Resign now, S’West PDP tells Mua’zu, other NWC members

The Southwest caucus of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has backed calls for the Chairman of the party, AlhajiAdamu Muazu and other members of the National Working Committee to resign their positions.

It would be recalled that the Party’s Governors’ Forum had asked the National Chairman of the party, along with other National Working Committee members to resign their appointments on the grounds of the ‘embarrassing defeat’ suffered by the party at the just-concluded general elections.

The new call by the Southwest caucus of the party formed the highlight of the meeting, Friday, of its South West Presidential Contact and Mobilization Committee hosted by Fayose in Ado Ekiti , where party leaders from the six States in the Geo-political Zone had attended.

After sitting for three hours behind closed door, a communiqué read by the PDP leader in the zone, Chief Bode George, stated that members of the NWC must resign their positions and return home to work for the party as a sacrifice and first step to rebuilding the ‘highly debilitated’ party.

The Southwest PDP also expressly urged Mu’azu and other members of the National Working Committee, to resign without delay, ‘having destroyed the fortunes of the party by not being a reliable team player that can drive a big party like PDP to success.’

In the same vein, the zone also warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) ‘not to allow its victory in the last presidential poll to intoxicate its members to the extent of harassing, molesting any PDP Governor in the zone,’ further vowing to resist any attempt to impeach Governor Ayodele Fayose for his loyalty to the party.

The group condemned in strong terms , attempts by the 19 APC lawmakers in the state House of Assembly to impeach Fayose, saying “the APC-orchestrated violence, blackmail and political attacks on elected PDP governors and other officials pose a threat to the peace of the region,’’ assuring that such will not be tolerated under any guise.

Other decisions taken during the parley include: “that the zone commends President Jonathan for his belief in the legacy of transparent elections, that the party enjoined defected members to return and rebuild the party, since the APC had boldly declared that there is no space for them in the party.”

The parley also commended Fayose for resisting intimidation and remain dogged in the face of intimidation by the APC, that the party encouraged Fayose and the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko to continue to work together harmoniously and that it supports serious overhauling of the party’s structure at the national level.

Speaking further on the aptness of the parley and the resolutions taken, George said: “People like President Jonathan is very rear to come by. He accepted a flawed election for Nigeria to stand united. Can those who had not been sworn-in and have started threatening to impeach a PDP governor do this?

“PDP lost the elections because of unresolved issues and due to the handiwork of enemies within coupled with the conspiracy from INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, who wisely made Nigerians to have the impression that the election was free and fair when it was not.

“As at the time Prof Jega said he was ready for elections, about 2.1 million PVCs were yet to get to Lagos State and likewise Ogun. If you check the election, there was no cancellation of results and voided votes in the North.

“In spite of all these, the President said it should be allowed to stay. The conspiracy was too obvious against our party, but President Jonathan showed civility, this was quite commendable”, he stated.

Fayose and Mimiko, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Kola Ademujimi, appealed to the President-elect, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to believe in a new Nigeria, where people can easily express themselves and pursue their political aspirations without impediment.

Speaking on his impeachment travail, Fayose said: “I am a member of the PDP and nobody can harass me because of my political belief. For APC to be harassing me because I am a member of PDP and for them to ban AIT from covering the activities of the president-elect gave a reminder of a slide to dictatorship.

“They were in opposition and they effectively stood up to us that time, so they should expect same now. Nigeria will progress, if the APC can respect the rights of every Nigerian”, Fayose said.

On his part, Mimiko boasted that the PDP is only embarking on a four-year holiday, promising that the party will recapture power in 2019.

Leaders at the meeting include: former Zonal National VC, Chief Tajudeen Oladipo, Senator Bode Olajumoke, Segun Adegoke, Chief Lekan Balogun, PDP Governorship candidate in the last election, Mr Gboyega Isiaka, an ex-envoy, Amb. Toye Olofintuyi, ex-PDP Chairman in Ekiti, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, Senator Femi Kila, Hon Duro Faseyi, among others.