₦airaland Forum

The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to misrepresenting reports in a section of the media alluding strange and unfounded motives to the Housing Allowance duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the Party

The NWC has noted that this misleading report stemmed from an unfounded publication by a particular media outlet which suggested that the Housing Allowance, an entitlement duly approved and paid to national officials and staff of the Party amounted to bribery.

For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that no funds were paid into the account of any member of the NWC as bribe for any purpose whatsoever for that matter.

To set the record straight, the Housing Allowance being referred to went through the Due Process of the Party in line with the Conditions of Service and Entitlement of the Staff and Principal Officers of the Party.

If any individual, for any reason decides to return money duly approved and paid, such does not in any way suggest that the money was paid as bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.

A bribe is defined as “money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person especially in that person’s performance as a public official…”. This is not the case in the payment of Housing Allowance duly approved for officials and staff of the Party.

The PDP therefore urges all members, teeming supporters and the general public to disregard the report and misleading insinuation which are clearly designed to malign the PDP, cause disaffection and distract our Party from our mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Signed:

Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary

Wabara, who was before now, the Secretary of the PDP BoT, would be appointed to the presidential campaign council of the PDP.

Adolphus Wabara, a former Senate President, has been appointed the PDP BoT chairman.

He was named acting Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, following the resignation of Walid Jibrin.

He has also been named the Political Adviser of the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

Wabara, who was before now, the Secretary of the PDP BoT, would be appointed to the presidential campaign council of the PDP.

A source said the decision was taken a few moments ago at the ongoing BoT meeting taking place in Abuja.

“The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, will also resign shortly as the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum,, the source said.

Former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi has described the growing call for the resignation of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as an unwise decision that could bring more crisis that would affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming general elections. In an Interview with BBC Hausa Service, the former PDP chairman demanded that aggrieved members sheathe their sword till after elections.

Few days ago, some PDP leaders were in Kano State to welcome former Kano governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, who defected to the party. While that was going on, his old party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) said his exit had no impact on the party. Does it mean he has no political value?

If he has no political value or weight, why were they happy when he joined the NNPP. They shouldn’t condemn his exit from the NNPP. NNPP made several consultations, efforts and commitment before Shekarau agreed to join them. But for PDP, it took us one shot to woo him back to PDP. We visited him one day, struck the deal same day and welcomed him back to PDP. In summary, his return to PDP is good and booster for the party, not only for Kano but for the national election.

There are growing calls for the resignation of PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu because of the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate from the North. As a former leader of the party, do you think it is the right move for him to resign at this period?


First of all, it was never the North that requested for the post of PDP national chairman to be zoned to the region. Most of the people who pushed for northern chairman of the party are from the South. The calculation then was different. Later, it was decided that the contest for the presidential primary should be left open for people from all regions to contest. Then if the presidential candidate emerged from the North, if he wins the election, then the party will take time to make necessary corrections in its leadership including moving the party chairmanships seat to the South if need be. But these agreements are not in written form. It was part of the discussions before the primary elections. Now the calculation has changed because of the emergence of a northern presidential candidate. But whatever the case maybe, there’s no need for any changes in the party leadership until after the elections. Election campaign will kick-off very shortly, so there’s no time for any actions that would culminate in change of leadership for PDP. This will cause us more crisis which we are not expecting at this crucial moment. The best thing is for everyone to sheathe their sword and wait till after elections.

In 2019 elections, there was this belief that some unhappy party leaders sabotaged and worked against the party. With this “crisis” now, there’s fear that such might repeat itself.

You are talking about our crisis in PDP, do you know what is happening in the other parties? Politics is shielded with lots of things that many don’t know and understand. People are talking about our own because it’s in the open. Many other political parties are in serious crisis that could consume them if care is not taken. But with the help of God and party members, all these crises would be resolved and PDP return to power in 2023.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in his recent outburst, called on you to quit commenting on him and focus on how to win your State, Kaduna, for PDP.

What he said was kind of advice for me and I have taken it in good fate. It’s not only me alone. Everybody is expected, this time, to focus on his or state to ensure the party wins elections. I accepted the advice in good fate and I can assure you that 90 per cent or more of my attention and focus is on Kaduna, while the remainder is in other things. I am a leader, not only in Kaduna but in the nation.

