- Another crisis has again hit the People Democratic
Party
- The former minister of information, Jerry
Gana, led some key members of the party to join SDP
- They accused
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state of hijacking the party.
The crisis rocking the former ruling People Democratic Party
(PDP) is yet to abate as three former ministers are leading an exodus of top
members of the party after efforts to heal the wounds of the last national
convention of the party hit the rocks.
The Nation reports that the ex-information minister Jerry
Gana, former education minister, Tunde Adeniran and ex-Niger Delta minister
Godsday Orubebe are moving to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which is
merging with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Salvation Party (PSP)
to form a formidable party ahead of 2019 general elections.
NAIJ.com gathered that more chieftains of the PDP are
expected to join them.
The former president Olusegun Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for
Nigeria Movement (CNM) is in talks with the SDP to work together.
It was gathered that the likes of Gana, Adeniran and Orubebe,
all founding members of the PDP, are still displeased with what they see as the
hijack of the party by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and others during
the party’s last national convention.
Adeniran was defeated in a bitter chairmanship election by
Wike’s candidate, Uche Secondus.
A high powered committee headed by Governor Henry Seriake
Dickson of Bayelsa state to reconcile the aggrieved members could not help the
situation.
The aggrieved party chieftains launched into a marathon
meeting/negotiation with the leadership of SDP on Thursday night, March 1, in
Abuja for a merger.
The meeting ended early Friday, March 2, with the signing of
a Memorandum of Understanding by the coalescing group at Ladi Kwali Hall in
Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
Joining Gana from the PDP are a former military administrator
of Katsina state, Senator Joseph Akaagerger; a former minister of Niger Delta
Affairs, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe; Chief Mike Oghiadhome, who was a former
Chief of Staff to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; ex-governor Saminu Turaki of
Jigawa state; and ex-minister of defence, Dr. Olu Agunloye and a former deputy
speaker of Ondo state House of Assembly, Hon. Dare Emiola.
Also teaming up with SDP are a former member of the House of
Representatives, Junaid Mohammed; Senator Bassey Ewa Hensaw; a member of the
House of Representatives, Hon. Olamide Oni; Supo Shonibare (Southwest zonal
chairman of SDP), Hon. Dipo Olaitan (a former leader of the Alliance for
Democracy in the House of Representatives); a former Speaker, Oyo state House
of Assembly, Kehinde Ayoola; Ambassador Yemi Farounbi; leaders of the Middle
Belt Forum; John Dara; the leaders of the National Intervention Forum led by
Tafawa Balewa; Ambassador Bejide; Shehu Gabam who gave the vote of thanks.
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief
Olu Falae is a stalwart of the SDP.
Although ex-governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state and a former
deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu were part of the preliminary
talks, it was unclear why they were not at the signing of the MoU.
A highly placed source in the group said: "As a matter
of fact, Mantu propped up the name of a party which should be included in the
merger but it was rejected. He attended the initial meeting but by the time the
MoU was signed, he was not there.
“We are hopeful that he will be at our subsequent meetings.
Some of our leaders are suspecting that Mantu may chicken out because he has
been begging Adeniran and Gana not to leave PDP.
The MoU entered into by the leaders was obtained yesterday by
The Nation.
Jointly signed by Falae (for SDP) and Prof. Gana (for
Movement for a new political order), the MoU read in part:
“Whereas on the 12th Day of February 2018, a
joint resolution was adopted at Sheraton Hotel Abuja, for working together to
ensure the emergence of a new and credible political order to deepen democracy,
good governance and genuine development, with peace, security and social
justice”.
The said meeting also unanimously resolved to build: "A restructured, balanced equitable and
truly functional Nigerian federation; a humane, free, seIf-reliant and
democratic society; a dynamic, productive, transformed and sustainable economy;
a just, fair, egalitarian and peaceful nation; a land of bright and full of
opportunities for all Nigerians; and a national culture of raising good leaders
through effective mentoring.
“Whereas, it was also agreed that the proposed
movement shall be directed, driven and defined by such core values as: 1.
Justice, fairness, equity and progress; 2. Democracy, good leadership, good
governance and sustainable development; 3. Transparency, integrity, truth and
honour; 4. Accountability and zero tolerance for corruption; 5. Respect for
human dignity, human rights and sanctity of human life;; and 6. Peace,
security, harmony, cooperative solidarity, within the rule of law; and 7.
International cooperation for a common humanity within a secure and peaceful
order.
“Whereas, the movement further resolved to be
inspired and motivated by the ideals of social democracy, with great emphasis
on: the triumph of social justice; the nobility of human dignity; the harmony
of fairness and equality; the power of working together in solidarity; the
excellence of good governance, driven by good leadership; the wisdom of reforms
and transformation far beyond mere growth; the horror of poverty, demanding
eradication; the dignity of prosperity; the imperative of democracy and the
security of peace with justice
“Whereas with due reference to these
objectives, core values, and ideals, a Strategy Committee was mandated to
search for a suitable, popular, meaningful and widespread platform, with a name
that already resonates with the people and to make appropriate recommendations;
and
“Whereas, the strategic committee, comprising
representatives from all the six geopolitical zones of the Federation, have met
and submitted their report, unanimously recommending the adoption of Social
Democratic Party(SDP) vehicle by the movement for a new political order:
“Therefore, we hereby resolutely agree to: (a)
Fuse together into one political form; (b) adopt the Social Democratic
Party(SDP) as the political vehicle for the fused political formation; (c)
Convene a non-elective convention for Saturday, 14th April, 2018; (d) authorize
the national working committee to serve as the interim management committee
until the said convention; Set up a national steering committee of 12 members
to guide the interim management committee during the transition period; raise a
constitution review committee to consider all necessary amendments to the party
constitution.”
Speaking with the Nations on Friday night, March 2, Junaid
Mohammed said: “Those involved in SDP are the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP),
Peoples Salvation Party (PSP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and some
elements of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was like a merger but we do not
want to call it so because the All Progressives Congress (APC) has destroyed
the concept of merger.
“I am an optimist; I believe SDP will make a
great impact. The main reason I want to be associated with it is because it is
ideologically driven. Even it was not ideologically driven before; it has to be
ideologically driven”.
Asked if some governors and National Assembly members have
subscribed to SDP, Mohammed added: “It is
not compulsory to have governors or members of the National Assembly in a party
to succeed. There are about 65 to 67 parties thereabout in the country. In
terms of electoral performance, most of the parties are not on ground.
"The two parties which have led the
country are not doing well. They have impacted negatively on the economy and
our political life. A three-party or a four or five -party system will be
better.”
A top source in the SDP said: “The SDP has been approached by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement
(CNM) which has been founded by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. We are hopeful
that our ongoing talks will be fruitful. “We share common ideals with the CNM
on how to move the nation forward.”
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had previously reported that Chief Olu
Falae, national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) disclosed that
key leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People Democratic
Party (PDP) were set to announce that they had become members of his party.
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