By Euclid Myke
As part of efforts to reposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), heal hurting zones, and enable it to attract more votes in the 2027 general elections, the founding fathers of the party have urged its leadership to zone its presidential ticket to the south.
It cautioned party members working against the interest of the party to desist forthwith, just as it expressed readiness to welcome back members who have left the party to join the coalition or other parties.
Acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during the Consultative Meeting of PDP founding fathers and Stakeholders.
Damagum frowned at those demarketing the party but restated that the party is ready to welcome back those that have left to actualize their political interest elsewhere.
The acting chairman said that the doors of the party are open for those who have defected, adding that the umbrella is big enough to accommodate everyone.
The chairman of PDP governor’s forum and governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed in his remarks, advised party members who are still in alliance with other parties to desist from such actions or leave the party.
“We cannot take indiscipline to a level where it becomes contagious. If you are in PDP, you are in PDP. You cannot be in PDP and be in coalition with another party. We cannot do this. But you have all the time to decide. Coalition is an aberration.
“You cannot belong to two places. You cannot be an aphrodite. You cannot be a man and a woman at the same time. Be who you will be. But we will still give you the opportunity to have a thought, because you are our leaders. But if you are going, don’t demarket us. Demarketing of the PDP is not fair. Most of you actualized your political aspirations through this party. Some of them left us and caused our loss in 2015, and yet we accommodated them when they came back, some of them became governors”.
The convener of the group, Prof Jerry Gana who is the pioneer chairman of the party called on stakeholders to consider zoning the presidency to the south in 2027.
“In tune with this patriotic wisdom of the founding fathers, we urge all our leaders to support the strategy of bringing out our Presidential Candidate for 2027 from the Southern States. Such a strategy will not only ensure victory at the polls, but promote justice, fairness and equity.
“We must return the PDP to its grassroots: We must ensure power to the people. This is our renewal. This is our resurgence. The future is bright and promising”.
Former President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki advised said that it is an aberration for members to leave the party because it has issues.
“Yes, we have differences. We’ve been having differences. But we must agree that whatever it takes, we must sit down, lock ourselves up, and find a solution.
“What I’m saying is — don’t let this propaganda divide us. Whatever those difficulties are, we have the capacity — the sagacity — to resolve those problems.
“And I want to appeal to us, because we are the solution to this party. And if we make up our minds that this is the party and we want to make it work — I am confident it can work. Sixteen years speaks a lot.
“Let me tell all of us here — history will not be fair to any of us if under our watch — God forbid — this party goes down. So we don’t have an alternative. It must be seen that we gave it all it took. We did our best to rescue this party — not to abandon it and run out. It is not acceptable.
“And my own appeal to those of you who are here — before we leave here today, as we go into the next few days — let us agree that leaving PDP is not an option. That is not an option.
“What is an option is to be fair to everybody. We cannot trample on people’s rights. We must negotiate and find a way forward”.
Present at the meeting were Board Trustees National Secretary, former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, Members of the National Working Committee, National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, National Youth Leaders, Muhammed Sulieman, National Woman Leader, Amina Bryhm, National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature, National Vice Chairman (South East), Ali Odefa, National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.
Also present were Former Governor of Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, former Governor of Niger, Babangida Aliyu, former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, Chief Oldebode Goerge, former Ministers of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, Labaran Maku, Senator Yakubu Lado, Director General PDP Governors Forum, Emmanuel Agbo, former PDP National Chairman, Abubakar Baraje and former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Maryam Ciroma among others.