Some times ago, many people raised concerns that you are hobnobbing with APC members and that it might be you want to defect or work for APC in the forthcoming general elections.

I want to tell you something that many people don’t know. As I am today, nobody can buy me with money or whatever. I make friends with people irrespective of political affiliations, tribe or religion. Politics is a thing of choice and passion for me, and I do it for the benefits of the people. Since I left government in 2007, no governor from my state has given me or someone close contract worth a dime. No governor has given me a parcel of land or any other favour including political appointment. So, I am in politics for the benefits of the people and not for me or close associates alone.

Many observers have claimed that you are not openly campaigning for PDP governorship candidate in Kaduna State.


Campaign is yet to start. There’s a law regarding campaign and the time to start has not come. Besides, campaign is done in different ways. Many people may choose to do secret campaign than to do the open one for whatever reasons that are known to them.

What is your assessment of the governor, Nasir El-rufai’s seven years administration?

If you want to know or get the right information regarding the administration, then you have to meet the people of Kaduna state. They are in the right position to make assessment and pass judgement. But based on what I know, we ran an open and transparent government when I was there as governor. We listen to people’s complaint and took actions to solve their problems. We gave justice to people irrespective of religion, tribe or political affiliations. We discuss lots of things particularly projects at the State Executive Council to know the level of development. Howbeit, I have left government and I don’t put my mind or eyes in what’s happening there. I expect the people in the media will be doing that, holding government accountable for the people.

But as an indigene of the state, are you impressed with the administration?

If I am impressed with the administration, I won’t be pushing for their replacement.


Very soon, election campaign will start fully. What criteria should Nigerians use to make choice in this coming elections?

First of all, this election is between two political parties, PDP and APC. In the North, if you choose party other than PDP, then you have empowered APC. In the South, if you choose party other than PDP, you have reduced the chances of PDP and increased that of APC. So, in a developing country such as ours, opposition parties always come together to get power and not moving apart or operating based on their individual strength. Example is the APC. It was a coalition of different political parties that gave birth to APC. If they had gone into the 2015 elections in their individual strength, they wouldn’t have won the election. Our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to form a government of national unity, because the country is highly divided and need a strong a unifier.

But this your suggestion of coalition is obviously late because all political parties have chosen a candidate, awaiting commencement of campaigns.

You are very much right. But there’s what is called political alignment and it usually happens on election day or few days to election. If the understanding goes well, we could see that on election day, a candidate can ask his party supporters to queue behind and vote for a particular candidate. It has happened in the past and it will still happen in the future.

What are the chances of your party both at state and national levels?

You must know that elections and voting systems have changed. So, we are optimistic that there will be free and fair exercise. The new electoral act has brought confidence in the exercise. Electronic transmission of result has further brought sanity to the system. Before now, the election results are allegedly altered along the way to collation centres but that has changed with the new electoral Act that has introduced electronic transmission of results. It is better and we are hopeful that the results of 2023 general election will reflect the decisions of the people.

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, has asked Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; and his New Nigeria Peoples Party’s counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso to swallow their personal ambition and return to the Peoples Democratic Party just as the Senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, left the New Nigeria Peoples Party and rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party.

Makarfi, a former PDP chairman, was a guest on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, where he made this remark on Tuesday.

According to the 66-year-old statesman, there are only two parties in Nigeria – the PDP and the All Progressives Congress.

He also said frustrated youths are using Obi, a former Anambra State governor, as a symbol, adding that youths should not make decisions on the presidential candidate to vote for in anger. Obi had left the PDP in May and emerged as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate.

Channels Television had reported that Shekarau, also a former Kano governor, from 2003 to 2011, dumped the NNPP after a rift with the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Shekarau was received in the PDP on Monday by the party’s chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; its flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar; amongst other PDP heavyweights in the north.

Speaking on the development during the programme on Tuesday, Makarfi said Shekarau’s move to the PDP was based on conviction and not personal ambition, noting that the new defector has abandoned his senatorial ambition for 2023 in the NNPP.

