‘South-West is the cause of PDP crisis’
There is nothing like caretaker in the constitution of the party. I am not desperate to be the chairman of our party, but I will not go against the law. I don’t have any personal problem with Makarfi
There is nothing like caretaker in the constitution of the party. I am not desperate to be the chairman of our party, but I will not go against the law. I don’t have any personal problem with Makarfi. The Almighty Allah has given me accomplishments in life. Makarfi is not my problem in anyway and will never be my problem. This is about what is right and what is wrong. I have no issue to join with Makarfi.
Is it that you want to prove a point?
No, we should do the right thing in the PDP. If there is a court order, let’s obey it and wait until the matter is resolved, then we can hold our convention and elect our leaders. You cannot correct a process with illegality. The party has a constitution that guides our conducts. When you believe that your rights have been trampled upon, follow the court process.
Are there efforts to make peace?
The PDP is our party and nobody wants it to be destroyed. But you can only achieve peace if you take the path of truth. When you deviate from the truth you will get a roadblock because at the end of the day the right thing has to be done. Why do you think the PDP lost the elections? It was because of impunity.
Is that what you want to correct?
Yes, we have to do the right thing.
Also, there are reports that when you emerged you were to serve for only three months and organise a convention?
I have not deviated from that agreement. If I had deviated I wouldn’t have gone to the convention in Port Harcourt. I have the agreement, I kept it. I will hold a convention within three months where the leaders of the party would be elected. Where have I deviated?
Was there an agreement that you would not contest?
There was absolutely nothing like that.
Was that why you planned to contest?
The position was zoned to the North-East. The people that sat to do this are not Borno indigenes. Every state had at least a member in that committee. I didn’t do it.
What is the status of Senator Ahmed Makarfi?
Makarfi is a party member and a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT); that’s all.
Did the BoT ask him to take charge as party chairman?
The BoT is an advisory organ of the party; that’s what the constitution of the PDP states. They don’t have any right to make pronouncements on behalf of the party. They can only advise.
What is your plan for the party?
My plan is to unite the party and resolve this issue. I still intend to organise a national convention to elect leaders when all the issues are resolved. Even if they want to contest, let them agree that we should hold a convention. We need to build people’s confidence in the party. The truth is that if the people don’t want you, you cannot force yourself on them. There should be an opportunity for the people to decide what they want. The PDP has more than 14 million members, and the people we are talking about are less than 50. Let’s do the right thing for once. If we don’t do that, the party will continue to lose elections.
What is happening in Edo?
Based on the constitution,we have the power to dissolve a state chapter and put a caretaker committee in place. We don’t have a parallel executive; we dissolved the executive and put a caretaker committee.
You also conducted a parallel primary election there.
The caretaker did not exist, so there couldn’t have been any congress. Only the PDP as a party can hold a congress.
Was the INEC there when you conducted your primary election in Edo?
Whether the INEC was there or not, we held our congress and people won. The Makarfi committee also said they held a congress. Journalists will soon know the truth when the INEC accepts the right candidate of the party.
Are you saying the INEC will accept your candidate?
The point is that the INEC has to deal with a political party, not an individual. That is what the constitution says. In the constitution, which the INEC has, there is nothing like a caretaker committee.
Have you followed events in Abia? What is the position of the party?
As far as the party is concerned, both candidates are our members. We have nothing to lose over the court judgement. We agree with whatever the court pronounces.
The governorship election is just by the corner in Edo and your party seems to be in disagreement over the right candidate; what is your fortune?
We will win, by the grace of God. The truth is that both candidates are very credible. They have the support of their people; therefore, we stand a very strong chance in the Edo election.