A People’s Democratic Party, PDP group has called for the sanctioning of disgraced Ali Modu Sheriff, a former chairman of the PDP saying that the Gowon inspired ‘no victor, no vanquished‘ resolution of the party is ill-advised.
In an e-mailed statement on Monday, July 17, 2017 to The Trent signed by Ariyo-Dare Atoye and Sefinatu Umaru, co-conveners of the PDP Reform Group, warned that a “bigger danger awaits the PDP” if the party failed to sanction Sheriff and his cohorts.
The Nigerian Supreme Court, last Wednesday, declared Ahmed Makarfi as the authentic national leader of the main opposition party in the country bringing an end to over a year’s shenanigans against the patty by the former Borno governor, Senator Sheriff.
You may read the full statement of the group below:
Bigger Danger Awaits the PDP without sanctioning Sheriff to entrench discipline
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may soon be squandering the big reprieve it secured from the profound judgement of the Supreme by declaring a “No Victor, No Vanquished,” and dangling an unnecessary amnesty without sanctioning Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his Fake National Working Committee (NWC) acolytes, to serve as a deterrence at the National level and as an example to state chapters. Big danger and impunity however awaits the party, if Sheriff is not punished as this may create a loophole for disgruntled elements to undermine the party without remorse.
We make bold to say that Organisational discipline relies on the power of sanction, and any human institution that jettisons sanction & reward impunity will become worthless overtime. The irreducible minimum Nigerians are expecting from the PDP to be taken seriously again, as a party that has learnt some lessons from its 14 months avoidable ordeal, is to bring Sheriff and his fellow accomplices to book.
We wish to remind party men and women that Sheriff had worked with the enemies to sabotage the party and destroy an institution that was built by the profound wisdom of the founding fathers and committed leaders. His actions affected the performance of the party in the Edo governorship election; it outrightly caused our defeat in Ondo State, and wickedly sabotage the party in Benue State. The fake NWC of Sheriff took a gamble in Osun for a different reason, but the local chapter worked harmoniously, together for the victory. We will never forget.
Victory for democracy should not be a windy slogan at this point in time. The party must implement the recommendations that the numerous committees have proposed, and entrench discipline, bring order and vigorously pursue strict adherence to the party’s constitution, which was our saving grace at the Supreme Court, as we plan for a Rebuilding Convention.
We must now reform and rebuild the party into an institution that is bigger than individuals, groups and public office holders. The party must at the next convention present its best 11 by identifying honest, patriotic and committed men and women, vibrant young party members who are sincerely ready to serve the PDP selflessly. The party must never be slaved to an office and the occupant of the office must always be reminded that the party is the facilitator not an appointee
The PDP is a national party not a protest party like the APC, hence it must not shirk it’s mandate to Nigerians by tackling hard questions-like Biafria and restructuring, by convening conferences, summits and public lectures to address numerous challenges facing the country.
As our party embarks on constructive reconciliation at the State Chapter, it must now at all times allow a level-playing field for all financial and sincere members, especially all aspirants at the forthcoming convention, in order to expose members to the beneficial rigour of campaigns and the sweetness of allowing internal party democracy to grow and prevail.
We most affectionately congratulate the Caretaker National Working Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the party leadership for pursuing an honest cause and we urge all party members to work very hard to endear the PDP back to Nigerians as their ultimate political darling of development.