Shekarau had in May left the APC after a fallout with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Shekarau joined the NNPP but barely three months later, he dumped the NNPP for the PDP. The founding member of the APC in 2013 was also a PDP member in 2014.

He said, “Nigerian politics is a bit funny especially politics of the opposition. Before APC captured power, the opposition came together but unfortunately, we have a situation in Nigeria where the opposition wakes up and everyone tries to capture power.

“I want to make a plea to other opposition parties that let them think about Nigeria first and what is good for Nigeria; let us do what APC did – come together, talk amongst ourselves and arrive at something that all of us will agree to and bring positive change to this country.

“Peter Obi, personally, he respects me, I respect him. Kwankwaso still is my friend, I respect him but the issue is that we should all swallow personal ambition for the sake of this country and bring positive change by changing the government that is in power today.

“About the fears of the youths, I am not blaming them but when you are frustrated when you are angry, you may take a decision that will worsen your situation.

“I call on other opposition parties to actually come together, especially Peter Obi, I know he respects our presidential candidate (Atiku) a lot and many of us. PDP will be home to him, PDP will be home to his supporters, and Kwankwaso, we all started PDP together, let us come back home and do the needful for the sake of this country.”

Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, former Governor of Kaduna State has opined that to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections in 2023, there is the need for a formidable and united Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking when he received the Director-General of Save Southern Kaduna Group (SSKG), Mr Istifanus Audu Nimbia and his entourage on a private visit, he called for unity among members of the PDP.

In a statement from Mr Victor Mathew Bobai, Director Corporate Communications, Save Southern Kaduna Group (SSKG), Senator Makarfi observed that the immediate challenge facing the PDP in Kaduna State was to ensure that Southern Kaduna remained very united and support the nomination of Dr John Ayuba as the governorship running mate to Isah Ashiru in the 2023 governorship election.

Makarfi said, “John Ayuba is first of all from Southern Kaduna, therefore, going to the press to agitate against him is not the right thing to do without asking the PDP gubernatorial candidate the level of consultation he made before arriving at Dr John Ayuba.”

According to him, the youth should make positive agitation and demand for other lucrative positions where they can build experience and develop capacity for the future of Kaduna State and the country in general.

He believed that no society could develop without the input and positive contributions from the youth.

The former governor advised the youths to stop sending wrong signals and terrible narratives of hate and discouragement, urging them to see themselves as a united political front.

The PDP Leader encouraged the youths to always ask questions before taking certain decisions, assuring them that his doors were open and always available for them to come and interact with him on issues that need clarifications.

A former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, said Nigerians lost the presidential election in 2015 and not the Peoples Democratic Party.

Lamido, who featured on the current affairs program of Channels Television, Sunday Politics, said the current realities in the country since 2015 proved that Nigerians lost by voting for President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress.

When asked if the PDP now has the capacity to win election in 2023, having lost in 2015 and 2019, the ex-governor said, “There was a party called PDP which won election in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 but lost in 2015. Therefore, Nigerians know the PDP very well. We didn’t lose the election in 2015 or 2019, Nigerians lost the elections; Nigerians lost, not us.

“See what we have today. See our situation. Look at our economy, look at security…there are a number if things…look at our common bonds and brothers and sisters.

“Look at the loss of confidence…the loss of trust and bond. I have been very honest, it was not PDP that lost, it was Nigerians that lost. If we lose again in 2023, it is Nigerians who lose, not PDP.”

Lamido added that the ongoing moves for a consensus presidential candidate for the PDP in the 2023 general elections, is not about the regions – North or South – but a party consensus.

“In PDP, whatever we do is purely for Nigerians, not for us because there are expectations from us in the PDP. People see the PDP as the only hope in Nigeria today,” he stated.

According to him, building a consensus is about trust among regions, geopolitical zones, religious and ethnic blocs in the country.

He pointed out that the next president of Nigeria must be somebody who can restore the trust between people of the different parts of the country.

He said, “Today before you do anything else, you need to restore that thing called trust between ourselves. Today in Nigeria, we don’t trust each other; we don’t believe in ourselves anymore. There are various cracks along with religion.

“When you talk about northerners, southerners, westerners, our communal bond is not there anymore. Our common bond is humanity. We are Nigerian people who are supposed to be there for each other.”