The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated its national disciplinary committee headed by second republic minister, Dr. Umaru Dikko, saying it has no plans to punish it rebel members who have formed a parallel group.
The party disclosed that it is yet to receive petitions that would warrant the discipline of the members of the new PDP and their governors. The governors include those of Rivers, Kano, Niger, Adamawa, Jigawa, Kwara and Sokoto.
Inaugurating the disciplinary committee, the chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur said the former minister of Transport in the second Republic, Dr. Umaru Dikko was chosen to head the party’s national disciplinary committee because of his unflinching stand on discipline and his love for democracy.
Tukur recalled that Dikko’s narrow escape from being kidnapped from Britain to Nigeria by the military some years ago, was on because they (military) was uncomfortable with his call for democracy even while outside the country.
Tukur who said the members of the committee were considered for the job on grounds of their pedigree and love for discipline and the party said no society progresses without adhering to rules and regulation.
Charging the committee to offer their best he said “You are chosen to do this important committee based on your pass record and love for democracy. these are people who will not witch hunt anybody, but you can be sure not to come to them when you cross the line” he said.
Dikko thanked the party for the confidence placed on the committee, promising that they would do everything that was needed to move the party forward.
However, two of the committee members, deputy chairman, Chief EbenezerBabatope and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu were not at the inauguration.
Other members on the committee are Shuaibu Oyedokun, Hajiya Nana Aisha Quadir, Hussaini Kazaer and Onwe Onwe as secretary.
But addressing the press shortly after the inauguration, PDP’s spokesman, Chief Oliseh Metuh, said the party cannot sanction the G7 governors because there are no petitions against them yet.
He added that no disciplinary measure was planned against the governors, because the party leadership has been meeting on how to reconcile its members.
He underscored that some of the aggrieved members and the governors are founding members of the party who would not go out of their way to pull the party down