BoT, NWC, Govs Forum agree to rebuild PDP

By Tunde Opalana

A consensus was reached on Tuesday by organs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the need to rebuild and settle pre- and post – election crisis and reposition the party to provide qualitative criticism to negative policies and programmes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Board of Trustees (BoT) which is the conscience of the party, the National Working Committee (NWC) and the Governors Forum differently acknowledged that there should be genuine reconciliation towards a rebuilding process.

Leaders of the three organs of the party spoke at the 76th meeting of the BoT on Tuesday at the PDP national secretariat, Abuja.

Senator Adolphus Wabara, acting chairman of the Board of Trustees expressed concern that the party must not die but all stakeholders should make concerted efforts at rebuilding PDP.

Wabara said “the party must not die. If PDP goes under, democracy will go under as well. They want to turn Nigeria into a one party state, but we must fight to resist this. Hence, the need to fight to sustain the PDP”.

The chairman begged the NWC to bring back the party on track. He said there are many issues that must be resolved now that all election cases have been dispensed with. ” It is time to take charge”, he charged the NWC.

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Wabara said there are insinuations that the NWC have not been taking decisive disciplinary actions adding that they “look into faces before taking action”, which he said is not good enough.

The chairman said it is not in the constitutional purview of the BoT to take such disciplinary actions but asked the NWC to be alive to its responsibility .

“We need to do things the right way, we need to say things as they are,” he concluded.

Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Ilya Damagum in his remark adopted every position taken by the BoT chairman saying “now that electoral cases are over, there is no time to kich start the process of rebuilding the party, than now”.

While seeking the collaboration of all organs of the party as well as critical stakeholders, Damagum said, “the task of rebuilding the party does not start and stop with NWC, the BoT should take responsibility . It is a joint responsibility”.

On preparation for next week governorship primary in Edo State, the acting National Chairman said the party is in the process of getting its candidate for the state governorship election coming up in September, this year.

He promised that the NWC will provide equal access to all aspirants and ensure a rancour free primary.

The PDP Governors Forum on its part promised working with other organs in rebuilding the party.

Chairman of the Forum and governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed said PDP governors are concerned about the state of affairs of the party .

He said “we will work with other organs to rebuild the party , to minimizing internal crisis and rancour. The country needs our objective criticism of government actions and policies and we can effectively do that when we are united.

“There are some divisions here but we must close the ranks . As governors, we will give vibrant opposition to the government of the day.

“Our party must remain one we must be strategic, we will considers issues before we react and our party will remain. PDP will not go into the oblivion”.

In attendance at the meeting were; two past national chairmen, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, past national secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, past state governors like Emeka Ihedioha, Achike Udenwa, Babangida Aliu, Ibrahim Idris, Sule Lamido, Donald Duke and former Lagos Stats deputy governor, Kofoworola Akerele Bucknor.

Notable BoT members in attendance included, Chief (Mrs) Josephine Anenih, Chief. Shuaib Oyedokun, Tanimu Turaki, former minister for Special Duties.

Other NWC members that attended include; Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, and National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu.