Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, has said there is the need for leaders of the party to forgive and forget their differences.
Wabara, who stated this at a meeting of the BoT, yesterday, in Abuja, urged the opposition party to also consider imposing sanctions against errant members, where necessary. He said there were alleged plots to turn the country into a one-party state, hence, the need for the PDP to put its house in order.
The PDP has been enmeshed in crisis after the nomination of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as its presidential and vice-presidential candidate for the 2023 general election respectively.
However, the PDP BoT chairman said the opposition party must not be allowed to die in the interest of the country’s democracy.
According to him, “Our role as BoT members, the main organ of this party, is to ensure that this party does not die. If the PDP goes under, democracy will go under in Nigeria. We know there are plans to turn this country into a one-party state, but that will only happen if we allow it. So, we must fight for democracy in Nigeria, and it is only the PDP that can do that.
“Here, we follow due process democratically. I want to urge all of you, especially the national working committee, to do everything to bring this party back on track. There are many issues, and it is time for us to address them. Where necessary, we should forgive and forget, and where necessary, take appropriate actions.
“Some people blame us for not taking disciplinary action promptly, and of course, that has always been the challenge of the party. We sometimes consider people’s faces before taking action. But some of us, especially in the BoT, are always objective. Anything that goes against our constitution will create problems; therefore, we should strictly abide by our constitution.”
The chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, said the opposition governors were working round the clock to reposition the party.
According to him, “We need to be strategic to prevent this country from becoming a one-party state and ensure we all emerge victorious. The governors are determined to reposition the party and minimize the rancor and division that had characterized the PDP in the past due to the party’s size and our diverse interests. We certainly don’t have the luxury of indulging in that.
“The country is suffering. There is a lot of hunger and anger in Nigeria. For the third time, the country is looking up to us. We cannot continue to be the weeping boys or girls. We must close ranks, give the benefit of the doubt to each other, and give the benefit of the doubt to the party. That’s why we give them the vote of confidence despite anything.
“So, the various organs of the party, from the caucus to the BoT and national executive council, will be able to make decisive decisions on all issues for the time being. We are with you. Reconciliation must take place. Most people have their groups here and there, but certainly, it is not the time for that.
“We are ready to provide an alternative to Nigerians. There appears to be no good governance in the country, and we have said it yesterday. We will provide vibrant opposition to the current administration so that at the end of the day, we are not going to do it out of sentiments. We’ll do it with insight and knowledge.”
Meanwhile, the PDP BoT has confirmed Wabara as its chairman and former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, as its secretary, in line with the provisions of the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
The party organ, in a communique issued at the end of its meeting, charged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent steps to address the spate of insecurity in the country, as well as the economic challenges and alleged corruption in his administration.
“The BoT is appalled by the monumental corruption and unbridled treasury-looting in the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, especially the looting of billions of Naira meant for palliatives for the poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
“The BoT is seriously worried over the fall of the Naira to an abysmal N1,500 to the dollar, incessant increase in the pump price of fuel which now sells for over N700 per litre with long queues in various parts of the country.
“These have attendant negative consequences as evident in the nearly 30 percent inflation rate, 41 percent unemployment rate and alarming 46 percent poverty rate, where up to 130 million citizens have sunk deeper into multi-dimensional poverty in the last nine months.
“The BoT is disturbed that the catastrophic economic and security situation in the country have left Nigerians hopeless, despondent, angry and constitute a present and immediate threat to the survival of the country as hardworking young Nigerians, and professionals in critical fields, as well as major multinational companies are now leaving our nation in droves.
“The BoT is distressed that there are no concrete and coherent policy, measures and steps by the APC administration to address these existential threats, which have put the country in a precarious situation.
“The BoT calls on President Tinubu to know that the situation in the country has become unbearable. Mr. President should immediately address issues of corruption in his administration, worsening insecurity in the country, continuous fall in the value of the Naira, high fuel price, unbearable food scarcity and unemployment in the country,”
the party said in the communique.