PDP; The 'Hues & Cries'

Nigeria's front line opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is no doubt going through a tough breaking process. Here you have a political family which started out well with the efforts of its notable founding fathers. Unfortunately the party met with a major blow from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the 2015 general elections.

A vibrant opposition is key in democracy. Hence what becomes of the nation's major opposition party should be of public interest, most especially now that the polity is heated and loaded with lies and deception from our leaders of today.

It will do us a whole world of good to embark on an exploration of the root cause of the PDP’s present situation. With its confusing plethora of court cases, one of which was disposed of at the Appeal Court affirming that Ali Modu Sheriff is the authentic National Chairman of the party, and a further appeal that is bound for the Supreme Court, the PDP is not new to crisis. Recall, the 'hues and cries' over the chairmanship of PDP is a consequence of a distorted zoning arrangement.

Jonathan Okays Sherrif?

Just days after the Appeal Court’s ruling that affirmed Sheriff’s position as chairman. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, allegedly endorsed Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

This coming as reportedly paid a visit to Jonathan, fueling speculations that the ex-president approves of the court judgment. The ex-president unhesitatingly disowned such claims.

In a statement issued by Jonathan's media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, the ex-president did endorsed Sheriff.

  
The statement partly read:

"Indeed, it may interest you to know that after meeting with Sheriff, the former President also met with Senator Ahmed Makarfi, leader of the PDP Caretaker Committee, and the party’s Board of Trustees chairman, Senator Walid Jubril, later in the evening.

"As a peace-loving leader of the party, the former President’s interest is to help reposition PDP to enable it play a constructive role in the affairs of the nation, in view of the imperative of deepening the nation’s democracy.

"I wish to let those spinning this falsehood know that it just doesn’t add up to fly a contrived banner of endorsement in one breath, and in another, concede that the former President explained his commitment in meeting with different interest groups, towards resolving the differences in the party.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the following are the former President’s exact words during the interview with newsmen, as had accurately been reported by most online and major national newspapers, as well as broadcast organisations:

"We (PDP) are not factionalised. We are one. We are solving our problems. There are bound to be differences in politics. It is the way we resolve these differences that make us human beings and that is what makes us leaders. I have met with Sheriff. And I have met with others. I will still meet with others, so that we will be able to do what is expected of us as a political party."

Jonathan's spokesman urged journalists to accurately and constructively cover activities of his boss.

Sheriff To Turn To Obansanjo

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, recently disclosed that alongside his national working committee, he will be meeting former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Recall, The ex-president who was a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, tore his membership card of the party some years ago. Coming as a result of the failure of former President Goodluck Jonathan to keep with the party's zoning formula and insisted that he was to run as the party's standard bearer and presidential candidate during the 2015 elections.

Of a truth, the vast experience and overwhelming influence of Obasanjo could be needed now than ever and Sheriff, who was recently declared the authentic national chairman of the party by the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had been meeting with its key members and its founding fathers.

He had met with Jonathan and also a former chairman of its BoT, Chief Tony Anenih.

Apart from Obasanjo, there also reports that Sheriff and members of his team were also in consultation with former Vice President Namadi Sambo.

PDP Bank Accounts To Be Reactivated

There are indications that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was planning to reactivate the accounts of the party, which hitherto inactive.

Meanwhile, members of the PDP who are sympathetic to the factional leader, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, were stopped from staging a peaceful protest in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Saturday.

They were dispersed by the police who stormed the venue of their meeting, armed with a petition from the Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction that their assembly was illegal and should not be allowed.

Sokoto PDP Throws Weight Behind Senator Ahmed Makarfi

Sokoto state chapter of the opposition PDP has unanimously endorsed the decision of the PDP stakeholders in Abuja to support and recognize Senator Ahmed Makarfi as an authentic chairman of the party instead of Senator Ali Modu Sherrif as recently ruled by the appeal court sitting in Port Harcourt.

The party leaders made this known through a press statement released by the State party chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma.

Milgoma described those supporting Senator Ali Sherrif as National chairman in Sokoto as infiltrators who are out to destroy what they did not build due to hatred and political intolerance and love of power by force in order to satisfying their own minds and political survival.

He avowed that the Sokoto chapter PDP, including its elders, party state executive members, chairmen from wards to local government and their supporters are 100 % behind Senator Makarfi as the only known and authenticated chairman.

Many PDP Members Believe Sheriff Is A Mole Of The APC

Recall, The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the party’s embattled National Chairman, Sen Ali Modu Sheriff as a “mole out to destroy the only strong opposition in the country.”  The party on one accused the former Borno State Governor of collaborating with the Federal Government to barricade the entrance to the International Conference Centre, venue of its emergency meeting. 

One may begin to wonder if this is a case of 'giving a dog a bad name in other to hing it'. Or there are some elements of truth in those claims...Could it be that Sheriff is an APC man under PDP's umbrella? If yes...Now that the Appeal court has confirmed him the PDP Boss..what would become of the opposition party? 

See Here for the complete arguments within the PDP as regards to Sheriff's National chairmanship. Fayose, Femi Fani-Kayode and other are still crying out.