Nigerian than you are,” he stated.
Chairman of the the newly inaugurated South-South Zonal Committee, Chief Emmanuel Ogidi, expressed gratitude for the latest opportunity to serve and pledged that members will carry out their duties with dedication.
“On behalf of the committee, I want to give thanks to God Almighty for this opportunity to serve and also to the National Working Committee for approving us,” Ogidi assured.
