President of the Senate, David Mark, had earlier in the week predicted that the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, is heading for destruction if its members failed to immediately end their infighting.
Speaking when the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, head of the PDP post-election assessment committee visited him Wednesday, Mark stated that “the PDP is already haemorrhaging, unless we halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we may be heading for the final burial of the party.
“The party is already in a comatose status and we should do all we can to resuscitate the party rather than this unnecessary rancour and bulk passing.
“We have gotten enough bruises and we need not inflict further pains on ourselves with continuous bickering.
“Enough of this blame-game. We should return to the drawing board and need not wash our dirty linen in the public, anymore.
“I believe a useful lesson has been learnt from the PDP electoral misfortune. As for me, it is time to put on our thinking caps and chart a new course”.
Mark may have made the statement in reference to the crisis that erupted in the PDP shortly after the general elections.
There have been accusations and counter accusations that some influential party chieftains worked against the PDP before and during the polls.
It is against the backdrop that some members, especially PDP governors, are calling for the sack of the party’s national leadership.
This has led to the leakage of documents suggesting that the National Working Committee, NWC, shared part of funds meant for campaign among themselves.
The leadership, however, had denied the allegation, insisting that it gave money to party candidates to support their electioneering expenses.
As the drama unfolds, two chieftains of the party have continued to attack each other to the extent of exchanging words social media.
PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu,and Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, are showing no sign of relenting in their day-after-day comments, which insiders predict may lead to damning disclosures.
Fayose, who threatened to expose all his underhand deals, also challenged the NWC to show proof of monies released to state party leaders to prosecute the general elections.
He said only N30 million was released to him for the prosecution of the last two elections.
Calling for the resignation of the party leadership, he said: “I have no apology on my position on the NWC because their responsibility as a party does not take away their failure in the last general elections.”
Fayose lamented that the NWC members, especially the National Chairman, were refusing to allow new people to manage the party after managing it into its first national electoral failure.
He said: “How do we explain the PDP losing so scandalously in Bauchi State, despite the presence of the National Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Minister and the State governor?
“I am even more particular about the National Chairman because he sold the party to the opposition. I have cogent evidences of his unholy alliance with the opposition before the elections and if they go any further, I will expose all his underhand deals.
“I want to say it again that I have no apology for calling for the resignation of the NWC members, especially the National Chairman. After all, someone resigned his position as the National Chairman for Alhaji Mu’azu to assume office.
“Lastly, let me say it categorically that they can only attempt to destroy this party for the moment, not forever. Sooner or later, they will all fade away and PDP will rise again.”
Responding via his twitter handle, Mu’azu stated that he was willing to “work with all members and organs of our great party to begin a new journey of trust and sincerity with the Nigerian people.”
He rubbished Fayose’s claim that he sold the party to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
“The APC has nothing to offer someone like me. I am too principled to betray my party. I have been here since 1999.
“Some who are singing ‘change the entire NWC’ were the same ones who brought us to this level with their insincerity and praise singing.
“For those who are wishing that I will either decamp or resign, I advice you to kindly stop wishful thinking. We have a party to lead”.
According to him, “those who are busy pointing accusing fingers are yet to come to the realization of what has happened but we have gone beyond that.
“Some even ridicule and insult us that we betrayed President Jonathan. How can one betray himself?
“If we must reform our party then we must begin by finding real solutions. Those who are pointing accusing fingers will not help us”.
Defending the woeful outing of the PDP in his home state, Mu’azu said “If I had my way, everyone in my state, Bauchi, would have voted for President Jonathan but it’s the people that vote not me.
“The unity of Nigeria to me is greater than sectional or ethnic interests. I can never regret supporting our leader President Jonathan”.
He said the perception of President Jonathan and the PDP in the north was at an all time low because of the lies they were told by politicians.
Responding, Fayose also used his twitter handle, @GovAyoFayose, to define ‘Disloyalty’.
“A leader who takes to twitter to slight a party member but never did the same to the opponent”, he said.
Mu’azu, again, replied by mocking Fayose over his avowed threat to expose his under dealings.
He said, “We challenge Governor Fayose to come out with the evidence that shows National Chairman worked for APC during the elections.
“We hope it’s not the kind of evidence he once said he had that Buhari was dying.”
With none of the camp ready to lie low, the face-off may degenerate and ultimately take down some people.
A party chieftain, who was a member of the presidential campaign council, told DAILY POST on Thursday that President Jonathan is sceptical to fully intervene because the two camps are his “friends”.
“I’m aware he has sent some persons to reach out to them to stop the public embarrassment. However, I am not sure how far they’ve gone with that.
“The president could have called both of them to a round table meeting, but he’s been careful”, he stated.
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