The sacked Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has said members of the party
are free to join other political associations to realise their political
ambition.
He said neither him nor any member of the caretaker
committee had, however, joined the proposed Advanced Peoples Democratic Party.
There have been reports that some politicians in the Makarfi
camp are behind the move to register the APDP as a rival political party to the
PDP, which is now under the leadership of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
The party, which has been in a crisis for more than a year
now, has been further polarised since the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt
Division, pronounced Sheriff, the former governor of Borno State, as the authentic
national chairman of the PDP.
Though Makarfi had appealed the judgment, former President
Goodluck Jonathan had stepped into the crisis with a promise to a find
political solution to the protracted leadership tussle.
With a new political party about to be registered, which has
the resemblance of the PDP, there are insinuations that one of the camps may
not be sincere with the proposed deal.
Makarfi, a former governor of Kaduna State, has nevertheless
exonerated himself and members of his committee from those seeking the
registration of the new political party.
Speaking through the spokesperson for the caretaker
committee, Dayo Adeyeye, Makarfi said his committee would not abandon the PDP
for Sheriff.
Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, said in a
statement in Abuja, on Sunday, that the “National Caretaker Committee has no
hands in the purported planned registration of the Advanced Peoples Democratic
Party.”
He added, “We state clearly and without ambiguity that the
National Caretaker Committee of the PDP is not, in any way, involved in the
plans to register any party by the name of APDP or any other party for that
matter.
“It is unthinkable that the National Caretaker Committee,
which, without any doubt, enjoys the support of all the recognised organs of
the party, will contemplate such a move.
“We, however, acknowledge and recognise the right of party
members to seek alternative platform to actualise their political dreams, which
is an inalienable right guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.”
Adeyeye stated that the caretaker committee “is holding
leadership power in the party in trust for the millions of party” members, who,
he said, instituted the committee at the national convention.
He said no collective decision had been taken on what to do
with the party, stressing that if such decision would be taken, it would be
done by party members at a properly constituted national convention.
The ex-minister added, “Whatever decision that will be taken
on the PDP brand shall be taken by the owners of the party – the party members
– at a properly constituted national convention, and not by a few individuals,
no matter how highly-placed.
“For the records, no decision has been taken that the PDP
should be abandoned and a new party formed out of the current structure. At
least, no such proposal is before the National Caretaker Committee as of this
moment.
“We reiterate our belief that the issues before the Supreme
Court will be resolved on the side of truth and justice will be served in the
interest of peace.”
In his reaction on Friday, Sheriff said the party was
watching with keen interest the utterances of the Makarfi group, adding that it
was wrong for any party leader to be encouraging members of his party to leave
for other parties.
He explained that what was important to him and members of
his national working committee was how to reconcile all the PDP members and
strengthen the party ahead of the 2019 elections.
Sheriff, who spoke through the National Secretary of the
party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, argued that the situation in the party was not as
bad as being portrayed by the Makarfi group.
He said, “It is disheartening that they are asking members
or encouraging them to go and form another party or even join existing ones.
“Since we can’t stop them from exercising their
constitutional rights, they should not steal the franchise of our party.
“Makarfi, as a person, may not be part of those angling to
leave, but he should help us tell them not to use the name of PDP in any form.”
Also speaking for Sheriff, his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh,
said there were facts that the Makarfi group wanted to clinch the 2019
presidential ticket of the party at all costs.
He said, “They are afraid that they won’t be able to get the
presidential ticket. They have inordinate ambition to be the presidential
candidate at all costs.
“We are not stopping them, but in the PDP, things must be
done properly and not through the back door. They are afraid, that’s why they
are running from pillar to post, seeking to register another political party
with our name.”
PDP is proud of Obasanjo, says Makarfi
Meanwhile, the national caretaker committee of the PDP has
said the party is proud of the achievements of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo while in office.
The Chairman of the sacked committee, Makarfi, who stated
this in a statement in Abuja, on Sunday, said the party was happy that Obasanjo
had joined the league of octogenarians in the country.
Makarfi said Nigerians would continue to remember Obasanjo’s
style, which, he said, was unique.
While describing the former President as a quintessential
leader, he stated that the PDP was proud of his (Obasanjo’s) legacies and
achievements.
In the statement, which was signed by Adeyeye, Makarfi said,
“80th birthday anniversary of OBJ, as the former President is popularly called,
is not only a celebration of his sojourn on earth but a combination of the
series of his achievements and indelible legacies in various sectors of our
political, economic and social lives in Nigeria and beyond as a soldier, Head
of State, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
“For us in the PDP, Obasanjo remains a leader and a
President Nigerians will continue to remember for his unique style and quality
of leadership, the fulcrum for his policy formulations and implementations; and
the ingenuity with which he pioneered the affairs of the country creditably on
the platform of the our great party, the PDP, from 1999 to 2007 and even after
leaving office.
“We are proud of your heritage, Your Excellency.”
By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
