People’s Democratic Party Northern Elders’ support group has cautioned Southern party elders, over agitations for removal of party national chairman, Chief Iyorchia Ayu, in order not to overheat the polity and jeopardise the party’s chances in the 2023 general elections.
Speaking against the backdrop of strident calls for the PDP national chairman to step down for someone from the South, National Coordinator of the Group, Dr. Nasiru Aliyu Sadauki said people should be cautious with such calls, if not, it could become a tool of overheating political activities that could hinder the victory of the party in 2023 elections. He added that there must be a peaceful and amicable way of ending the ongoing campaign for the Ayu’s removal to bring enduring peace to the party.
Speaking in a statement after a meeting of members, stakeholders and goodwill ambassadors of the 2022-2023 PDP Community Based Mobilisation Vanguard and presentation of manual and guide for Atiku/Okowa campaign support groups in Kaduna on Thursday, Sadauki said there is the need for all stakeholders to sheath their swords for PDP to unite and progress ahead of inauguration of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council.
“The party leaders should face important issues of economic condition, insecurity, poverty, educational crisis and other challenges that are threatening Nigeria national unity and cohesion as a people rather than majoring in minor issue like calling for the removal of the chairman. There are issues on ground that need leaders to make sacrifice, offer solutions and relief to the public. No sensible party supporter will promote and seek Ayu’s exit in this time of expected cooperation, unity and understanding in the party.
“Nigerians are tired of such media display of arrogant characters by certain group of political elites in the country. Let us face issue and rebuke or disregard any political class who is more interested in seeming public sympathy rather than act to help rebuild the nation.
“We wake up daily with news of unpleasant happenings in the country especially the killing, maiming and kidnapping of our fellow Nigerians including women and children which the All Progressives Congress (APC)’ led government has failed to nip in the bud. To our surprise, our party is talking about “Ayu must go” and “South will not agree” which are issues that could be resolved amicably behind curtains.
“The PDP crisis is surely a setup, intended to destroy every good and positive transformation of the Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. Those fanning the ember of disunity, cohesion and progress of PDP are doing so to create confusion that may make Nigerians reconsider APC. We call on the PDP supporters within and outside the country to unite and support the leadership of the party under Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to collectively rescue and rebuild our country from the ruins of APC.”
