The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a turn for the worse on Wednesday as the National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu resigned. His resignation took immediate effect. Also, it was reliably gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Anthony Anenih to resign also. But it is not known whether Anenih has accepted to resign or not.
Yesterday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the disbanded Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode threatened to expose Mu’azu and others for the ignoble roles they played in the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last presidential election. Fani-Kayode who addressed journalists in Abuja yesterday on the allegation by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, that the hate campaigns promoted by the party’s campaign organisation led to its defeat at the presidential election, also threatened to disclose information that will shock the nation and party faithful about the atrocities committed by some members over the years. He said President Jonathan would have lost the presidential election by at least 10 million votes but for the intervention of his campaign team. Jonathan lost the election by less than three million votes.
Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu He described some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as “enemy within us,” and alleged that two members of the committee worked for the opposition during the elections. The former aviation minister also accused Mu’azu of indifference to Jonathan’s campaigns during the elections because he was not allowed to control the funds meant for the presidential campaigns. He further accused Mu’azu and other members of the NWC that they undermined and sabotaged Jonathan’s campaigns. “From day one, all they were interested in was in controlling others and telling them what to do. They were not in the fray, they refused to enter the heat of battle and all they did was moan and bicker from the sidewalk like little children. “At every point, they tried to undermine our efforts and sabotage us, but we ignored them and remained focused on doing our job despite their provocations. “From day one all they did was sulk about the fact that a presidential campaign organisation had been set up and that they would not be able to have control of the campaign themselves or have access to the resources we were given,” he stated.
He described most members of the NWC as ignorant of party campaigns, adding that the campaign organisation “stood up for the party, fought for the President and did not betray the cause.” Fani-Kayode joined the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose to demand for the resignation of Mu’azu and members of the NWC. He also exonerated Patience Jonathan, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State from blame in the loss of the party. He said President Jonathan was constantly under serious hostile pressure during the campaigns, adding that Patience encouraged the organisation and inspired its members more than anyone else. “I do not want to rock the boat out of respect for our president and our party elders; otherwise I would say a lot more that will shock the nation and the party faithful. “I have a whole file on it which we compiled during the campaign.
Two members of the NWC specifically were actually working for the APC and were on their payroll,” he said. Fani-Kayode alleged that Mu’azu and others worked to destroy the PDP fortunes and exposed its secrets, adding that they created discord in its ranks and undermined the efforts of the campaign organisation in the media campaign. “That is just one shocker and there are plenty more. The time to talk is not now. That time will come. “You will be shocked by what we know about these people and their sordid efforts to stop Jonathan and betray their own party. “The truth is that the NWC has to go and I add my voice to that of Govs. Aliyu Babangida, Sule Lamido, Ayodele Fayose and that of so many other people,” he said. He added that there was need for a change at the top if the PDP was serious about forging party unity. “This is critical to restoring its fortunes, redeeming it and winning the election in 2019.’’ Fani-Kayode who described the APC media machine as awesome, maintained that for the first time since the establishment of APC, they were put on the defensive by the PDP presidential campaign organisation.
He, however, added that the PDP “must remain free of acrimony, united and focused,” saying the party must “throw out the bad eggs in the NWC.” “In order to survive over the next four years as a party, we must make the necessary changes at the top; otherwise we will be utterly decimated. “The present leadership of the party, particularly its information organ, has no chance of standing against an APC-led Federal Government because they are weak and lack understanding and courage. “They will be savaged beyond belief and torn apart if they try it because they do not have the stomach, the grit, the appetite or the wherewithal for a long drawn fight,” he said. He held that instead of preparing to defend the party faithful and fortunes of its members over the next four years, they were making allegations and alienating many party leaders.
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