Erstwhile chairman of the Board of Trustees of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was yesterday chosen to become the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The decision on Sheriff which was first proposed by the national caucus yesterday morning was subsequently ratified last night by the National Executive Committee, NEC.
However, that was not without drama as the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party made a staunch opposition to his emergence. The decision to elect Sheriff who joined the PDP less than two years ago was also flayed by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who was spokesman of the party’s 2015 Presidential Campaign Organisation. Sheriff emerged the leading candidate to fill the vacancy in the office of national chairman from the pool of about 29 aspirants who appeared for the interview and screening before the national caucus.
Sheriff was reportedly the choice of the governors, senators, national caucus and the National Working Committee, NWC. Other aspirants considered for the position, Vanguard learned, included former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Engr. Abba Gana from Borno State; Ambassador Wilberforce Juta from Adamawa State; National Vice Chairman, North East, Senator Girgiri Lawal from Yobe State; former Chief of Staff to ex-Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Shehu Gabam; Senator Saidu Kumo from Gombe State, Muhammed Wakil from Borno and former Adamawa State governorship candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Ribadu who was the favourite of some notable party stakeholders, reportedly made himself unavailable for personal screening by party chieftains yesterday. It was also gathered that after the screening, they were left with two candidates, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta and Modu Sheriff, but the national caucus reportedly settled for the latter because the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, is a Christian.
The contention was that having Juta, a Christian, as a national chairman would not go down well with the party, hence the choice of Modu Sheriff. Sheriff joined the PDP in July 2014 after falling out with his one time protégé and successor, Governor Kashim Shettima.
PDP needs prayers, says Fani-Kayode The emergence of Sheriff as national chairman of the party was yesterday flayed by Chief Fani-Kayode. In a statement made available to Vanguard, Fani-Kayode said: “I do not often speak publicly about the internal affairs of the PDP because I have always chosen to remain well above the fray.
This is because I have good friends in every single group and on all sides that constitute the party. “However, given today’s event, there appears to be deep cause for concern.
it is clear to me that, more than at any other time in its almost 17 years in existence, the PDP needs serious prayers. “If we fail to provide the strong, united, progressive, credible and focused leadership and opposition that is needed to keep our country on course and our government on their toes then God will never forgive us and He will surely punish us.
“If we insist on making the wrong choices about our leadership and if we keep taking people for granted not only will we be finished as a party but the entire country will suffer the consequences of our errors and inexplicable ways.
“May God help us and may He forgive us and deliver us from evil, greedy, corrupt, ignorant and bloodthirsty men.” BoT’s opposition Indications of the stiff opposition of the BoT was apparent in the national secretariat yesterday as the party elders met.
After first telling journalists of the choice of Sheriff by the major party organs, party spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh re-appeared looking ruffled to tell journalists that the BoT was yet to agree on Sheriff.
This second disclosure by Metuh soon attracted support as more party stakeholders opposed the choice of Sheriff.
A BoT member said that some people simply wanted to pull a fast one on other party members. Party members were seen outside discussing in groups with gloomy faces as uncertainty, confusion and despondency enveloped the secretariat.
How the candidates emerged, by Metuh Metuh in his first briefing had said: “We had decided that the North-East Caucus should meet and bring a candidate to replace the National Chairman that resigned, Adamu Mu’azu.
But when they met, they were not able to narrow it down to one person. So, what they did was to send to us five people; one from each state of the North East.
They sent Giri Gana from Yobe State, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta from Adamawa State, Abba Gana from Borno State, Shehu Gabam from Bauchi State, Senator Kumo from Gombe State. Taraba did not have any other person.
So, these five people were invited to come and see the National Caucus on Monday to take a decision. “At the meeting we had with them, we decided that it was important that we enlarge the scope and the number of people that will come.
So, we extended and invited some other people to come and show why they want to be chairman. One or two governors confirmed that Ribadu had shown interest in becoming chairman; so we extended invitation to him to come.
We were told that Modu Sheriff over the weekend expressed an interest. We invited him to come and tell us, and because Hon. Wakil had come down from the United Kingdom to participate in the process, we invited him as well.
“On Monday, apart from those five people, we interviewed Ali Modu Sheriff and Mohammed Wakil. But we were told that Ribadu was not comfortable with an interview. “After the interview process, they were narrowed down to two persons. A little over an hour ago, the National Caucus discussed.
The governors first of all discussed and brought a candidate, the National Assembly discussed and brought a candidate, the BoT discussed and came up with a candidate, the National Working Committee discussed and came with a candidate. So, we brought the candidate at the National Caucus.
One interesting thing was that unanimously, it was the same candidate that every single organ of the party brought to the National Caucus. “So, the National Caucus endorsed that they will bring to the Board of Trustees the choice of the National Caucus, after which both organs will bring the nomination to the National Executive Committee (NEC).
So, there is no approval of the National Executive Committee but for now, I can confirm to you that the National Caucus has chosen Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to be the National Chairman of the party. But we are awaiting Board of Trustees approval and the NEC to appoint this afternoon. So, this is exactly where we are.
No one’ll regret my choice, says Sheriff Following his endorsement by the NEC, Sheriff promised to take off immediately in building the party even as he acknowledged that there were different views on his emergence, but promised that no one will regret his choice as he would deliver to ensure that PDP wins the 2019 Presidential election.
“I ask everybody for prayers, whatever your feelings let’s work together I will carry everybody along.” He was immediately sworn in by Chief Emeka Etiaba, SAN, in a ceremony witnessed by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; all PDP Governors and other PDP bigwigs.
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