A power bloc within the All Progressives Congress, (APC) the New PDP has accused President Muhammadu Buhari administration of marginalising its members in the distribution of party patronage and policy contributions.
In a petition dated April 27, 2018 and signed by former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Alhaji Kawu Baraje and former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, chairman and secretary of the NPDP, respectively, they declared that apart from being denied party patronage, there has been general lack of consultation, non recognition and even persecution of former New PDP members and leaders by the party and government.
Recall that Aliyu Wamakko and Rabiu Kwankwaso and Abdul Fatah Ahmed, then sitting governors of Sokoto, Kano and Kwara dumped the erstwhile ruling party, the PDP for the erstwhile main opposition party in 2014 ahead of the general elections. Also in the team were Murtala Nyako, Rotimi Amaechi and Seidu Dakingari, former governors of Adamawa, Rivers and Kebbi states, respectively.
Other chieftains of the PDP who defected to the APC were Aminu Tambuwal, as sitting Speaker of House of Representatives, Senator Bukola Saraki and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar.
The petition which detailed the perceived alienation and victimization of the NPDP reads in part: “At this stage, we would chronicle a few grievances which if addressed will lead to harmonious APC where justice, equity, fairness and peace will reign and enable APC avoid rancour, reinvigorate the pace of national development and face the 2019 General Elections as one united party.
“Our grievances include: In the constitution of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) the New PDP block was generally sidelined as virtually no position was conceded to it. The only member of FEC that belonged to former New PDP block comes from a state that contributed virtually no vote to the APC in the 2015 presidential elections.
“There has been no significant patronage and appointments to executive positions in various governmental agencies such as Chief Executives and Directors of government agencies and parastatals as members of our block of the party continue to helplessly watch as those positions are shared by the erstwhile CPC, ACN, ANPP and even APGA blocks of the party and those who have no party at all.
“In appointments into Boards or various government agencies, very few former New PDP members were patronised. These are however not commensurate with our contributions to the growth and Victory of the party
“When members of the former New PDP bloc showed interest in running for the offices of President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, they were subjected to a vicious and relentless political opposition as if they were not legitimate members of the APC family.
“During the party primaries preparatory to the 2015 General Elections, most of the promises made to sitting members of the National Assembly who belonged to the former new PDP in terms of a level playing field were reneged upon or observed more in breach.
“There has been general lack of consultation. non recognition and even persecution of former New PDP members and leaders by the party and government. For example. some of our leaders are denied the security cover necessary to visit their constituencies even though they are elected representatives of the people in a government they sacrificed so much for.
“Harassment, intimidation and persecution of former New PDP leaders by the government is still an ongoing affair. We do not want to overstate the obvious by cataloguing names of former new PDP stalwarts that are targets of this political pogrom
“There is inadequate reflection of programme and policy contributions of members at the former New PDP bloc in the running of the government.
“Our belief is that it does not augur well for our party if a section of it feels that it is being treated as outcasts and meddlesome interlopers in the party they rightly belong with the legitimate expectation to be treated with justice both in the running of the party and the government.”
The group demanded for audience with the national working committee of the party to address their grievances before the 2019 general elections.
“Arising from the issues outlined above, amongst others, we request for an urgent meeting with the Leader of the party, and the Party Executive leadership to find lasting solutions to the issues raised so as to prepare the party as a fighting force to deliver more pungently on its manifesto and face the 2019 General Elections with even greater commitment. The meeting will also enable us to work out modalities to ensure a level playing field for all in the Congresses and Convention of the APC.
“Given the constraining factor of available time and in the interest of our great Party, it is strongly advised that the said urgent meeting be held not later than Seven (7) days from the date of the receipt of this letter.
“In conclusion, we the members of the former New PDP bloc of the APC wish to reiterate that this letter is written patriotically with the best of intentions and the good of our party, the APC, and is issued to alert the leadership of the APC and in particular, the leader of our party, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, who only recently indicated his intention to seek a second term as President, of grievances that exist within the party with a view to ensuring justice for all members of the APC family regardless of the blocs they came from prior to the formation of the APC.”
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