Chairman,
Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, on Sunday
night expressed his fear of the opposition parties’ merger before chiefs of the
ruling party.
Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, on Sunday
night expressed his fear of the opposition parties’ merger before chiefs of the
ruling party.
Anenih
told the governors, federal lawmakers and state chairmen of the PDP from the
South-South geo-political zone, in Asaba, Delta State, that the opposition
political parties congregating under the All Progressives Congress banner might
be a threat to the PDP hegemony.
told the governors, federal lawmakers and state chairmen of the PDP from the
South-South geo-political zone, in Asaba, Delta State, that the opposition
political parties congregating under the All Progressives Congress banner might
be a threat to the PDP hegemony.
“We
must not live under the illusion that our party is invulnerable. Although, the
existing opposition parties are still too small, fragile and sectional, we must
not ignore the possibility that a merger of these parties may constitute a
threat to our current dominance of the political terrain,” Anenih told his
party men.
must not live under the illusion that our party is invulnerable. Although, the
existing opposition parties are still too small, fragile and sectional, we must
not ignore the possibility that a merger of these parties may constitute a
threat to our current dominance of the political terrain,” Anenih told his
party men.
The
APC, an initiative of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive
Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party and a faction of the All Progressives Grand
Alliance, has the avowed mission to dislodge the PDP from power come 2015.
APC, an initiative of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive
Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party and a faction of the All Progressives Grand
Alliance, has the avowed mission to dislodge the PDP from power come 2015.
Before
now, Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, had derided the merger, saying selfish
ambition would create division among the merging parties.
now, Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, had derided the merger, saying selfish
ambition would create division among the merging parties.
The PDP
BoT chairman also said that the opposition parties had hijacked the Nigerian
Governors’ Forum hence the need for party members to rally round the PDP
governors’ forum chaired by the Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio.
BoT chairman also said that the opposition parties had hijacked the Nigerian
Governors’ Forum hence the need for party members to rally round the PDP
governors’ forum chaired by the Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio.
He told
the gathering, “We must not labour under the illusion that we can be spectators
in the bold and necessary drama of national reconstruction, or, worse still,
align with those who seek power for its own sake rather than for the good of
our people.
the gathering, “We must not labour under the illusion that we can be spectators
in the bold and necessary drama of national reconstruction, or, worse still,
align with those who seek power for its own sake rather than for the good of
our people.
“We,
therefore, have a strategic obligation to put our house in order so as to
sustain the peace which we have enjoyed in the last 14 years.
therefore, have a strategic obligation to put our house in order so as to
sustain the peace which we have enjoyed in the last 14 years.
“We
must always be conscious that if the PDP becomes fragmented as a result of the
inordinate ambitions of a few members, our country, our democracy and our
people will suffer.
must always be conscious that if the PDP becomes fragmented as a result of the
inordinate ambitions of a few members, our country, our democracy and our
people will suffer.
“We
must, therefore, subsume our ambitions under the greater good of our party and
our country.
must, therefore, subsume our ambitions under the greater good of our party and
our country.
“The
proposed merger of four political parties under the umbrella of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be a house built on sand, which is
likely to collapse with the first rain. Speaking seriously, however, we cannot
afford to be complacent. We must expect any eventualities and prepare to
overcome them.”
proposed merger of four political parties under the umbrella of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be a house built on sand, which is
likely to collapse with the first rain. Speaking seriously, however, we cannot
afford to be complacent. We must expect any eventualities and prepare to
overcome them.”
He
deplored the activities of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum which he said had
portrayed itself as an anti-Federal Government lobby group.
deplored the activities of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum which he said had
portrayed itself as an anti-Federal Government lobby group.
This,
he said, was “in contradistinction to its avowed mission statement of
‘providing a common platform for synergy, collaboration among interests’ or
serving as a bi-partisan lobby group which fosters, promotes and sustains
democratic ethos, good governance in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.”
he said, was “in contradistinction to its avowed mission statement of
‘providing a common platform for synergy, collaboration among interests’ or
serving as a bi-partisan lobby group which fosters, promotes and sustains
democratic ethos, good governance in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.”
He
said, “Indeed, the general perception is that the NGF has become a formidable
group of power wielders, seeking to control governments at all levels,
including the Federal Government.
said, “Indeed, the general perception is that the NGF has become a formidable
group of power wielders, seeking to control governments at all levels,
including the Federal Government.
“What
is now beyond doubt is that the NGF has been hijacked by opposition governors
and is no longer promoting the interest of the PDP.
is now beyond doubt is that the NGF has been hijacked by opposition governors
and is no longer promoting the interest of the PDP.
