27/12/2024
December 27, 2024
Reply to National Youths Coalition on their advice to:
1. Senator David Mark
2. The PDP Governors’ Forum
3. The PDP National Caucus
4. The PDP National Caucus
5. The PDP Association of National Ex-officio Members of the PDP NEC
It has come to our notice that another deserted group by the name *National Youths Coalition* has now been pushed to spread more lies and falsehoods against the PDP leadership, further misinterpreting the PDP constitution and the functions of the organs of the party.
The group has falsely arrogated the powers to appoint or elect a national officer to the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT). Now, let the sponsors of this group know that the constitution of PDP only allows the BoT to ensure morality in all the activities of the party. Also to harmonize, coordinate, review and advise on programmes and activities of the party.
The BoT functions do not cover setting up a committee to scout for a PDP national officer to replace another national officer. If the suggested imposition should hold, it means the BoT is only overstretching their boundaries.
The group above has mischievously dragged in the person of His Excellency, Senator David Mark into already subsiding PDP interest tussles, perhaps to curry favour of Senator Mark's credibility, just to enable them fly a kite of their usual deception, in order to revisit the already ill-fated northcentral daydreaming scheme.
In the politics of Peoples Democratic Party-PDP, there's no room for intimidation. Nobody can intimidate others, in any guise.
Therefore, we would want to inform this ragtag coalition group and their confused patrons that we will continue to let the party elders have their respite, while the young ones take up the centre stage leadership. This is the new vision in PDP. Then, to drag and overlabour an elder statesman as David Mark is a big disservice to PDP.
On special appeal, we'll call on all groups to stop exploiting party elders forthwith. Party elders are to have their rest while they advise the party. Nobody should drag party leaders on a matter the PDP critical stakeholders have already settled. Equally, let party elders stop making themselves available to political jobbers.
Let David Mark be allowed to enjoy his retirement peacefully. David Mark knows that it's an aberration and unconstitutional to allow only one man to search for the so called credible and acceptable candidate from the North Central. Let this porous Coalition group know that PDP didn't zone chairmanship to the Northcentral, rather to the entire North, comprising Northeast, Northwest and Northcentral.
On Northcentral, all plans are on ground to intensify efforts to win back all PDP faithful, especially National Assembly members, including Hon. Blessing Onuh, the daughter of David Mark, who currently belongs to All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group has accused the Acting National Chairman, His Excellency, Ambassador Umar Damagun of holding two national positions. This is not true, as section 45(2) of the PDP constitution allows Damagun to act as National Chairman pending the election of a replacement. This is the true position of things in PDP. The People still clamouring for Northcentral, even when PDP entire family didn't zone chairmanship to Northcentral, have a hidden agenda.
They'll continue to fail. Let them know that Damagun is a detribalised leader, and for everybody.
Again, Damagun is not occupying two positions. PDP Constitution allows him to function as the Acting National Chairman, and to become a substantive National Chairman, while the entire North should work out modalities to replace the position of Deputy National Chairman (North) as Damagun awaits his confirmation as National Chairman.
Let the group know that the National Working Committee (NWC) under Dr Bamanga Tukur was different from the NWC under Prince Uche Secondus. Secondus as National Chairman had two Deputies, one to cover up for either North or South. PDP NWC under Senator Iyorchia Ayu ( present NWC) followed same pattern as NWC under Secondus with two Deputies.
Hence, from PDP constitution, upon the exit of Ayu, the onus now lies on Damagun from the North to step in and further proceed with ratification, if necessary, to enhance speedy discharge of his official duties.
A precedent already exists about this in PDP, such that when Prince Secondus from South-South exited PDP, his Deputy National Chairman ( South), Elder Yemi Akinwonmi from South-West, succeeded him.This is the latest development to work with in the PDP, without any further sentiments.
Meanwhile, under Damagun leadership, PDP has delivered electoral successes which have strengthened the grasp of PDP in the grassroots in Nigeria. The below Federal Constituencies are among them; Igabi Federal Constituency, Kaduna State;
Udenu/Igbo-Eze North Federal Constituency, Enugu State; Fika/Fune Federal Constituency, Yobe State; Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency, Jigawa State; Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency, Sokoto State.
Also are Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency,Taraba State, and Plateau North Constituency, including more than 10 State Constituencies for the State Assemblies, and the party still counting.
Therefore, we urge all PDP members both at home and in the diaspora to remain focused, and extend their unflinching support and loyalty to Ambassador Umar Damagun led NWC that is already consolidated, to continue party reforms and progress. There's no vacancy in the PDP National Chairmanship seat. We'll continue to support Damagun-led NWC to stabilize and unify PDP, and for them to serve out their term next year 2025.
SIGNED:
Emmanuel Odessa, Sanusi Abdullahi, Seyi Bamidele.
PDP Unity Project Group (PDP-UPG)