By: Joseph A. Adudu, September 27, 2022
It's no longer news that the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) is enmeshed in internal upheavals following the outcome of its Presidential Primary Election and other internal irritations relating to control and organization.
Pundits have observed that to a large extent, it could be said that the PDP is battling with the surfeit of lack of trust and breach of covenants within its folds, an ugly development which if not properly managed, may eventually break the handle of the umbrella.
At the conclusion of the PDP Presidential Primary few months ago, Atiku Abubakar emerged as the presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, having secured a total of 371 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Nyesom Wike, who garnered 237 votes.
However, Wike and his camp, comprising some current and former governors, feel they were cheated out of the presidential ticket and recently pulled out of Atiku’s presidential campaign demanding for the resignation of Prof. Iyeochiar Ayu, the National Chairman of the party whom they accused of manipulating the process in favour of Atiku
Rising from a meeting Wednesday last week, members of the PDP who are in the camp of Wike announced their withdrawal from the Campaign Council of the the party’s Presidential candidate until their demand was met.
A remarkable revelation from the Wike's camp after the meeting was that from a former Plateau State Governor, Senator Jonah Jang who said: “For a National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu to go and embrace Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tanbuwal, calling him the heroe of the convention meant that there was a private arrangement that was done with Tambuwal to shortchange other contestants including Governor Wike.
"Here was a referee, who helped one of his sides to score a goal and then blew the whistle. This is not what we formed the PDP to do for Nigerians. Therefore, we unequivocally ask that Ayu must step down”.
Jang's submission, even though a personal one, triggered responses from many quaters including some stakeholders of the PDP in Plateau who were clear in their position in disagreement with the position of the former governor.
This development reach its apogee when the former Secretary to the Plateau State Government, (SSG) Professor Shedrach Best descended heavily on Jang's media aide (who is also a private investor, an employer of labour and a staunch member of the PDP, Mr. Clinton Garuba), by asking him to leave Plateau on account that he is not an indigine.
It all started when Garuba issued a statement in respond to another by a group, known as "PDP stakeholders" which the former SSG is said to be its Protem Secretary. In its statement, the group not only took a swipe on gov. Jang, but disown him stressing that the decision he took to withdraw from the Presidential Council was not the position of members of the PDP in Plateau State.
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| Prof. Shedrach Best |
In response, Garuba, who is Media Consultant to Sen. Jang in a statement described members of the group as 'latter days entrants to the PDP' and therefore, not conversant with the dynamics of the party.
The statement added that the group might have been carried away by blind followership to know that Sen. Jang and other founding fathers of the PDP built the party on the principles of justice, equity and fairness stressing that it was these principles that held the party to where it is today.
According to the statement, "Subverting the constitution of the party long-held tradition of inclusiveness is a sure way to derail the party from getting back to its winning ways.
"Senator Jang and the real stakeholders in the party are not surprised that such a publication is authored by Prof. Shedrack Best who is still aggrieved and sulking over his loss in the recently held primaries of the PDP in Plateau State.
"He needs to let go of the bitterness against Jang as he is not responsible for his loss, as the stakeholders agreed then that, the delegates voted for aspirants and only one winner could emerge.
"It is true that Senator Jang and other prominent members of the party have been with Governor Nyesom Wike in the fight to entrench truth, equity and the need to give all members a sense of belonging and they have also made it clear that it is for the purpose of moving the party forward and leading it to victory at the polls.
"Those who have followed Jang closely will attest to the consistent history of Jang as it relates to truth and fairness , such that as a sitting Governor, he once challenged a sitting President of Nigeria who was also a member of same political party ( PDP) in court.
"Prof. Best of all people should know that in pursuit of truth , Jang is always prepared to tow the lonely path.
"Several calls have been made to the party to salvage the situation and resolve the issues arising from the outcome of the presidential primaries but it seems all call fell on deaf ears. Instead of reinforcing the call on the leadership of the party to do the right thing, it is unfortunate that the so-called unknown stakeholders are seeking for relevance by using the name of Senator Jang as a launching path. They could go ahead with supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubakar without dragging Senator Jang into their journey to infamy.
"They should make no mistake either, about the fact that, Senator Jonah Jang does not have anything personal against His Excellency , Atiku Abubakar as those in this journey of infamy will recall that in 2019 , mobilized his personal resources in support of Atiku despite the fact funds made available for the campaigns was in an attempt to ridicule Jang sent to the wrong persons".
The statement added that former Governor Jang has decided to go with the group that believed in the truth and was not surprised that the group of “stakeholders” was not in agreement with the path he has chosen.
The statement further stated that Jang did not envisage that everyone will agree with him but was working based on his conviction that truth must be told in the interest of the PDP.
"Every loyal party man or woman is indeed wishing for a peaceful resolution of the self-inflicted and avoidable internal crisis rocking the party and it is the belief of Jang that those who have the interest of the party at heart should insist that the right thing is done in order for the PDP to take its rightful place of pride as the only truly democratic party.
"Senator Jang and others have made their call loud enough for anyone who wants to listen and the call still remains that in the interest of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu should resign as the national chairman of the PDP. That is the just, fair and equitable thing to do, to pave the way for resolution of the crisis and set the party on the path to winning the 2023 presidential elections", the statement concluded.
The above statement triggered reactions from stakeholders of the party including that from the former SSG, who made it clear of having no personal problems with Clinton except that he (Clinton) dared to mentioned his name as having lost an election and sulking from the loss. Best stated that the press statement issued was a group product and that he was only an anchor, a position of trust bestowed on him by people united to work for Atiku as the PDP Presidential candidate.
