The Peoples Democratic Party, which prides itself as the largest political party in Africa, may soon experience the mass defection of its leaders and their followers to other parties.
Prominent members of the party, including ex-ministers, are against the emergence of a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as national chairman.
In recent times, some prominent members of the PDP had decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
On Saturday, one-time Campaign Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Senator Dalhatu Tafida, announced his resignation from the PDP.
Tafida, who until recently was Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, explained that he was leaving the party because it had lost direction.
The former PDP stalwart announced his decision in an interview he granted the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, monitored in Abuja.
Tafida said, “Before now, it performed creditably but now the party is only admitting people who are not supposed be in it. The party (as currently constituted) does not respect people like me. Those at the helm of affairs do not take advice and members behave the way they like.”
He explained that though he had yet to decide on his next move, he had not joined any other political party.
Similarly, a Second Republic Governor of the old Borno State and the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2011 election, Mohammed Goni, expressed his displeasure with Sherrif’s emergence as chairman.
“I am uncomfortable and very disappointed that a character like Sheriff could be appointed as the chairman of the PDP,” he said.
Goni, who said he did not know how the party picked Sheriff as chairman, lamented that his choice might force many PDP members in Borno to seek an alternative.
He stated, “I do not see why a character that made a mess of our state should be foisted on the entire party. I and others in Borno PDP may have no other choice but to seek an alternative elsewhere.
“Sheriff has a burden of Boko Haram to bear. He left a legacy of crisis in Borno that the state is still battling with it.”
Our correspondents gathered that a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ojo Madueke, might also leave the party. A highly placed member of the party, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Tafida’s exit was the beginning of what was likely to become an exodus from the party.
He said, “What Tafida said today is not different from what Ojo Maduekwe said during our last meeting. Madukwe expressed his reservations about how things are being run in the party, but his observation was rejected. Maduekwe may leave too.”
Some former ministers, who served under former President Goodluck’s administration, had on February 17 threatened to leave the PDP if Sheriff was not removed as chairman.
In an interview with Inner room correspondent, the spokesman for the former ministers and former Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, said the party’s reconciliation moves had failed.
A former minister in the party, who confided in Inner room, said he and his colleagues would decide on the way forward during the PDP Former Ministers’ Forum holding on Tuesday.
The ex-minister said the majority of members of the forum wanted Sheriff to leave the chairmanship position.
He said, “Although the governors have been trying to pacify us, they have not succeeded as many of us are insisting that Sheriff should not be the chairman. At the meeting, we will take a stand on the issue and our decision will be communicated to Nigerians. It is too early to say this is what we are going to arrive at when we have yet to meet.”
Also, a former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory and Secretary of the PDP Former Ministers’ Forum, Mrs. Jumoke Akinjide, said a position would be taken on Tuesday.
In an interview with Inner room, she said, “I will not jump the gun over the issue of the PDP chairmanship position. The forum will hold a meeting on Tuesday where the matter will be discussed and a position will be taken. Those who will be attending the meeting have the right to voice their opinions because they are elder statesmen in their own right.”
When asked if she would oppose or support Sheriff’s choice, the former minister said, “It’s not a personal issue. It’s about the good of the party. I am not speaking for myself or for the members. The meeting will address relevant issues on Tuesday.”
Members of the forum led by a former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, on Friday met with the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, to express their displeasure with the appointment of Sheriff.
At the meeting in Akure were a former Minister of State for Education, Kenneth Gbagi, Ms. Jumoke Akinjide.
A source at the meeting told our correspondent on the telephone that they berated Mimiko for allowing himself to be swayed by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The source said, “We told Mimiko that we were not happy and that we were disappointed in him for allowing Wike and Fayose to dictate to him. We also told him to step down if he could not stand firm. He appealed to us to be patient.”
In Borno State, mixed reactions greeted the appointment of Sheriff as the chairman of the PDP.
A member of the party, Bala Usman, said Sheriff was only living on past glory and had nothing to offer, especially in Borno.
He said, “We made the mistake of admitting him into the party during the last election and the rest is history. That outing was the worst in our history in Borno. I only hope the same fate does not befall us at the national level now.”
But another party member, Yusuf Ibrahim, said, “Sheriff’s appointment as chairman shows that he has something to offer. All l can wish for is that he performs well in this appointment by making our beloved PDP a success again.”
Jonathan’s congratulations
Meanwhile, sources in Sheriff’s camp said former President Jonathan had congratulated Sheriff. SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Jonathan congratulated the new chairman on the telephone in the presence of members of the National Executive Council of the party.
A source at the meeting said, “Jonathan has congratulated Sheriff despite the protests by some members of the party. The former President told Sheriff to act like a father and unite the warring factions.
“Most of those who are accusing Sheriff are not members of the organ of the party. They do not belong to the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees or the NEC. They are mostly ex-ministers who are not involved in the running of the party but want to dictate to us.”
Fani-Kayode flays Sheriff again
However, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has again criticised Sheriff for his claim that he is not responsible for the creation of Boko Haram.
Fani-Kayode’s remarks were contained in a text message sent to our correspondent on Sunday.
He wrote, “Expecting Ali Modu Sheriff to admit that he created Boko Haram is like expecting Jack the Ripper to admit that he was a rapist and a killer. This matter is beyond political parties or partisan politics. It is more about who and what we are as a people. There is no nation on earth apart from Nigeria where a man that is as questionable and dubious as Ali Modu Sheriff can be appointed as the national chairman of the leading opposition party.
“The blood of all those that have been butchered by Boko Haram over the last seven years is crying before God in heaven and calling for vengeance and restitution. Instead of us doing something to honour and avenge those that were killed, we are bringing in the man who nurtured, raised and used their killers as his personal thugs and for his own political gain when he was governor to come and lead us.
“This is not only unacceptable but it is also evil and if I am the only one left in this country that has the decency and courage to say so openly I will continue to do so.”
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