Kayode Sesan
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will hold an emergency meeting next Monday to resolve the controversy over who becomes its National Chairman, which is zoned to the North-east.
Former Political Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, had recently declared himself as the party’s National Chairman, sparking off controversy among party stalwarts.
The Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna, described the inability of the North-east zone of the party to present somebody for the chairmanship position as disappointing and embarrassing.
According to him, “It is very disappointing and embarrassing that the North-east zone cannot present any person for the national chairmanship of the party to replace Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu who has since resigned even if it is for one day.”
He advised against all kinds of selfishness and impunity, warning that the party would not allow anybody or group of people with personal ambition to destroy the party.
According to the statement, “With the continuous postponement of the zonal meeting, it has become very necessary that the BoT hold an emergency meeting on Monday to review the situation and recommend a suitable to be appointed as the chairman.
“All kinds of impunity and self-centeredness highlighted by the Ekweremadu committee must stop in the PDP if the party is to take over mantle of leadership in 2019.
“We must realise that we are now in the opposition having ruled the country for 16 years. We must therefore exhibit effective and objective opposition.
“Above all, we must learn a lesson from the death of the late Abubakar Audu of Kogi State. With any ambition, one can die within a second without achieving such ambition.
“The party constitution must always be followed strictly with any culprit to be disciplined no matter how highly placed.”
Meanwhile, the party has said as part of the key reforms being proposed ahead of its national convention in March, youths and women members will now have more influence in the affairs of the party.
The new posture by the party came just as the leadership has been forced to put off the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) earlier scheduled for today due to the failure by its north-east stakeholders to agree on a consensus candidate to fill the vacant national chairmanship position.
While receiving the report of the party’s constitution review committee, the Acting National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, said the new thinking of the party was that the youths and women should be provided with opportunity to participate more in the decision-making process at the highest level in the party.
“This is to demonstrate that the PDP is the only political party that is open to all irrespective of age, religion or ethnicity. Indeed, this party is the only one that represents the interest of Nigerians, “he said.
He said the report will be circulated to various states and organs of the party with a view to adopting the aspect of the recommendations that will help to reposition the party.
He assured that the document will be circulated and studied by the party members for scrutiny before the national convention, adding that effort will be made to give more emphasis to increased participation of the youths and women in the decision- making process of the party.
According to him, from all indications, it was becoming clearer that the PDP remained the party of the people, adding that it is the only party in the country that after the elections has subjected it’s constitution and operational modes to suit the yearnings of the Nigerian people.
“ This report will be studied carefully in line with the constitution of our party and the country’s laws to make sure that we produce the best document that will in the bet interest of our people in trying to being back past glory and to reinvigorate ourselves as an opposition party. We believe that this document when taken to the national convention and approved will be the best document that will attract all Nigerians to the party.
A member of the constitution review committee, Senator Ibrahim Mantu said that the constitution of every organisation is like a Bible adding that once you get it right things will definitely go right.
He said he had been involved in several constitutional review processes but that this one had no hidden agenda or interferences from any quarter.
According to him, the review of the party’s constitution was done in a manner as to reflect all the worries and concerns of Nigerians, adding that since the party has been the one that operated the flawed processes before now, it has a better opportunity to correct what was wrong.
Speaking while presenting the committee’s recommendations the head of the 50-man Panel was Victor Kwon, said that after an extensive debate and considerations of issues by members, their report is ready for submission.
He urged the leadership and members of the party to look at the contents of the report dispassionately for onward presentation to the NEC for approval and adoption.
Meanwhile, there are indications that party has decided to put on hold it’s earlier planned meeting of the NEC today to allow more time for the PDP stakeholders from the north-east to settle their disagreement over the replacement for the former national chairman, Adamu Muazu.
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