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The bill has in its content so many perplexing irregularities that at
Reacting further, Best said, "Very true, I contested the Governorship position and lost at the primaries. I am proud to have offered myself to serve my beloved state Plateau. I had beautiful plans for my state and wanted to add value. This is my State. Whether I won or not is beside the point.
"Mutfwang emerged from the primaries and I am committed to working for his victory. Which one is Clinton's stake in this matter except the obvious commercial interest he has always represented in my beloved state and his mistaken view that he understands Plateau politics better than some of us? God forbid
"Since Clinton has such a capacity to win elections, he should go ahead and contest the next Governorship elections in Plateau State and win! O, sorry, he cannot because he is not from our state.
"Let me, however, be gracious to him and request him to contest a ward election in Edo State and win, and then not sulk. Please go ahead.
"For me, the problem is that Clinton is not from Plateau State, and he knows it. Where does he or his grandparents come from? Or is he now from Du and Jos South? Has Clinton not exploited this state enough?
I want to advise this Edo chap to stop nosing into Plateau affairs when it's leaders and intellectuals are discussing their State. Or don't we have the right to discuss as Plateau people again?
"Clinton cannot use our issues to continue to milk a certain family in the name of media advice. Having aspired to lead the state, I have a right to speak on every subject that affects Plateau State. Leadership has been bestowed on me naturally, and the likes of Clinton cannot quiten me. One million of his type cannot quite me.
"I have been a Professor for 15 years. Where was Clinton 15 years ago? I have held a PhD from a top British University since 1996, 26 years ago. Where was Clinton in 1996, 26 years ago?
"I am not an average Plateau citizen, I am among its best and brightest. Clinton should be advised to go to SPS Keffi, ABU Zaria, University of Bradford and where my feet have passes through, let him check my pedigree.
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| Clinton Garuba |
"I am simply not his match and he should be careful and show some respect whenever he chooses to talk about me. I dislike his going personal on me, or on any Plateau leader or son and daughter for that matter", Prof. Best stated.
However, in a swift reaction, Clinton made it categorically clear that he had the right to speak on issues that concerned a state he had lived-in for over 10 years, paid his taxes and have investment worth over the combined investment of all those who have questioned his right to speak on issues that concerned a party that he has equally served with so much courage and sacrifice at different capacity including in all state campaign committee from 2011 -2019.
"The same PDP that I paid dues to from 2007 - 2015 and some charlatans are of the view that I should keep mute ? I have deliberately ignored some rats or at best squirrels who have tried to throw tantrums at me because they are too little to understand issues. Some clowns have out of ignorance asked me to leave the state and I laughed at their folly for they have no idea as to who they are dealing with .
"I wanted clarifications so that I don’t mix up things and I am glad that you have clarified the point. If I were to respond to you because I thought you were going to tow the line of very shallow minded individuals that display sheer ignorance of the fundamentals of human existence and the fact that one is free to live, interact, share his views anywhere and at any point in time, perhaps we would have engaged in something not befitting but since you have restrained yourself let me allow that to slide.
"You have come out to ask if I am comfortable with what Sen. Jang said and I will tell you very clearly that politics is about interest, your interest could be in former Vice President Atiku while Jang’s interest might not be in Atiku, even though in this case, you seem to have the same interest in the PDP wining the 2023 Presidential elections but for a fundamental procedural error which Sen. Jang has pointed out.
"Some of us will rather take sides with a Jang who has stood with the truth and with his people and by his people over the years, putting his life on the line for them, he won’t be making a mistake at this time. So let the error in the processes be corrected.
"I will gladly tell you that whatever action Jang has taken is not in any way inimical to the Plateau agenda, it only aligns with and not deviates from the plateau agenda.
"I therefore expect you to advise your principal to do the needful and not short-change the people. However, if this discussion is going to take a different dimension, I am ready to have exchanges with you, let's exchange ideas. In the event that it degenerates and comes to dancing naked in the market square, I will dance naked with you."
However, knocks have continued to trail Prof. Best's comment asking Garuba to desist from getting involved in the affairs of the state on account of not being an indigine, describing such posture as the height of pettiness.
A member of the PDP from Barkin Ladi LGA, Sunday Dalyop while speaking to African Drum said the lingering internal crisis in the party in the state was becoming uncontrollable, describing Best's outburst as careless, reckless and capable of further breeding negative consequences.
Another member of the party, Edward Yohana, a resident of Busa Buji, Jos North LGA lamented that the cracks on the walls of the PDP in the state had the potency of paralyzing the party. He equally took a swipe at Prof. Best over his comment noting that it was regrettable that a Professor who claimed to have transverse the globe acquiring knowledge would be so myopic in his approach to the extend of promoting indigineship in a democracy.
Wuyep Pennap, another PDP member in Tudun Wada, Jos North LGA questioned the moral right of Prof. Best for his statement stressing that the academic qualifications he was bursting of where his personal achievements which cannot put food on the table of any family compared to Garuba's investments that have reduced unemployment and contributed immensely to the economic growth of the state. "With all the degrees he claimed to have acquired even outside the shores of this country, he has remained an employee unlike Clinton Garuba who has strengthen the economic base of our state through his investments.
"In my personal view, Prof. Best's attitude depicts that of a typical Plateau person who despite his level of education, is not given to exploring areas outside his immediate environment.
"Even those that have made money in politics would prefer to reserve such monies for themselves and their immediate family members rather than putting such monies on good investment. However, that strategy has not helped as many of them have turned paupers few years after leaving offices.
"For this reason, such people have resorted to making politics a profession and would resort to whatever means to remain relevant in order to continue to gain political favour", he said.
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