A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Buruji Kashamu has condemned the sacked Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee over its call on party members to defect to other parties.

In a statement he issued today (Wednesday) in Abuja, Kashamu said such a statement amounted to anti-party activities and urged party faithful to ignore it.

The statement reads, “I read with utter disbelief the statement credited to the sacked self-styled National Caretaker Committee of our party that our members should seek alternative platforms to seek elections as a result of the pending appeal at the Supreme Court.  Such a statement is not well-thought out, self-serving and antithetical to the principles of party politics and internal democracy.

 “The contradiction lies in the fact that the same people who have gleefully disobeyed valid and subsisting orders and judgments of courts are hoping that the Supreme Court will turn its eye to their defiant disobedience of court orders and judgments and award them victory. Their latest position has shown that they do not believe in the strength of their case or they were merely hell-bent on hijacking the structure of the party or destroy it all together, or both.

“While it is true that a political party is an organization made up of people who voluntarily joined and could voluntarily exit, that a call to decimate the PDP could come from those who seek to lead it leaves much to be desired. It is most reprehensible when it is realized that the call is coming from those who had benefitted so much from the PDP as governors, ministers and lawmakers.

“I dare say that their posture has not only shown their state of mind but it has also exposed them for who they are. It has shown that contrary to their claims, Senator Makarfi and his co-travellers never really had the interest of the PDP at heart. They have not conducted themselves as true party men. If they were true party men, they would never seek to throw away the baby with the bath water.

“There is no perfect relationship or organization anywhere. People, especially politicians, are bound to agree and disagree. We disagree, negotiate and build consensus. You do not say because you did not have your way in the struggle for the control of the party structure, and then the party must be destroyed. We are all members of the same body – the PDP – and there can only be one National Chairman and National Working Committee (NWC) at a time.

“It is irrelevant whether it is Senator Sheriff or Senator Makarfi that is in charge of the party at the moment. Now that the Court of Appeal has pronounced Senator Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of our party, the most important thing is who emerges as the National Chairman, going forward and the process leading thereto.

“However, there are many other positions that the party can offer deserving members and leaders. For instance, one cannot be a senator and governor, minister or President at the same time. It is the PDP leaders in our various state chapters and local government areas that decide who gets nominated for chairmanship and councillorship positions in our localities. No PDP leader will sit in Abuja to do that; and no one should seek to propagate a winner-take-all situation.”

Kashamu said he was surprised at the Makarfi group’s call, wondering what would happen if it wins at the apex court.

“As a true party man, I have consistently stated that I am for Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as much as I am for Senator Ahmed Makarfi. They are both our leaders who have paid their dues in politics, public and party administration. Whoever wins the ongoing leadership tussle should be accepted by all and sundry. Today, the courts have looked at the issues and pronounced Senator Sheriff as our National Chairman. Since the judgment of the Court of Appeal, many of the PDP governors and their followers who were in support of the sacked National Caretaker Committee have since retraced their steps. Senator Makarfi and the recalcitrant few should respect the court from which they seek respite and accept the status quo. If tomorrow, Senator Makarfi wins the appeal at the Supreme Court, so be it. No one can ask me to leave the PDP or ‘seek alternative platforms’ just because the table has turned,” he added.

Kashamu therefore urged party faithful to discountenance the Senator Makarfi group’s call to defect and support the Senator Sheriff-led national leadership of the party towards fielding viable candidates for the PDP in the various local government elections and other round of elections.

 He advised party members to actively participate in all the processes leading to the organization of an all-embracing national convention (once the case at the Supreme Court is done with) where all the interests of the contending groups will be accommodated.