The National Coordinator of the dissolved PDP Project Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Adai Edwin Adai, has advised the party to reconcile all differences and chart a way forward for the party’s growth, instead of apportioning blames and dividing the party.
The advice came against the backdrop of a statement by the Lagos State gubernatorial candidate of the party, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, that some party members had expelled themselves and that he has become the leader of the main opposition party in the state.
“Right now, we are talking about the reconciliation of the party. Even the presidential candidate, Mr. Atiku Abubakar, has taken it upon himself to call the likes of Peter Obi, Kwankwaso, and others, to say that everyone is still a member of the PDP. At this time, we shouldn’t be talking or concerned about personal interests. In my opinion, the statement by Jandor is a joke taken too far, especially at this point in time, that even the acting national chairman of the PDP is reaching out to all the warring members, calling all members to join hands together in unity. This is the time to rebuild the party.
“Jandor is not the national chairman of the PDP. All that the members of the party are saying is that this is a time for reconciliation. People should not forget that I led one of the most formidable support groups in the PDP. A candidate in my support group who won an election in Lagos State had his name removed by this same Jandor. That is also an anti-party activity, which can also be held against him.
The PDP has an internal conflict resolution mechanism that is supposed to investigate the matter before it is taken to the public space. For Jandor to say that some PDP members have expelled themselves is absolutely unacceptable. That is not a position to take at this critical time. What we are saying in the party is that all have erred and I expect that every party member will reach out for reconciliation.
“The fact is that Bode George has not said he is no longer a member of the PDP. I suffered the same humiliation. This is not the time to dig up old wounds. I don’t have any personal issues with Jandor. There is nothing wrong for young people to aspire for leadership positions. If you must assume some leadership positions, there are certain boundaries you must not cross. Bode George is a national leader of the PDP and a member of the board of trustees. You can not make unsubstantiated claims that he is no more a member of the party. Jandor himself has not shown any leadership quality. He was given an opportunity as the leader of the Lagos State PDP.
“How effectively has he been able to carry out the responsibilities of the party in Lagos State? He can not lead by tearing the party apart. Opportunity was given to him to mobilise, especially when the presidential candidate of the PDP came to Lagos State to campaign. How much mobilisation did he carry out? He doesn’t know much about the party, yet he is a leader. He doesn’t have the capacity to withstand Lagos politics. There is nothing wrong in aspiring to become the leader of the party. But, saying that some members have expelled themselves because they did what you consider anti-party is unacceptable,” he stated.
On measures put in place to encourage the party’s growth and resolve the internal conflicts in the party, Adai advised that more disciplinary rules must be implemented and strictly obeyed by members to avoid anti-party activities in future.
SOURCE:THE SUN