The crisis within the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened Wednesday with the party’s Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum, vowing not to be pressured into forceful exit by his critics.
His response followed a statement credited to leader of the Ijaw Nation, Chief Edwin Clark, and a former spokesman of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan.
The duo had in their separate comments, condemned Damagum’s handling of the party’s affairs in Rivers state amid allegations of anti-party activities levelled against Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Clark had accused Damagum of indulging Wike, who is allegedly undermining the PDP to pave the way for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC)’s continued stay in office.
The elder statesman was particularly put off that despite Wike’s alleged anti-party activities, Damagum looked the other way and failed to call him to order.
Similarly, a former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, had in a recent television interview on Arise Television, called on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to pass a vote of no confidence on Damagum, over his handling of the Rivers’ case.
…What Clark said
The Ijaw leader had slammed the PDP leadership for setting up a reconciliation committee by the leadership of the main opposition party, rather than a probe panel.
He said this in an open letter to the party’s national chairman.
“The purpose of this Open Letter, therefore, Mr. Acting National Chairman of PDP, is: ‘To call on you to immediately set up a probe panel/committee to probe members, like Nyesom Wike, and if found guilty, to face the appropriate sanctions prescribed by the party’s constitution, and not the setting up of a Reconciliation Committee under the chairmanship of Maj.-Gen. (Olagunsoye) Oyinlola, with whom when I discussed, asked him whom he is reconciling, because the G-5 members have disintegrated. While the governor of Oyo State, who was a member of the G-5, has retraced his steps back to his party fully and is today the leader of the party in the South west, the other three are floating about.
“To urge you to also purge yourself of all (acts of) malfeasance. As the acting National Chairman of your party, you took your party’s NWC (National Working Committee) to court on the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly; that because they did not leave the PDP properly, they are still members of the party, even after the 27 members had publicly declared that they had defected and had already been received by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Your position, Mr. Acting National Chairman, is antithetical to the position of Section 109. You took your party’s National Executive Council (NEC) to court; an organ you preside over. Yet, you still have the presence of mind to remain in office, earning benefits that come with the office. From all indications, you are conniving with detractors of PDP to ruin the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Allow Nigerians to decide what party they want through the ballot box. Stop colluding with Nyesom Wike to destroy the party. A day of reckoning will come for all of man’s activities.
“Therefore, let me state again: set up a probe panel to investigate the obvious and open anti-party activities of Nyesom Wike and for insulting the foremost leader of the party, Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Chairman of the Board of the Trustees (BoT) of the party, which is the soul of the party. In fact, he should be expelled from the party for his crime against the party.
“I also wish to use this medium to call on all responsible and reasonable PDP party elders and members to take a bold step to flush out Wike from the party. He is not above the party. He should be expelled from it,” the letter read.
…Damagum fires back
Taking on his critics, Damagum, while inaugurating the PDP’s National Disciplinary and Reconciliation committees, said: “I want to use this opportunity also to address a letter from our elder statesman that has been brought to my attention. I don’t intend to speak much on it.
“I will borrow Olisa Metuh’s remarks from 2015 when Edwin Clark, left the party. There’s no doubt that he is an elder statesman.
“But I thought that when you reach that age, God has given you the opportunity and wisdom to be a father to all, not to engage in public arguments.
“He has all it takes to do the needful, not by taking a sentimental approach to the situation. I was not raised to be disrespectful to elders, so I don’t intend to dwell on this further.”
On Ologbodiyan and others, the PDP leader said: “I don’t know, maybe it is the wish of some for the party to die. But honestly speaking, as a dedicated member of this party, you should always speak positively of your party.
“Yes, we may have various interests, but the party will outlive all of us. Some of our founding fathers have left us, but the party is still functioning.
“And I am proud to say that today in this country, the only development you see everywhere comes from our governance.
“If you go to any state governed by the PDP, you will see the difference. It has been inherent in us; we have remained a very people-oriented party, bringing development to the people, and we stand out.
“So, sometimes I feel sad. I also want to use this opportunity to clear certain insinuations that have been trending on social media.
“Last time I checked, the signatories of this party are the chairman and the secretary. Just because the chairman and secretary signed a letter, it has become an issue. People are making all sorts of insinuations about it. I don’t want to engage with the other person—it’s a distraction.”
“But it pains me when I see someone who knows the workings of the NWC going on television to mislead the audience and say things that are not correct. It is painful. Very, very painful.
“There is precedent for what we did. During Kashamu’s case, the chairman and secretary brought it to the Supreme Court. There was also the issue of Anambra.
“Two issues arose. The chairman and secretary, in any situation, work as a team. I don’t make decisions without consulting my members,” Damagum further clarified.
He described the inauguration as a milestone in the party’s journey towards healing, understanding, and growth.
“We are all aware of the fallout of the primaries and the resultant effect it had on the outcome of the general elections across all states. The actions and inactions of some party members resulted in the current state of our party.
“This party has suffered a lot of damages resulting in the loss of the 2015, 2019, and 2023 general elections. However, the resilience of the party faithful has kept the party going and still a party to beat in the country.
“Since its inception, the party has evolved various mechanisms for addressing its internal conflicts. These include reconciliation, disciplinary measures, and other initiatives to embody fairness and equity. It is against this background that we have been selected to carry out this task,” he added.
Wabara, Bature speak
Also in their separate remarks, the party’s Board of Trustees’ chairman, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, and its national organising secretary, Captain Umar Bature, provided further insight into the setting of the committees.
According to Bature, it was a sequel to a resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC), at its last meeting.
While tasking the committee to take the assignment seriously, Wabara appealed to them to discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour.
“I sincerely urge the two committees to function without fear or favour, no matter whose ox is gored, and as much as our Constitution, the Constitution of this great party, guides whatever decisions or actions you will take.
“Failure of which, in my considered opinion, will lead to Nigeria becoming a one-party state. This is the beginning because without an opposition, there is no democracy,” said the former Senate president.
… Wike dares party
Also speaking, FCT Minister Wike vowed to remain in the PDP and fight for justice.
He said this Wednesday at a media parley to mark his first years in office.
Responding to reporters’ questions on whether he was joining the ruling APC, he said: “Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today… when I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things did they bring one member that won election?”
Continuing, the FCT minister said: “Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of principle that if this is not done, we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”