Convention will determine if PDP will survive or die, says BoT Chair

*Fayose urges party to keep voice up against APC
*Ekweremadu laments impunity in the land

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
THE Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Walid Jubrin, on Tuesday said that the outcome of the December 9 elective national convention of the party will determine the survival or death of the party.

This is even as he cautioned the PDP against any form of impunity and god fatherism, advising that every member should be treated equally.

The BoT Chairman said these yesterday at the opening of the 76th National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party held at its national secretariat in Abuja.

At the meeting, which was attended by the Governors of Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Ekiti states as well as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State among other chieftains of the party , Senator Jubrin advised that nothing should be done to harm the loyal members of the party who labored with their sweat to keep the party together.

His words, “there is need for proper home work and care before the convention. We must work towards producing trustworthy, able, dedicated officers.

“The success of our convention will depend on our unity and love for this party as the outcome is going to determine our successes or the death of our party as every Nigerian is waiting for PDP to come back and rule Nigeria again.

“We must must shun all forms of impunity and god fatherism. In PDP,, we must remain all equal and always respect the dignity of individuals, dynamism of leadership as well as the supremacy and decision of the party”, he said.

The Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi , who presided over the meeting, briefed the NEC members of some of the decisions taken so far such as the disciplinary actions against one of the party’s governorship aspirants in Anambra State, Mr Ifeanyi Uba among others.

Makarfi assured that whatever decision taken by the NEC of the party will be implemented by the NCC of the party, saying “we can’t run more than our legs can carry us”.

The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose, in his short speech pointed out that the last Convention of the party was applauded, expressed the firm belief that the coming one will be the same.
According to Fayose, who is the Governor of Ekiti State, “In this convention, there will be winner and loser, but in all, the party must win. Because you did not win should not make you to destroy the party”.
He noted that the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, “is now in many scandals, we have to keep our voices up.

Fayose observed with regrets that “Armed robbers are now calling people thieves, who is armed robbers now?
In his comments, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said, “We are quite happy with the quality of persons in the race to the PDP chairmanship. They promised to support whoever emerges as the Chairman”

Ekweremadu, however, noted with sadness that there is more impunity and corruption currently in the country, stressing that it now behoves on the PDP to change the change.

His words, “It is obvious that there is more impunity and corruption today. The way forward is to charge the charge. It is our responsibility to charge the charge and bring good leadership to the people.”.
Among those in attendance at the NEC meeting were; former Governors, Ministers, Chief Tom Ikimi, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu and Chief Bode George among others.