- His stay no longer tenable, says Bala
- Makinde: I’m fully with him
The split among the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is widening.
A group of National Working Committee (NWC) members met with Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Tuesday and got a message.
Another group led by Acting National Chairman Illiya Damagum met yesterday with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. They got another message.
While the Bauchi State Governor said the party would send Damagum packing because his stay had become untenable, Makinde said in Ibadan that he was giving 100 per cent support to the acting national chairman.
Mohammed hosted members of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) yesterday at the time that Damagum was in Ibadan.
Reading the communique of his meeting with a faction of the NWC, he said: “My brother from the Northeast is currently serving as Acting National Chairman, which is constitutionally inappropriate.
“According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated.
“Northcentral has been eager for this opportunity, and we’ve discussed this issue.
“We are committed to working with the NWC and the party to ensure that the Northcentral is given the chance to assume this responsibility.”
He said such an arrangement was worked out after the resignation of Alh. Bamanga Tukur from the Northeast, when former Governor of Bauchi State, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, became the PDP National Chairman.
The NWC team that met with Mohammed was led by the National Legal Adviser, Kamaluddeen Adeyemi.
With him were National Publicity Secretary Debo Olagunagba and National Vice Chairman (Northeast) Emmanuel Bovao.
Others were National Treasurer Ahmed Yayari, National Women Leader Amina Bryhm and National Financial Secretary W. A Daniel.
There were also DG-PDP Governors Forum Agbo Emmanuel and Consultant Agu Emmanuel.
But, Makinde pledged full support for Damagum, who was in Ibadan for the turning of the sod for the rehabilitation of the Ladoke Akintola airport.
The Oyo governor said: “I am glad also that our Acting National Chairman and members of his NWC are here.
“I was reading yesterday (Tuesday) that there was another meeting in Bauchi by some NWC members.
“Let me say clearly that I have been discussing with my brother and let me tell you that we are 100 per cent in support of Damagum-led NWC.
“Whatever decision you take, we will support you to reposition our party.
“Let me also say this: I don’t think this is the right time…Even if we have issues within ourselves, we have an important election on Saturday.
“So, we should all just rally around and deliver our candidate.”
Dispelling speculations that he is not in support of Edo PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo, Makinde said: “I was away. I already fixed the meetings in Finland and Sweden when they fixed the Edo governorship grand finale rally. I couldn’t come.
“I thought I would manage to get to Nigeria that Saturday and tongues have been wagging that I wasn’t at the rally.
“Let me declare loud and clear that Seyi Makinde is 100 per cent with our candidate Asue Ighodalo in Edo State and it is the Edo people’s decision.
“If the people of Edo want to know the difference between delicious and nutritious, you should vote for Asue Ighodalo and deliver him as your next governor. He will give you nutrition.”
‘APC planting moles in Rivers PDP’
Mohammed accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately planting moles within the PDP in Rivers State.
The governor alleged that the ruling party’s strategy is to fuel internal divisions for political gains.
Mohammed made the accusations when the PDP BoT visited him.
Mohammed expressed concern over the ongoing power struggle within Rivers PDP between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the APC-led government.
He said: “We have to close ranks but it is something that is baffling some of us.
“No challenge is not insurmountable. It will be surmounted by the grace of God and we will find a solution to that and that is why there is a problem.
“It is only PDP with the experience of governance that is being challenged. And you will notice that this is a creation of the other side (the APC).
“They want us to be in disarray; the crisis is the creation of the APC. They always want to have moles within us; they want to know what is happening within us.”
Mohammed said efforts were on to unify the party, adding: “We cannot compromise the peace and unity of our great party.”
BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara commended Mohammed for his initiatives in resolving the crisis, expressing the BoT’s willingness to support his efforts.
Wabara said the BoT plans to engage the two factions in Rivers in separate meetings to address the issues.
Wabara further expressed disappointment with the ongoing challenges in the PDP, particularly the NWC’s actions and the leadership crisis in Rivers.
“We are not happy with what is happening in the party, and I think Nigerians too are not happy with what is happening in the PDP, particularly in Rivers,” he said.
