PDP Chairmanship: Aspirants intensifies lobby, consultation

…..Next national chairman critical to PDP’s survival – Sen. Ogbeha

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Tunde Ogbeha, has said that the choice of next National Chairman of the party at the December Convention is critical to its survival.

Ogbeha stated this when Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a national chairmanship aspirant of the party, visited him in Abuja on Sunday.

This is even as another chairmanship aspirant of the party and former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel also former Minister of Defence, Gen. TY Danjuma (Rtd.).

Ogbeha said whoever emerges new national chairman of the party will determine its performance in the 2019 general elections.

“The national convention of December will make or break the PDP in the sense that whosoever emerges as chairman will be critical to the survival of the party.

“I think we are just trying to get out of `intensive care unit’. If we will get out of it, we need a proper chairman to make sure that PDP is brought back to life.

“Why I said it is very critical is that we have so many people who have thrown their hats into the ring and one is not in a position to ascertain how passionate and determined these aspirants are,” he said.

Ogbeha, a former military governor of Akwa Ibom and old Bendel, stressed the need for the convention to be conducted in a transparent, honest, fair and equitable manner.

“I think that may be, some of us have not learnt our lessons; we have all been singing it, `it’, being the new national anthem of the PDP that no more impunity.

“We are talking about justice, fairness and equity. We must not be seen to just be singing it; I think we should put them into practice,” he said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ogbeha advised PDP governors to allow the wishes of the people to prevail and called on the party members to resist any form of impunity.

“In fact, when PDP was on the brink, we thought of an alternative platform which we all subscribed to, but thank God we did not get to that option B. Now that we still have the option A in our hands, we must nurture it to fruition.’’

Ogbeha, who expressed confidence in Dokpesi’s capability to lead the PDP, prayed for him and assured him of his total support.

He pledged to use his influence to mobilise support for the aspirant, adding that the support was to ensure that Nigerians benefited from the dividends of democracy.

“I have worked closely with Dokpesi during the trying times of the PDP to ensure that the party did not go down, and today PDP is alive. We still have more hurdles to cross if PDP is to survive and form a government in 2019.

“To that effect, we need a leader with focus who possesses the attributes the high chief himself has laid down,’’ he said.

A former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, who was also visited by Dokpesi, advised PDP members to stand up for a free and fair convention.

He said that those who caused leadership problems for PDP were at it again by trying to bring in the old National Working Committees members.

“If you bring in any member of the former NWCs, it is like dropping small urine in pure water; you have contaminated it and it will not be fit for drinking. If we allowed them before, we will not repeat the same mistake,’’ Mantu stressed.

He commended Dokpesi for the bold steps taken in visiting a co-contestant, describing him as “a man that has all that it takes to lead PDP.’’

Earlier, Dokpesi had said that his visit was in continuation of his consultation towards the attainment of the goals and objectives to have a reformed and rebuilt PDP.

According to him, PDP needs men of honour and integrity who will stand firm for a united Nigeria, its growth and development.

“A man that will stand to strengthen, organise, revamp and rejuvenate the PDP in order to enable the party regain power in 2019,’’ he said.

Also, as part of his consultations and campaign to be elected as the next Chairman of the PDP, Otunba Daniel was in the home of Gen. TY Danjuma (Rtd.).

Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, popularly called OGD visited the former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff in his residence in Lagos.

The visit to the respected ex-army general and prominent Nigerian, it was learnt, was OGD’s way of carrying all the people that matter in the country along in a bid to rebuild the biggest party in Africa.

It was reliably gathered that the tete-a-tete that lasted for about three hours was exciting as the General went down memory lane and encouraged OGD to march forward with confidence.

Danjuma reportedly made OGD realise the need to move the PDP forward, making it relevant once again and repositioned for success in the forthcoming general elections in the country.

The respected elder statesman was said to have thrown his weight behind the candidature of OGD for the election and advised him to get as much support as he could, while declaring that his chances were high.

On his part, OGD was said to have promised all those who believe in his capacity to move the party forward at this time and added that he was fully prepared for the task ahead if elected as the next chairman of the party in the forthcoming convention.

It will be recalled that OGD had visited the likes of former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), ex-governor of Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, and former head of state, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar.

Other people that OGD has consulted on his ambition included a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema and former President Olusegun Obasanjo amongst several others.

According to reports, all the prominent Nigerians and senior members of the PDP so far visited promised to work for OGD’s success as the next chairman of the party.

Reports indicated that they all believe that time was ripe for the PDP to be led by a man with enviable achievements such as OGD who, they all agreed, recorded brilliant feats as governor of Ogun State for eight years and has continued to excel as a businessman.