With the PDP National convention 15 days away, there are indications that a large number of northern leaders, stakeholders, Governors, members of NASS, and retired generals are poised for a showdown with Chairman, Ali Modu-Sherrif’s.
The angst is informed by the former Borno Governor’s plot to perpetuate himself in office as national chairman of the PDP beyond the May convention, contrary to his earlier promise.
The northern PDP top guns argue that in 2019 the party would need all the zones especially the South West, and that it would be political naivety to assume having the President, National Secretary and Chairman from the north, would augur well for the party.
Aside from his links to the Boko Haram sect, some also point to the fact that he just came to the party and his massive wealth should not be used as a yardstick for leadership.
Like BOT member, ex PDP National secretary, Ojo Maduekwe told Pointblanknews.com “ This man just came, why is he desperate to be chairman beyond convention when he promised he would leave after convention. Why can’t he just be a member, and help build the party in the north”
Another source of anger is the alleged plot by Modu-Sheriff to stay till 2019, resign his position, then throw in his hat for the slot of Presidential candidate. A source blamed Fayose for enabling Modu-Sheriff because he has been promised the slot of running mate.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that some of those kicking against the move by Modu-Sheriff include, Governors of Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe, Darius Ishiaku of Taraba, ex Niger Governor, Babangida Aliyu, Prof Jerry Gana, Ibrahim Bunu, deputy spokesman, Abdulahi Jalo, Adamu Ciroma, Ibrahim Babangida, Salif Keita, Ali Monguno, Ibrahim Mantu; a former Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Waziri Maina; a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak among others. The group also called for the postponement of the party’s national convention slated for that date in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
A former Minister of Information, Gana, who is the leader of the leader of the group decried what it called the level of impunity and imposition in PDP, noting that for the party to return to the vision of its original founders it must purge itself of these vices.
The group said the postponement was necessary in order to carry our reconciliation among aggrieved members.
The North Elders Forum also picked holes in the proposed constitutional amendment, noting that it violated the PDP constitution.
The PDP National Executive Committee is meeting next Wednesday to debate on the proposed constitutional amendment.
Sheriff had proposed various amendment into the party’s constitution, including a clause into the activities of the Board of Trustees of the party which forbid its members from meeting without the knowledge of e national chairman.
According to our source, the northern stake holders see the move as risky considering the fact that the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu led south west gave candidate Buhari the edge in 2015.
But the south west the north is rooting for appear to be reluctant as its top gladiators are not united on this matter. As a matter of fact, they have tactically endorsed Modu-Sheriff, as Governor Ayodele fayose, Segun Mimiko, Senator Buruji Kashamu, have bowed to the antics of the chairman,.
Those hitherto opposed to Modu-Sheriff, led by Bode George have also bought the idea not minding the consequences,. A source at the last Akure, Ondo state meeting hinted that, the issue of zoning was not discussed as Fayose and Mimiko just talked about unity.
“ They have all bought the idea , very unfortunate, all those who were insisting the South West should be given the chairman’s slot, have all fallen in line”
Pointblanknews.com also learnt that some elements within the northern bloc, in desperation to stop Modu-Sheriff, is insisting that the position must not be zoned to just North East but North, calculated to field a formidable candidate against Modu-Sheriff, likely former Education minister, Ibrahim Shekarau who is from kano, the North west.
The source noted that, “there is another option ,that would stop Modu-Sheriff, to get the North West to produce the chairman of the party, and Shekarau is being seriously considered because the governors see him as one of their own having served as governor of Kano state…He is also perceived as an orator compared to Sheriff who may not be able to electrify a campaign rally or market the party effectively when the time comes.”
Pointblanknews.com source also hinted that “ when the chairman met with Babangida Aliyu two weeks ago in the ex Governor’s Abuja home, Aliyu told him straight up, you cannot be chairman beyond the convention, in the interest of fairness”..
The source also debunked claims by former deputy national chairman, and Board of trustee, Shuaibu Oyedokun, who alleged that Bode George was working against Modu-Sheriff. He said ‘ it is not true because the two groups have agreed to back the chairman, but I was at the meeting in Akure and do not agree with that position because it will destroy the party”
According to the source “ another angle is, the northern bloc is saying if the south west do not want to be chairman, the South South or South East should get it”
Deputy spokesman, Abdulahi Jalo, who was one of the PDP chieftains that opposed the appointment of the former Borno State governor as party chair, faulted Fayose and other politicians from the southern part of the country for pushing for an extension in office of Sheriff.
According to him, following a directive by the NEC of the party, Sheriff had accepted to serve for a specific period in line with the zoning formula agreed upon.
Jalo said already, it was proposed that the presidential candidate of the party would come from the northern part of the country and the national chairman from the south.
“Sheriff should not make a U-turn since he had pledged that he would not stay beyond 21st May, 2016”, he said.
Oyedokun who denied that the south west leaders were bought over by Fayose an agent of Modu-Sheriff who nurses the ambition of running as VP.
He said “For emphasis sake, let me restate again benefits that will accrue to the south-west if we forego the position of the PDP national chairman for now. Let me first puncture that argument that is being held by some people that the national chairmanship position of PDP had stayed for too long in the North.
According to him ““Since only one geo-political zone of the North does not actually constitute the entire north, facts have revealed that it is the north central geo-political zone that had been holding the position. North-West and North-East zones have not been that lucky to hold the position.”
“Again, the gap between now, and when PDP will determine its presidential flag bearer is still long, so why not pick a northerner to lead the party? I strongly believe that by the time the party will be picking its presidential flagbearer for the next general election, the post of national chairman will move back to the south. This is imperative because since it is most likely that the party’s presidential candidate will come from the north, it naturally follows that the chairman comes from south. We should canvass for a stronger representation in the party’s National Working Committee, NWC. We should have at least three slots out of the 12 members of the committee”.
For instance, if the south-west gets the positions of national secretary, national auditor and national publicity secretary of the party, the quality of these positions surpassed that of the national chairman.
Instead of fighting for the party’s chairmanship position, I believe we should for now lobby for more powerful positions in the party’s exco, so that we can have powerful voices in the party. I also believe that we elders should allow the young ones to play prominent role in the party. We should be grooming younger elements with a view to preparing them for bigger challenges” he added.