The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential flag bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been told to not just advise Dr. Ayu to resign but impress it on him to resign with immediate effect, in the interest of the unity and victory of the party in the looming 2023 election. And that, Ayu’s resignation should be the first step towards addressing the grievances of the party patriots.
The Concerned PDP League (CPDPL) made the call and accused the National Chairman, National Secretary, and National Organizing Secretary of gross incompetence and crass measures of failures, lopsidedness, dereliction of internal party democracy, and sleeping opposition leadership.
The PDP watchdog insisted that the above trios have failed in conducting transparent, free, and fair wards, local government areas, and state congresses, which has led to court cases and the emergence of unpopular candidates. And they have allegedly manifested through their actions and inactions, and that they do not have what it takes to defeat the APC.
Further, the CPDPL emphasized that as a party, the Presidential candidate, National Chairman, and Board of Trustees Chairman can not all come from the North. It can be likened to a parent with two children openly showing love to only one child. The ramification will be incalculable including resentment, strife, division, etc.
The CPDPL commended the progressive PDP Governors and other leaders and members that boycotted the inauguration of the Osun State campaign council and urged members to continue until the National Chairman resigns. The kneeling down should start with Ayu’s resignation or removal.
The CPDPL was reacting to the Presidential Candidate’s and BoT chairman’s statements, and the rumoured suspension of Ayu, even as the group condemned the Presidential candidate rumoured continues stay in Dubai and the national chairman going on a ten days vacation abroad while his counterpart in the APC is busy campaigning. This has made Prince Deji Adeyonju ask, What is the plan by the opposition to stop rigging and vote-buying in Osun? Atiku still chopping life in Dubai. “This can be likened to the incident in 2015, when on the eve of the presidential election, the then National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua’ Zu flewed abroad. However, Chief Bode George commenting on the issue indicated that Alhaji Mau’Zu went to see his sick wife.
The Group reminded the presidential candidate that, in 2019, 13 Southern States gave him the constitutionally required cut of point of 25% percent and above per state out of the 17 states, and only got below that in 4 states including Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, and Osun. Meanwhile, he managed to get the 25% percent in only 4 Northern States of Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, and Taraba, and got below that in 15 out of the 19 States.
The CPDPL has, therefore “called for the resignation of the National Chairman even though the group no longer recognizes him as the National Chairman. The CPDPL is appealing to party faithful not to die in silence but to stage protests to demand action from Atiku and NEC to stop the widening disunity in the party by seeking Ayu’s resignation.”
The group said it is “unfortunate that party loyalists are letting the leadership abandon its statutory duty to be accountable to members and failing to actively protest the heightened state of disunity in the party and the growing disenchantment of Nigerians toward PDP and demand for the resignation of the National Chairman and others who have absolutely nothing to offer.”
They are now arguing that Ayu should be allowed to stay on until after the election. They are playing games so that if Atiku loses, they will say it is unnecessary for Ayu to leave. That way, the South will continue to be marginalised in the party.”
In conclusion, the CPDPL, however, said that “it’s those at the bottom that suffers most whenever the party loses an election and not those at the top, that’s why there’s the conspiracy of silence of party elite to speak out against this broad daylight injustice to the South.”
