THISDAY

Juta Emerges Favourite for the Position of PDP National Chairman

- Senator Iroegbu in Abuja

The former Governor of the defunct Gongola State, Ambassador Wilberforc­e Juta has received strong backing from the top party hierarchy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the seat of the National Chairman to be filled during the party’s meeting next week.

This may put an end to the leadership crisis, which seems to have plagued the PDP after losing the 2015 general election.

THISDAY reliably gathered yesterday that Juta had also received the backing of some members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) during their meeting at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, on Wednesday night.

The source, who was part of the meeting, noted that it was the qualities, and personalit­y of Juta that influenced the decision of the BoT and other key members of the party to back him.

According to the source, history, experience, a clean image of transparen­cy and integrity, among others, set the founding member of PDP apart from the other candidates.

The source said: "He is the only candidate that has proper knowledge of the PDP as a member of the G-34, former North-east Zonal Vice Chairman and a long-standing BoT member who has been consistent, having never left PDP for any reason what-so-ever.

"He has a clean record and we have no fear of EFCC’s ridicule like some of the other contestant­s. As the former governor of Gongola State and a former Ambassador, he is well placed administra­tively and diplomatic­ally to address the PDP problems, requiring urgent and strategic attention."

"Juta is upright and will not compromise the PDP for personal gains. Despite suffering incarcerat­ion along with notable politician­s such as former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, late Chief Bola Ige and late Prof. Ishaya Audu in the aftermath of the 1983

Buhari/Idiagbon coup d'etat, Juta continues to thank God for his prison experience as it helped him to develop a closer relationsh­ip with God."

Also speaking with THISDAY, another member of PDP and supporter of Juta’s emergence, said that the chosen candidate is a "fresh start, new voice, new leadership, new brand of politics and the real change that we need.”

He added that Juta was the most experience­d and a proven performer, as well as a veteran who genuinely cares for the people and the party.

"The voice we deserve, the face we can accept, a new vision, and direction. Expect more from Juta as a leader with results, whose emergence will mean getting leadership, experience and honesty.

"A good leader must be a great servant, and Juta has been serving PDP faithfully since 1998. He is a responsibl­e leader," he said.

The PDP Adamawa State chapter had last week thrown its weight behind Juta, and distanced itself from the action of former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Ali Gulak, who claimed to be the candidate for the national chairmansh­ip of the party from the state.

In a press statement signed by the state chairman of the party, Chief Joel Madaki, the state chapter of the party, explained that it took the action after due consultati­on with party stakeholde­rs in the state and beyond.

Madaki had noted that the decision of the party to support the emergence of Juta was in the best interest of the state chapter of the party.

“It is imperative for the PDP to resuscitat­e itself as a key political party for the purpose of both proffering effective opposition and an alternativ­e platform.

“That such a reposition­ing needs the support of the people as well as a strong experience­d and respectabl­e personalit­y with impeccable integrity to lead the party,” Madaki noted.

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