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| Hon. D.T. Sango |
PLATEAU PDP: IMPUNITY, IMPOSITION CONTINUE
By Joseph A Adudu
Monday, 2nd October, 2017
Political
pundits have constantly observed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
Plateau State over the years, have engaged in serious
acts of recklessness and lawlessness in conducting the affairs of the party, a
situation that culminated into disrespect of the feelings of majority of its
members. It is further said that the party’s internal processes were manipulated
primarily to scheme out some credible aspirants out of contention to various
political offices.
Consequently,
the process of enhancing the democratic emergence of duly and freely elected
delegates and candidates for the party was said not to be only compromised, but
abused and made a nullity by a clique to suit their personal interests.
The degree of
injustice perpetrated in PDP in Plateau State saw its decline for the first
time in 2015 after 16 years in power. The effect of the decline seemed to have
dazed its members that they almost find it difficult to wiggle out. Observers
expected members of the party to go back to the drawing table and do the
needful by way of re-strategizing and undertaking a radical departure from the
murky waters of convoluted politics and run a decent and all-encompassing,
people-oriented political party. However, what happened last year, during the
process leading to the emergence of the current State EXCO members headed by
Hon. Damishi T. Sango, left much to be desired.
Those who
championed Sango’s cause argued that he was the only candidate that has what it
takes to unite the warring factions within the party in the state, while those
against his candidature believe he cannot provide leadership based on justice
and fairness and foster strong bonds of unity, mutual respect and confidence
among members.
Most of the
events that happened in the past one-and-a-half years lend credence to the
latter position, while disproving the former. Within this period, the PDP in
the state has lost its prominent members including National Assembly member,
former deputy speaker and its state secretary, among others. This is ironical
taking into cognizance the position of Sango’s apostles.
Recently,
some members of the PDP in Kanke LGA accused Hon. Sango of engaging in acts of
impunity as he is alleged to have facilitated the conduct of another PDP
congress election in Kanke LGA despite a restraining order from the High Court.
It is alleged
that Sango has vehemently refused to sworn in the Hon. Tapwe Kubut Goma-led
EXCO of the party in Kanke LGA elected in 2016 and went ahead to appoint an
acting party chairman for the LGA. This development, according to sources,
prompted Hon. Goma to seek redress.
He approached
the High court in Pankshin in December 2016. The case is said to be ongoing and
the next adjourned date is 5th October, 2017. However, the state
chairman is alleged to have gone to the national caretaker committee in Abuja
and convinced the chairman by whatever way to conduct fresh LGA congress and in
two wards, namely Dawaki and Ampang East respectively.
It is said
that Hon. Goma got wind of the intention of the state chairman and quickly
approached the same High Court in Pankshin where he obtained an order
restraining the conduct of the congress. The order was said to have been
granted on merit last week.
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| Plateau State PDP Secretariat |
It is further
alleged that all the parties involved in the case were served copies of the
order, including the Commissioner of Police and the State INEC Commissioner.
The
Commissioner of Police and INEC were said to have complied with the court order
by withdrawing their personnel from taking part in the exercise. Despite the
development, it is said that the party’s congress team wanted to go ahead with
the exercise, but were almost lynched by angry party faithful in Kanke who were
already aware of the court order.
It is said
that the team went to Pankshin, the headquarters of the Central Zone, and
compiled a list of its choice and declared result and subsequent swearing-in on
Wednesday last week.
Those who
spoke to African Drum expressed
shock and disappointment on the attitude and conduct of the PDP chairman in the
state, adding that the party appears not to have learnt its lesson from
previous experience while others strongly believe there is a fifth columnist in
the party with the sole aim of destroying it.
Multiple
party sources wondered why Hon. Sango and his EXCO members refused to recognize
the same EXCO in Kanke that constituted delegates to the state, zonal and
national congresses of the party and brought them into office. Other observers
feel that the era of impunity and imposition portends grave danger for our
democracy.
When our man
contacted Hon. Sango on his cellphone seeking his response, he said he was not
going to comment on the issue.
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