From statement by the National Working Committee (NEC) of Peoples Democratic party, has shown some indications that will not take punitive measures against the five aggrieved governors of the party.
As reported by rivnews on Wednesday, Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Seyi Makinde of Oyo states have been consistent in their call for the removal of the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
The Governors have agitating for an equitable distribution of the party’s elective offices in line with the PDP constitution noting that since Atiku Abubakar, who comes from the north emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, Ayu who is also from the North should bow out to give room for a Southerner to replace him.
There demand has subsequently lead to their resignation from membership of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 presidential election.
However, a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Bode George, stated that caution must remain the watchword as the party intensifies moves to pacify the aggrieved governors and their allies ahead of the 2023 polls.
He said, "As an elder, we will continue to appeal to Ayu to put on his thinking cap. Atiku should remain a nationalist because he wants to govern Nigeria.
"Even if the party wants to sanction them, the time is not now. As an elder of the party, if Atiku remains completely adamant that he will not listen and Ayu is blowing tantrums all over the place, whatever anybody wants to do, they will do it. These governors are not pawns on the chessboard, and Atiku should know this.
"Atiku can’t be talking about the constitution of the party now. Could he have emerged as a presidential candidate if we had not set aside our constitution? What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,"
"People are lying to Atiku, telling him he would win without these governors but he doesn’t know how angry our people (South-West) are. The whole North will vote for him and let’s see how he will get 25 per cent of the South-West’s votes.
Also the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, "The party in its wisdom has decided to tolerate them. Wike is trying to damage the ticket of Atiku Abubakar so that in 2023 he will position himself for the 2027 elections. If Wike damages Atiku’s ticket, won’t he need the support of Northerners to run in 2027? Wike is putting himself on the wrong side of history and those clapping for him do not know that he is using them for his advantage."
Also, a member of the PDP National Executive Committee and former National Secretary, Ibrahim Tsauri said Wike and his colleagues "are taking undue advantage of the powers they have," adding however that the party must continue to explore the path of reconciliation.
According to Tsauri, "The party cannot implement any sanction now because the PDP is a truly national party that is interested in progress, not divisions."
0 Comments