Following the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the emergence of All Progressive Congress, APC, Tolagbe Animashaun, a PDP senatorial aspirant in Lagos Central District, in this interview, explains how the PDP can resolve issues facing it. Excerpts:
Five northern governors burying the PDP?
They can threaten hell and brimstone. What we need to do is to sit down at the round table and settle issues like adults, because PDP is a very big party that will outlive other parties; what is happening is expected of a party that is as massive as the PDP.
If you remember, during the 2011 general elections, there were issues that sounded as if they were not going to be solved but they were ironed out. I am positive that the PDP is going to survive the tumult that is going on now because there have been re-conciliatory moves by all forces involved; that is the major reason the party is going to surmount the challenges.
Do you envisage the PDP making any head way in 2015?
There is absolutely no party like the PDP in Nigeria, one million parties can merge and endorsed by the court, but what you put into consideration first is the caliber of those coming together, you will realize that they are people bent on manipulation and dribbling of the masses.
Tolagbe Animashaun
Tolagbe Animashaun
I have a very high regard for the former head of state, Gen. Buhari, but, eventually, he will realize that he is dealing with deceitful people. If you also remember, in 2011, they deceived and used former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who was their presidential candidate, and dumped him. We are going to put our house in order and I am sure we are having this storm in order to have a calm.
Is PDP democratic enough in selecting its key officers?
I am yet to see any political party that is as transparent as the PDP in Nigeria. Recently, we were supposed to have our convention for the purpose of electing our national officers but the court restrained us and we obeyed. So, which other way can we be more democratic as compared to other political parties that just appoint families and friends.
How soon will PDP put their house together ?
Reconciliation is in process. A committee has been set up to look into the matter. The committee is headed by the Governor of Bayelsa State Seriake Dickson. I am sure all the parties involved in this crisis will come to the table to talk including the governors that are threatening to bury the PDP. You must realize that people talk when their horses are goaded, and it is better to be together than to be apart
Plans to impeaching Gov. Rotimi Amaechi?
This party has made many people and I don’t see anybody biting the finger that feeds him, but that does not mean that nobody is hindered not to have aspirations, you can aspire to be the president or whatever you want to be but you ought to respect the authority of the president of the nation and also the authority of the party.
As far as I am concerned, there is some level of indiscipline on the part of the governor of Rivers State towards the authorities. Whatever grudges you may have can be sorted out within and not on the pages of newspapers. In all sincerity, he is a Nigerian and he has every right to nurse an ambition, but he has to put his ambition in check.
Chances of PDP winning any seat in South-west come 2015?
Currently the present administration has not been fair to us in the South-west and we have made representation to the government. Lagos also does not have a representative in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and it is seriously affecting the fortunes of the party in the state because we don’t have a minister that will speak on our behalf in Abuja. The President is aware of this and we have shouted on the roof top that he is not being fair to us in the South-west.
It may interest you to know that Lagosians are fed-up with multiple taxation in Lagos, bad roads and motor cycles being seized. If the party can give us our own minister, we have a good chance of winning Lagos for PDP in 2015. Also we believe that we were robbed in the last local government elections by the Action Congress of Nigeria, especially in Eredo local government area of Badagry; Ikoyi – Obalende, Agbado – Okeodo where we won the Chairmanship election and the courts gave the mandates to the ACN. So, all we need is to have the backing of our formidable party in 2015.
For instance, the vote Mr. President garnered during last presidential election was as a result of the efforts of what the PDP did in Lagos. I believe we can do the same again if he recognizes that he needs our support to emerge in 2015.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/buhari-is-dealing-with-people-who-deceived-ribadu/#sthash.GJpr7Oyn.dpuf









http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/buhari-is-dealing-with-people-who-deceived-ribadu/

HIS HOLINESS, GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI IS WORKING WITH TIFNUBU SAI MAI SALLAH

Very soon buhari will realise the cowards he's associating with. Olorunbe Mamora, a vibrant senator was short changed for a political novice; Remilekun Tinubu so as to sustain the dynasty.

Breaking news, GoodLuck Jonathan is dealing with and pardoning convicted criminals!!

Space booked
dont care who buhari nd tinubu are dealing with...all that matters tew me is dat GEJ should get the Bleep out of Aso rock with his fresh air

3 rats were arguing about who get swags..

1st rat: "I CHOP RAT FOOD WITH POISON, I NO DIE'

2nd Rat: 'I DANCE AZONTO ON TOP OF A TRAP, NOTHIN DO ME'

The 3rd Rat laughed and said "u people are just funny... U SEE THAT CAT OVER THERE, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR HER
PREGNANCY!"

Which of them get swag pass?

If Ribadu was deceived, how come he is still an active member of the party? The PDP branding others as deceitful is such a big joke. Is the PDP not a loosely controlled group of cheats and liars, inglorious characters and masquerades, rogues and ex-cons who have disemboweled our aspirations as a people and bequeathed on us a legacy of shame, poverty and institutional decay?

PDP, a transparent party, yet their members are always in court challenging the party leadership.

whose fault is it that the President selected Olusegun Aganga, an Edo man, to represent Lagos State in the FEC? It means party members from Lagos State are inept and unsuitable. Ogunlewe and Seriki were former PDP ministers who represented Lagos State, yet their presence in the FEC did not amount to electoral fortunes for the party, neither did they bring any development to Lagos State.

When has it become a matter of concern to you who Buhari associates with? Those who hate Buhari do so not because they hate his personality or because they are blind about what this man represent, they do so because they hate his religion and tribe.