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Posted By: Gbade Ogunwale, Abujaon: February 22, 2016
THE NATION
Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders are calling for a national convention to elect a new set of leaders before the end of March.
The PDP has been wrecked by a deep crisis since Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff became Acting National Chairman.
The PDP Rescue Group (PRG), led by a Second Republic Governor of the old Gongola State, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, is insisting that Sheriff should step down.
Addressing news conference yesterday at the Abuja Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Juta and his group said Sheriff's appointment was a huge embarrassment to well meaning members of the party.
According to them, the PDP's coffin was nailed with Sheriff's appointment. They vowed to mobilise the various organs of the party to see reason why Sheriff's choice must not stand.
The group rejected claims in some quarters that the new chairman would only complete the tenure of the former chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, which is expected to end in March.
"Allowing Ali Modu Sheriff to stay a day longer as chairman would not be in the interest of the PDP. We call on leaders and all organs in the party to wake up to the reality that Sheriff's appointment is inappropriate.
"Sheriff was imposed on the PDP with impunity because he was not one of the five aspirants nominated by party leaders in the Northeast zone for the position.
"We will continue to mobilise members and stakeholders to ensure that the right thing is done because with Sheriff as chairman, the PDP cannot provide Nigerians with the type of vibrant opposition that saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeating a ruling party," the group stated.
Describing Sheriff's choice as error of judgment on the part of those who installed him, the party chieftains maintained that the error, if not corrected, could destroy the PDP beyond repairs.
Highlighting the Group's demands in a statement read by Juta, the party chieftains said they were upset by the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint Sheriff as chairman.
"We are convinced that this decision by the NEC is against the will and wish of the generality of faithful members.
"That we know for a fact that the Northeast zonal wing, having been directed by the National Caucus of the party to forward nominees from the zone, did not nominate Sheriff for the position of national chairman.
"That in the interest of the PDP and the country, Sheriff should do the needful by stepping down honourably as it is evident that party members nationwide overwhelmingly reject his imposition.
"That we call on early congresses and national convention to elect party leaders as the term of the current leadership is due to end in March 2016.
"That under no guise should the tenure of the current leadership of the party be extended, if we must make the needed fresh beginning.
"That we make this statement in the best interest of the party and the country without any malice".
The group observed that the manner of Sheriff's choice had unleashed unnecessary controversy within the party and beyond, adding that there cannot be any short-cut to the truth.
Stating its determination to see Sheriff out of the chair as soon as possible, the group said: "Part of the derailment from the values of our party over the years is the elevation of imposition over internal democracy as happened in the past.
"Most party faithful do not see in Sheriff a model of impeccable integrity that the PDP badly needs to lead it at this critical moment.
"Given that PDP is now a major opposition party, it is the duty of every member to ensure that party leaders posses high integrity and leadership skills.
"To raise a leader who is lacking in integrity and skills is to throw the party and the nation into inefficiency, indiscipline, disorderliness and even chaos. Sadly, overwhelming reaction of Nigerians to Sheriff's emergence especially PDP members and leaders, is that of disappointment."
Juta and his group insisted that the PDP must remodel its leadership on the platform of honesty, as required by its manifesto, if the party must come back to national reckoning.
They expressed the view that it is imperative to redefine and relocate the foundational values of the PDP and recreate its leadership upon such values, both in content and style.
"To this end, we call on all the party organs to rise to the challenge by insisting on the reversal of what is clearly a crude imposition of Sheriff on the party.
"The party organs should commence the search for persons with high integrity, strategic insight and fear of God Almighty to lead the party. It is our considered view that we should endeavour to elect those with such discernible traits."
Other officers of the PRG are Senator Adolphus Wabara (Deputy Chairman) and Alhaji Mukhtar Shagari (Secretary). Other executive members include Mr. John Odey and Mohammed Wakil, among others.
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