The PDP informed Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday that no one may impose any conditions on the party ahead of its National Convention, which is set for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Remember how Wike said in a recent media chat in Abuja that even if the PDP crisis is currently over, if the party does not acknowledge the zonal congress that elected Chief Dan Orbih as the party’s National Vice Chairman, South-South, then another round of crises will begin?
In addition, Wike stated that “they said that they are going for their convention in November,” meaning that another crisis will arise unless his situation was addressed. Until they fix it, I’m not involved. They have time to fix things, so let’s wait. Address the issue before discussing convention. There will be a crisis if the issue is not settled.
In a media-interaction, National Publicity Secretary Hon. Debo Ologunagba responded to these threats by stating, “PDP has not, and will not even take condition from anybody, who will follow that constitution anyway.” The South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee has been operating as such.
The party informed its members that the PDP expects complete loyalty from them and threatened to invoke its Constitution if anyone disobeyed.
“Loyalty is a personal matter, and in a party like this, we have stated that we demand it,” the party stated. The constitution will take effect if we ever learn that you don’t provide it. That was something I talked about.
“We expect all of our members to be completely loyal. It is a statement that we made. It’s a successful statement. That’s where we stand now.
“If a case is filed, there are processes,” Ologunagba stated in response to the Minister’s accusation that the party or PDP governors went to court to demand a reversal of the state of emergency imposed on Rivers state but failed to pursue the matter. I work as an attorney. Notices of hearings will be sent. That is not the situation with me. The governors of the party that brought the case are people I know. The question that has to be raised is whether or not the Supreme Court has listed it. A hearing notice will be sent out if it has been listed. I am not aware of hearing notification.
“Let me tell you something again,” he added. You see, having a lot of noise does not equate to being knowledgeable.
However, according to Ologunagba, the party is currently concentrating on its planned National Convention in Ibadan.
We’re concentrating on our national convention,” he stated. We let the court proceed if there are cases pending. And I don’t think they’re doing a good job of pursuing it. If they are, there is what is known as a lack of diligent prosecution in the legal system. You know what to do if you believe that the person who filed the lawsuit won’t adequately prosecute the case.
“One of the decisions that we took as a party was, we directed the Legal Adviser to take steps to retrieve those positions, because constitutionally they’ve lost them by reason of their defection when there’s no division in our party,” he said, underscoring the party’s stance on the lawmakers who moved to the APC.
Read Also: BBNaija’s Ka3na on Davido Rumors: ‘I Won’t Snatch Davido From Chioma, Only Into White Men’
Further discussing party loyalty and the reasons why members shouldn’t leave, Ologunagba stated, “We will not tolerate disloyalty to this party.” We are requesting complete and utter devotion. We require that of our members.
Because this is the only political party where you can fulfill your ambitions and aims, anyone who wishes to quit the party—which we hope they don’t—should stay put because doing so would be a voyage of no discovery.
Naturally, 90% of those who are no longer there had their training in the PDP. This indicates that there is something special about PDP. We therefore invite those who choose to return.
Some were taken because they were angry. Although some were misinformed, we are now strong, stable, and working toward the National Convention. We are willing to return at this moment. However, betrayal is something that the party will not tolerate. It will be completely amazing. We also ask for it. We will enforce it. Our constitution will be used.
Addressing the party’s stance on the South-South congresses, Ologunagba stated that the party has already established a functioning caretaker committee, adding, “What we did was to set up, in line with the provisions of the party constitution, set up a caretaker committee, Zonal Caretaker Committee for the South-South, headed by Elder Emma Ogidi.”
Regarding the rumors that Peter Obi and Goodluck Jonathan might run for president under the PDP in 2027, Ologunagba stated that he doesn’t speculate and that the party has a number of capable governors who are eligible to serve as president.
“This party has many very qualified, exceedingly qualified, performing governors who can become the nation’s president,” he stated. Ask Jonathan if he’s contesting the question you’re asking me. I don’t speak for President Jonathan. Go ask him now. Consult him. I’m not supposed to speculate. Why you are asking that question is beyond me. Request Obi.
