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By Myke Agunwa
The founding fathers of the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on the party to pick its 2027 presidential flagbearer from the southern part of the country.
This is just as they described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Speaker of the House of Representative Aminu Tambuwal and others politicians hobnobbing with the coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) as nomadic politicians.
They reminded party members that PDP was born out of necessity to dismantle authoritarianism and restore democratic governance. They added that PDP was never conceived as a mere vehicle for political ambition but born out of a national crisis of conscience.
They admitted that splinter and varied interests group exist in a party but argued that a movement built on political expediency collapses when confronted by lasting values.
The party chieftains expressed these views during a Consultative Conference of PDP stakeholders on Wednesday in Abuja.
In his opening remarks, the pioneer National Secretary of the party, Prof. Jerry Gana who organized the event, reassured Nigerians that a rebranded PDP is being baked that will restore hope to Nigerians and power to the people.
“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.
“To our steadfast members, your loyalty is the bedrock of our revival. We salute you. To the Nigerian people, hope is not lost. A new PDP is emerging, reformed, responsive, and ready. We shall not rest until Nigeria is rescued. Until our economy works, until our schools and hospitals function, until security is restored, until our democracy thrives, and until our national economy transforms to create wealth, we shall rise again and triumph, triumphantly!, ” he said.
The Acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum reminded party members that the founding fathers stood firm for democracy at a time when it wasn’t popular, or even safe to do so.
He noted that they endured intimidation, harassment and in some cases, faced detention, they chose principle over comfort, and conviction over convenience.
Commenting on the move by some founding members to join another party under the guise of coalition, he cautioned, “In 2013, we witnessed one of such fractures that shook us to our very core. A group of party leaders walked away from our party, seeking new alliances.
“Today, we witness yet another. But history reminds us that splinters may form, but they do not define the tree. Movements built on political expediency, collapse when confronted by lasting values.
“The PDP offers more than a political structure; it embodies ideological clarity, resilience of spirit, and the staying power to withstand and overcome turbulent winds.
“But we must also confront the hard truth. Much of the injury the PDP has suffered were self-inflicted. From the Obasanjo era to this moment, we have too often jettisoned ideology in favour of personal ambition. This has cost us dearly. Yet, there is still a beauty that exists only in the PDP; our founding vision, our commitment to internal democracy, our enduring mechanisms for dialogue and reconciliation, and our true national outlook.
“These are not ordinary attributes. They are the very pillars that made and have sustained the PDP as the bedrock of Nigeria’s democratic journey, and they remain our guiding strength today.
“This conference is therefore not a formality but a strategic reckoning. It allows us to realign with our core values of discipline, loyalty, inclusive governance, and policy-driven leadership. We have spent too much time trying to reconcile. Now, we must truly do it; and move forward”.
Damagum added 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”.
Former governor of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu called on the party to lower its disciplinary axe on members that are working against the interest of the party.
While urging the party to ensure that loyalty and merit is rewarded by the party, he said, “The chairman and the chairman of Governors Forum have been very diplomatic and saying, come back, come back. No, you don’t invite nomadic politicians back to your place. These were people with a history of nomadism.
“If you recall, our major problem started probably 2013-2014. When in nomadic life, your own selfish interest becomes more important than the interest of the people. We need to understand that the lack of discipline has created this problem.
“We cannot keep on, knowing that the black sheep in the family keeps on destroying whatever we are building. And then you say, come back. In fact, the most shocking time, the most shocking period was 2019.
“I’m happy that my chairman, Bukola Saraki has found the light for not going, like he did the last time. When we went to Port Harcourt, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, out of the 12 candidates, all were nomadic politicians.
“Our constitution is specific. You leave the party; you join the queue. The party is not just to win elections. The party is also to ensure the culture of selling real, principled politics. So even if we don’t win elections, but we are one united, principled party, we will be recognized. Please, let us pay attention to what we should be doing, rather than looking at those people who will never, never, ever think of you, but only think of themselves.
“We must create a party that recognizes merit, a party that recognizes the people who can do, a party that can unite the whole of the country. Not just individuals to make money. No Please”.
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 in attendance were former Governor of Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, former Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, ex- 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.