The blame game over the dwindling fortune of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be far from being over. Since the 2015 defeat, the party has not gotten itself back.
Recall that the Ex-National Vice Chairman of South-South, Mr. Emmanuel Ogidi, has alleged that, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Barr. Nyesom Wike sold out, that’s why PDP is weakened now, and his preferred candidates emerged as Minority Leaders. But in due time, he (Wike) will be punished.
DentonNews reports that Ogidi alleged the above on Thursday 6th July 2023 during a chat with Arise TV regarding the “Poor Performance” of the party in the recently concluded scrambled for the Senate and House of Representatives Minority Leadership.
In his words; “… If you look at it, we have 36 Senators – almost one-third of the House.“ APC tried to break our ranks and this is possible because of our man in Rivers who sold out. He has consistently tried to destroy the party. … And in the last meeting we had two weeks ago, these issues were brought up, and we said, look, we are going to set up a committee to look into this. Those that will be punished will be punished”.
However, reacting to Ogidi’s claims, after their National Executive meeting today, 10th July 2023 the National Leader of a pressure and advocacy group, the Concerned PDP League (CPDPL), Comrade Daboikiabo Z. Warmate, while addressing DentonNews reporter alleged that, “Every story has two sides. Why did Ogidi not also query all those that drove PDP into the opposition party, Ogidi should tell us where he was when our men in Adamawa, Bauchi, Niger, Kogi, Sokoto, et al who openly sold out the party in 2015 and some others secretly in 2019? They should also be punished if the G5 as ably led by the immediate past Governor of Rivers State is targeted for punishment because half-truths have not helped anyone. If the former PDP Vice Chairman South-South had brought this argument when our men betrayed us in 2015 and 2019 then, his concerns would have been an honest concern now.”
“It was for the same reason in 2015 our men in Adamawa, Bauchi, Niger, Kogi, Sokoto, et al, who sold us out, that our man in Rivers did too, so why are you giving them red carpet treatment, and our man red card treatment?”
“Do you know that this red carpet treatment led to the amendment of section 49 (4) in our 2012 constitution, which is now section 50 (4 & 7) in the 2017 constitution? And further led to in 2019 the emergence of our man in Adamawa as the Presidential Candidate, which made many legacy members to be very angry and sold us out deliberately.”
“Also where was our former Vice Chairman South-South when our man in Delta emerged as the Minority Leader as against our man in Rivers the party recommended?”
Therefore, the best way out of this leadership, regional, and personal interest quagmire is what we call, the Damagum Plan and constitutional amendment.
Comrade Warmate also took the opportunity to advise the former Senate President, our man in Kwara not to fall into the trap of praise singers and favour seekers by giving it thought to contest for the National Chairmanship because, the North Central zone has produced six (6) out of the seventeen (17) National Chairmen the party has had since 1999, in substantive, Caretaker Committee and acting capacity. While, the North East 4, South East 3, South-South 2, North West 2, and South West none.
They are as follows;
1. Chief, Dr. Alexander Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme (Alex Ekwueme)
Anambra State (SE)
2. Chief (Dr.) Solomon Daushep Lar (Solomon Lar)
Plateau State (NC)
3. Chief Sen. Barnabas Andyar Iyorhyer Gemade
Benue State (NC)
4. Audu Innocent Ogbeh
Benue State (NC)
5. Ahmadu Adah Ali
Kogi State (NC)
6. Vincent Eze Ogbulafor
Abia State (SE)
7. Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo
Enugu State (SE)
8. Haliru Mohammed Bello (Acting)
Kebbi state (NW)
9. Abubakar Kawu Baraje (Acting)
Kwara State (NC)
10. Bamanga Muhammad Tukur
Adamawa State (NE)
11. Ahmad Adamu Mu’azu
Bauchi State (NE)
12. Prince Uche Secondus (Acting)
Rivers State (SS)
13. Ali Modu Sheriff (CTC)
Borno State (NE)
14. Ahmed Muhammef Makarfi (CTC)
Kaduna State (NW)
15. Prince Uche Secondus
Rivers State (SS)
16. Sen. Dr. Iyorchia D. Ayu
Benue State (NC)
17. Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum (Acting)
Yobe State (NE).
“First we need to amend some sections of our constitution and secondly, discuss and agree on where the presidential candidate will come from in 2027, before knowing which region either north or south will produce the National Chairman. And if it’s the Southern region then, the South West should be given the opportunity to produce the National Chairman for the first time, but if it’s the Northern Region then, the North Central zone should for get it, he advised.”
Concluding his statement Comrade Warmate, condemn the use of the party’s permanent secretariat building as a billboard for advertisement. He said that instead of those responsible to think of ways to complete the building, they prefer to profit from the misfortune. He promises to take the matter up with the National Chairman.
