Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
Following the crisis that is rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the aftermath of the party’s primaries and the choice of presidential candidate’s running mate, former Governor of Plateau State and a founding father of the party, Senator Jonah Jang, has warned the party must take the path of peace, dialogue and reconciliation, as it can’t afford to go to the general election with a divided house.
In a statement signed by him, Jang said: “The governorship elections in Ekiti state have shown us that we cannot go to the general elections with a divided house. It is instructive that we must return to the drawing board, make right the wrong decisions we have taken and begin to ensure that we are prepared to go to the field without any baggage from the decisions we have made.
“It has become apparent that we must urgently put our house in order if we are to make an impact in the elections.
“As one of the founding fathers alive today, one who participated in the processes that set the background for our primaries, I am compelled to add my voice to that of prominent members of our great party who have shown dismay with recent happenings, particularly with the emergence of the vice-presidential candidate.
“While it is no longer news that the presidential primaries have come and gone and a candidate emerged, it is disheartening that the manner in which the vice-presidential candidate emerged is nothing but sheer disregard for processes. We all are aware of the fact that the party, in consultation with the presidential candidate, set up a committee to select a running mate.
“To turn around and throw away the outcome of the exercise is a clear proof that the work of the committee was either not appreciated or was not going to be in consideration ab initio.”
According to the party chieftain, Governor Samuel Ortom, who was a member of the 17-member committee set up by Atiku to recommend a running mate for him, said “Fourteen of us in the committee said the person should be Nyesom Wike, unfortunately Atiku picked Okowa in his wisdom.”
Jang further warned that, “We cannot disregard people who have dedicated themselves to building the party and expect to make meaningful progress. That such people are treated the way the party is currently doing is a pointer to the fact that more is to come. No one who intends to go against the APC, which has failed in its promises, but thrives on propaganda will go with a divided camp.
“This explains the urgency with which the party ought to retrace its step in the right direction with a hope of salvaging the already bad situation within the shortest time.”
Jang called on the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC) to do all within its powers to stop further dissonance arising from the treatment of ranking members of the party, especially Governor Nyesom Wike, noting that for governors of the party to be distancing themselves from the activities of the party, and other influential members making public statements indicating their displeasure are not good signs.
He said: “Whatever the party or the presidential candidate had agreed with Governor Nyesom Wike should have been followed as a mark of honesty, sincerity and in the spirit of the unity of the party. Plunging the party into unnecessary disagreements months away from the general elections is not in the interest of the party or its teeming supporters who were looking forward to a formidable front to dislodge the APC and the sufferings it has brought on the people.
“It is unfortunate that the very man who admittedly, has been a pillar of the party at a time the repressive tendencies of the governing APC was to send the PDP into oblivion will be treated in the manner the party has. Until we correct the mistakes, which we deliberately made, the future is bleak and the PDP may be caught in a trap it has set for itself. We cannot run a campaign for a candidate whose campaign promise is hinged on uniting Nigerians but not be seen to be doing enough to bring party members together.”