“It is
for this reason that I fully endorse the formation of the PDP Governors Forum.”
for this reason that I fully endorse the formation of the PDP Governors Forum.”
The BoT
chairman also drew attention to what he said was “a well-oiled wheel of
insidious media propaganda which has been tirelessly churning out sinister
information about the Jonathan Administration for the purpose of destabilising
(and eventually replacing) his government.
chairman also drew attention to what he said was “a well-oiled wheel of
insidious media propaganda which has been tirelessly churning out sinister
information about the Jonathan Administration for the purpose of destabilising
(and eventually replacing) his government.
“Unfortunately,
some of these political enemies have PDP members as accomplices. What the
anti-Jonathan forces are doing is to create tension in a desperate bid to
unsettle and disrupt the administration.”
some of these political enemies have PDP members as accomplices. What the
anti-Jonathan forces are doing is to create tension in a desperate bid to
unsettle and disrupt the administration.”
Anenih
equally proposed what he said was a rancour-free system of presidential and
governorship nominations.
equally proposed what he said was a rancour-free system of presidential and
governorship nominations.
He
said, “Our party primaries have, over the years, been the most serious sources
of rancour and disunity in our ranks.
said, “Our party primaries have, over the years, been the most serious sources
of rancour and disunity in our ranks.
“Almost
two years are devoted to pre-election processes for political offices and
another two in managing post-primaries/election bitterness and disunity.
two years are devoted to pre-election processes for political offices and
another two in managing post-primaries/election bitterness and disunity.
“More
pernicious is the fact that we invest so much resources and energy fighting
ourselves in the primaries that should have gone into the larger battle against
our political rivals.
pernicious is the fact that we invest so much resources and energy fighting
ourselves in the primaries that should have gone into the larger battle against
our political rivals.
“We
cannot continue this tradition of internal warfare. We must not live under the
illusion that we can fight ourselves to the finish and hope that we can
continue to have enough energy left to win elections.”
cannot continue this tradition of internal warfare. We must not live under the
illusion that we can fight ourselves to the finish and hope that we can
continue to have enough energy left to win elections.”
He
added, “We must (therefore) evolve a new system of selecting our flag-bearers
at the presidential and governorship levels that would preserve our unity and
reserve our energy and resources for the greater battle for political power.
added, “We must (therefore) evolve a new system of selecting our flag-bearers
at the presidential and governorship levels that would preserve our unity and
reserve our energy and resources for the greater battle for political power.
“We
must seriously consider this in order to avoid frictions and acrimony in the
overall interest of our party and the nation.”
must seriously consider this in order to avoid frictions and acrimony in the
overall interest of our party and the nation.”
He said
at the meeting that the persistent negative profiling of the administration of
Jonathan had been a major issue which had been of concern to him.
at the meeting that the persistent negative profiling of the administration of
Jonathan had been a major issue which had been of concern to him.
Anenih
noted that “it is true that some governors have complaints against the
leadership of the party; however, such complaints are not sufficient to warrant
any rebellion as speculated.
noted that “it is true that some governors have complaints against the
leadership of the party; however, such complaints are not sufficient to warrant
any rebellion as speculated.
“There
have also been some complaints against the governors. In any case, the problems
raised are not insurmountable as, indeed, they are already being addressed by
the leadership of the party.”
have also been some complaints against the governors. In any case, the problems
raised are not insurmountable as, indeed, they are already being addressed by
the leadership of the party.”
He
appealed to the party leaders in the zone not to lose sight of those
challenges.
appealed to the party leaders in the zone not to lose sight of those
challenges.
He
accused the opposition of being behind widespread rumours such as, the
Presidency using EFCC to harass governors who refuse to support Jonathan’s
alleged interest in contesting for the Presidency in 2015; alleged massive acts
of corruption against certain government functionaries; plans by some PDP
governors to defect to opposition parties; and death or hospitalisation of
public officials, including governors, among others.
accused the opposition of being behind widespread rumours such as, the
Presidency using EFCC to harass governors who refuse to support Jonathan’s
alleged interest in contesting for the Presidency in 2015; alleged massive acts
of corruption against certain government functionaries; plans by some PDP
governors to defect to opposition parties; and death or hospitalisation of
public officials, including governors, among others.
Meanwhile,
some governors from the South-South and South-East geo-political zones at a
meeting in Asaba on Sunday expressed confidence in the President and commended
efforts by his administration to combat insecurity and other challenges
confronting the country.
some governors from the South-South and South-East geo-political zones at a
meeting in Asaba on Sunday expressed confidence in the President and commended
efforts by his administration to combat insecurity and other challenges
confronting the country.
Source: Punch
