BREAKING NEWS, Politics
–
A GROUP of leaders in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wants Ali Modu Sheriff, the new national chairman of the party to resign immediately.
The leaders under the aegis of the PDP Rescue Group, led by Wilberforce Juta, who demanded Sheriff’s exit, made the call during a news conference on Sunday, February 21, in Abuja.
Juta said that the PDP leaders were upset about the decision of the National Executive Committee to appoint Sheriff as the PDP national chairman.
He said: “We are convinced that this decision is against the will and wish of the generality of members.
“We know for a fact the North-East Zonal wing, having been directed by the National Caucus of the party to forward nominees from the zone, did not nominate Modu Sheriff for the position of national chairman.
“Consequently, Modu-Sheriff should do the needful by stepping down honourably as it is evident that party members nationwide have overwhelmingly rejected him.”
The former Nigerian ambassador said that the current leadership crisis in PDP was a challenge to every Nigerian expressed fear that the same kind of error of judgement which pushed the party into opposition was about repeating itself to destroy his party.
Juta, who is also chairmanship aspirant said: “The crisis must challenge all party members to action to halt the party from further drift. The plan of PDP Rescue Group is to mobilise party members and leaders to help attain this noble goal.
“It is, therefore, critical if the PDP must come back to national reckoning, that we remodel its leadership on the platform of honesty as required by the party manifesto.”
He then urged all party organs to rise to the challenge by insisting on the removal of Sheriff.
Juta also urged the different organs, as well as past and present leaders to commence the search for persons with high integrity, strategic insight and fear of God Almighty to lead the party.
“It is our considered view that we endeavour to elect only those with discernible traits,” he said.
He called for early Congresses and National Convention of the party to elect new leaders as the term of the current leadership was due to end in March 2016.
He said “under no guise should the tenure of the current leadership of the party be extended, if we must make the needed fresh beginning.”
Speaking with journalists at the briefing, Adolphus Wabara, a former president of the Senate, who is also the deputy chairman of the group, described Sheriff’s appointment as an imposition.
Some of the members of the group, who were at the briefing, are John Odey, Kabiru Mohammed, Akilu Indabawa, Umar Ardo, Bashir Maidugu, Mohammed Kabir, Pogu Bitrus, Lancelot Anyanya and Muyiwa Oladimeji, among others.
— Feb 22, 2016 @ 14:10 GMT
|
Tags:
