Chairmanship: Bauchi PDP Drums Support for Mohammed
Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi reports that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are drumming support for former FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed’s bid for the party’s national chairmanship position currently occupied by Chief Uche Seco
Since the resignation of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu , the agitation for the return the party’s chairmanship slot to the Northeast has continued to gather momentum. Mu‘azu, a former governor of Bauchi State (1999-2007) was the eleventh national chairman of the party that and the sixth to have worked under former President Jonathan who first came to power in 2010. The clamour for his resignation followed the poor performance of the party in the last presidential election and the its failure to secure the control of the two Houses of the National Assembly.
Recently, the North East Zonal Executive Council of the PDP, the 20 local government chairmen of the party in Bauchi State, groups and associations consisting of politicians and professionals have intensified their clamour for the zone, particularly Bauchi, to produce the national chairman of PDP to complete the tenure of Muazu.
They went further to publicly endorse the immediate past minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammed, as their choice. Not only do they see him as a man with the capacity of reinventing the party along acceptable democratic practices, but also as a leader who could reconcile warring members and bring success to the party based on his antecedents.
A political analyst and social commentator, Mallam Sanusi Abdullahi Dauda, in an interview with THISDAY, described as enormous the challenges and difficult tasks before who becomes the party’s national chairman, saying however that the former FCT minister has the capacity and ability to do the impossible in the party.
‘‘Senator Bala Mohammed’s leadership would deepen democracy in the party through obedience to the rule of law, he is not only eminently qualified for the job, but we in Bauchi have confidence in his ability to reposition our party to deliver more dividends of democracy to the citizenry. And as a bridge-builder, Kaura Bauchi will unite the party, restore internal democracy and contribute to the present administration’s change agenda”.
About a fortnight ago, the 20 local government chairmen of the PDP in Bauchi state endorsed the immediate past minister of the FCT as the next national chairman of the party.
Speaking to newsmen in Bauchi, the spokesman of the 20 PDP chieftains, Bala Abdullahi Dan, who is also the party’s chairman of Alakaleri local government chapter described the ex minister as a young, vibrant politician and founding member of the party who has remained committed to PDP.
Dan said it was their desire that the position of the national chairman of the PDP remained in the northeast adding that Senator Muhammed is the best man for the job because he played a vital role during the 2015 PDP presidential campaign.
He argued that the bane of the PDP has been ‘‘lack of internal democracy which led to dictatorship as few leaders hijacked the party to the detriment of loyal members,’’ explaining that what the main opposition party needs to overcome the challenges ahead is to choose a national leader that would be guided by the ideals of the founders such as equity and justice.
“Our appeal is based on three facts: eligibility, sincere concern for the party and zeal to serve. Bala Muhammed is a man who can move the party to the next stage of progress without rancour, discrimination and other vices.”
He said that as the opposition party moves towards repositioning itself to give a sense of belonging to members, PDP needs a leader with a vision and whose integrity is not in doubt to build bridges and face the present challenges.
According to them, without prejudice to other contestants, Muhammed “is the best to occupy the position of national chairman.” They appealed to stakeholders in the party to support him.
In the same vein, the Northeast Zonal Executive Council of the PDP has appealed to the leaders of the party to allow the zone produce the next national chairman of PDP.
Zonal Chairman of the party, Senator Muhammad Girgiri Lawan, who stated this in an opening remarks at the North East Zonal Executive Council meeting of the Party recently in Gombe stressed the need for all stakeholders of the party in the zone to unite themselves and work together for the success of the party.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting which was attended by all zonal officials, chairmen and secretaries of the party, the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Sani Al’amin, said “position of the national chairman of the party belong to the Northeast and the zone should be allowed to complete their tenure even if it’s for one day.”
Al’amin said the meeting faulted the comment of a national officer who said the office of the national chairman was not vacant, pointing out that “such comments is a clear move to rob Northeast of what is legitimately for them, it’s unfair and it will not augur well for the party’’.
A zonal member of the party who attended the meeting and pleaded anonymity told THISDAY in an interview that stakeholders at the meeting “vowed to resist any attempt to snatch the mandate of the region from us and advised the National Executive Council of the party to take a common position and to allow the zone to produce the next national chairman for the success of the party and in the best interest of justice and fairness.’’
“Even though we have not publicly mentioned any candidate of our choice for that position yet, but many of us have the immediate past FCT minister in mind as our choice because we see him as one with some unique attributes as a person – with so many friends from the North to the South; from the West to the East. He is somebody that could clearly be described as not tied to sectional, tribal or religious sentiments. Indeed, one who has been building bridges across religious, tribal and party lines in this country.”
Even as FCT minister then, all of the massive achievements which was recorded by Senator Bala Mohammed, the Kaura Bauchi, were as a result of his dexterity, commitment, dedication and realism which has ensured his strict adherence to the transformation agenda and vision of the then President Goodluck Jonathan who wanted a virile, resilient, more dynamic and developed Nigeria.