PDP: No special privileges for ‘nomadic politicians’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday declared that it would not give any special privileges to new entrants.

Many erstwhile stalwarts of the party who renounced their membership before 2015 and after have re-registered with the PDP, especially following the recent Supreme Court judgement.

Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who stated this when he received in audience, the PDP Rescue Group led by a former governor of the defunct Gongola State, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, in Abuja, said the party must evolve mechanisms for dedicated and loyal party men and women.

He said the PDP must learn from the mistakes of the ruling APC, stressing that new comers must behave well.

Makarfi noted that Nigerian politicians were “nomadic politicians,” who migrate from one political party to another to seek greener pastures.

“We are open to accepting new entrants into the party but no special privileges for anybody coming into the party. That is not an issue to be contemplated. No exclusivity; it will be inclusive without any special privilege to anybody or group of individuals.

“That’s how APC got it wrong. We should learn from how APC got it wrong; what we need to do is that we would create a level-playing field and that we don’t lord it over those who have slaved for the party.

“In some African countries, we didn’t hear of this kind of mobility. But in Nigeria, we are nomadic politicians. We have many nomadic politicians and they should behave well; they would be welcomed but I stand by what I said earlier.

In a related development, a former Minister of Special Duties and Chairman of the PDP ExMinisters Forum, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, told newsmen at the end of the forum’s general meeting at Yar’adua Centre, that they would ensure that only a credible and transparent person emerged as the next national chairman of the party.