PDP denies open rebellion, despite fracas among chieftains
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
There is an open rebellion in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), fought out on national television and on social media, but the party is putting a gloss on it and claiming to be united to regain power it lost through its own corrupt administration.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba argued in Abuja that party members may disagree on methods but they are united to rescue Nigeria from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But he ignored the fact Nigerians voted for Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in 2015 because PDP members had deepened corruption, mismanaged the economy, and looted the treasury in their eight years in power from 1999.
“Issues are part of family. We are a political party, we have members with different views, what Nigerians expect us as a party to do is to solve problems.
“We have differences, we don’t have crisis. We have disagreement of choice. No crisis in PDP, we have differences, which is in human nature,” Ologunagba said.
“This party respects every member of the party. The party even [Rivers Governor Nyesom] Wike agreed that Nigeria is the issue. This party is PDP and not a one-man party. The organs of the party are working very well.”
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Organic organisation
Ologunagba declined to address the fight for fairness in the party spearheaded by Wike who says the PDP is dominated by Northerners and wants its National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to step down for a Southerner.
“We do not have a crisis, we have differences like every organic organisation. We may not agree on methods but the destination is the same, we want to rescue Nigeria,” Ologunagba stressed, as reported by Vanguard.
“All the leaders have agreed and we are on same mission. This party is on ground and solid. The party will win the 2023 election. Win majority of the Senate and House of Representatives.
“APC brought us this calamity. We have never been divided like this before. This party brought insecurity.”
He said APC members are dumping the party for the PDP in droves.
“We are in closer conversations with some leaders in APC to move to PDP, because PDP is where the road is. APC is on life support, is dying by installments.”
Babatope says PDP ‘crisis is very embarrassing’
Former Transportation Minister Ebenezer Babatope, a PDP chieftain, faulted those calling for Ayu’s resignation and expressed optimism party grandees will resolve the crisis.
“I am sure that the elders of the party will move and ensure they salvage the situation.
“I am sure they are going to intervene and ensure there is peace in the party. I am sure that eventually we are going to see peace because the crisis is very embarrassing,” he said.
“If I am to express my personal opinion, I don’t think asking the leadership of the party to resign now will solve the situation. Escapism is never the way out of any problem, it worsens the problem and complicates the problem.
“Wike and others are leaders of the party and I don’t see any one of them losing, and that is why we need to bring everyone of them on board to ensure there is victory for the party.
“If we don’t have peace, then we are going to do ourselves a lot of harm.”