National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), senator Iyochia Ayu, has come under severe criticisms following his visit to Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal, who stepped down at the primary venue and urged his supporters to vote for former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who was the eventual winner of the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 elections
Senator Ayu had paid a visit to the Sokjoto State governor, after the presidential primaries, apparently to thank him for his role at the Special convention and presidential primary, where he was said to have described the governor as the hero of the convention
Condemning the action of the PDP chairman, elder statesman and leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, asked the PDP National Chairman to resign, stressing that he is no longer fit and proper to retain his position as the national chairman of the party.
The former First Republic Federal Commissioner of Information, said this in a statement on Tuesday, titled, “Resign now: You’re no longer fit to remain PDP national chairman, Clark tells Iyorchia Ayu,” said the action of the National Chairman of the PDP in his open visit to Governor Tambuwal to congratulate and hail him, in his words, as “the hero of the convention, clearly revealed his partiality and predilection in the processes leading to the conclusion of the PDP presidential primary.
“His undignified and parochial conduct, to please his northern principals, is not only a big disgrace to the office he occupies, but, also, a sad display of lewd subservience to the political subjugation of one ethnic group, in a diverse country like Nigeria.
“We had earlier suspected that he was in favour of a Northern candidate, when on the day of his inauguration as national chairman, last year, he, needlessly, said during his speech, that he would resign if a Northerner emerged as the presidential candidate of the party.
“Senator Ayu has failed to realize that what we are fighting for affects all minorities in Nigeria. The Southern Nigeria relationship with the Middle Belt is well established, dating back to the First Republic, during the period of Dr. J. S. Tarka, from today’s Benue State, a founding member of the then, United Middle Belt Congress, and the strong alliance with Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group.
“The relationship subsisted during the Second Republic, when the Minorities of the South and the Minorities of the North combined to fight for a common course; the inclusion, and full participation of all Minorities in the politics and governance of the Country, of which I was the Leader.
“Senator Iyorchia Ayu’s appalling, thoughtless and unpatriotic public conduct bears grave negative consequences. He should, therefore, no longer consider himself fit and proper to retain his position as the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, and should resign now,” Clarke stated.
He regretted that the outcome of the election will leave much to be desired, adding that it was very unjust and rather unwholesome. It will definitely impact severe, adverse ramifications on the future unity of the country.
“I was alarmed by the outrageous and Machiavelli manner in which Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, was so apparently “arranged” to announce his withdrawal from the contest, at the last minute; his speech changed the mood of the event.
“That was done in order to foist another Northerner as the party’s flag bearer; having regard to the fact that Governor Aminu Tambuwal was the only aspirant from the whole of the North West, which had about 192 delegates at the convention.
“What Tambuwal did was not only dishonourable but also a serious electoral abnormality and a tragic betrayal of national patriotism for hidebound interests.”
