ADO EKITI, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ekiti state Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Tuesday, insisted on his call for the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying he has enough evidence that the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, sold the party out to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fayose, in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, said the call was “in good faith and in the overall interest of the party.”
While describing the attack on his person by the NWC as unfortunate, the governor said it was sad that the NWC members, especially the national chairman, were refusing to allow new people to manage the party, after managing it into its first national electoral failure.
“How do we explain the PDP losing so scandalously in Bauchi State, despite the presence of the national chairman, Federal Capital Territory Minister and the state governor?
“I am even more particular about the national chairman, because he sold the party to the opposition. I have cogent evidences of his unholy alliance with the opposition before the elections and if they go any further, I will expose all his underhand deals.
“I want to say it again that I have no apology for calling for the resignation of the NWC members, especially the national chairman. After all, someone resigned his position as the national chairman for Alhaji Mu’azu to assume office.
“Lastly, let me say it categorically that they can only attempt to destroy this party for the moment, not forever. Sooner than later, they will all fade away and PDP will rise again,” he said.
“In saner climes, when a war commander leads his troop to an embarrassing defeat, such commander does not need anyone to tell him that he needs to leave the war front for another commander to take over,” he said.
The governor also challenged the NWC to provide evidence of money said to have been released to him to prosecute the last elections, saying “only N30 million was received for the last two elections and to the glory of the Almighty God and the support of Ekiti people, we won all elections outrightly. I, therefore, demand for the mode with which money was released to me by the NWC.”
Governor Fayose, however, reiterated his commitment to the PDP, pointing out that if it remained only him in the party, he would continue to defend its course.
“If it remains only me, I will continue to defend the course of this party, because some people are born to stand up at difficult times, and I believe I am one of such people born to stand up for the PDP at this difficult time,” he added.
Reacting, Mu’azu said he would not take on Fayose, in obedience to the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to halt any more attack and counter-attacks aftermath the elections.
He said he had just inaugurated the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led committee on post-election review, adding that he would leave the committee to do its work.
In the statement signed by Tony Amadu, Mu’azu said having worked hard for Fayose’s electoral victory, he still had confidence in him and would, therefore, not take part in any verbal confrontation with the governor he had regard for.
I couldn’t force my people to vote Jonathan — Mu’azu
National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has said if he had his way, he would have delivered Bauchi, his home state, to President Goodluck Jonathan in the general election.
Mu’azu said those criticising him for the poor outing of the party during the election were “being economical with the truth,” because he did his best for the PDP.
According to him, “I gave my best and all to the campaign of Mr President and the party. We went to every state in Nigeria to campaign; those who insinuate that I did not do my best for our great party and Mr President during the election are being economical with the truth,” he wrote on his Twitter handle.
“If I had my way, everyone in my state, Bauchi, would have voted for President Jonathan, but it’s the people that voted not me, those who blame us for not delivering maximum votes to the president in the North seem to have forgotten that it’s the people who voted.
“The perception of President Jonathan and our party in the North was at an all-time low, because of the lies that were told by politicians,” he said.
The PDP national chairman said he never regretted supporting Jonathan and would gladly do so if given another opportunity.
“I have repeatedly reminded many that I, Adamu Mu’azu, have been in the PDP since 1999 as a matter of principle and strong ideology. I will support President Jonathan again and again if the opportunity presents itself,” he said.
“Some even ridicule and insult us that we betrayed President Jonathan. How can one betray himself? The APC has nothing to offer someone like me. I am too principled to betray my party. I have been here since 1999; the unity of Nigeria, to me, is greater than sectional or ethnic interests. I can never regret supporting our leader, President Jonathan.
“I have always preached against ethnicity and tribalism and the voting pattern in the election was a concern to me personally. In the face of abuse, insult and open ridicule by our friends and brothers, we supported our leader faithfully.
“Those who are busy pointing accusing fingers are yet to come to the realisation of what has happened, but we have gone beyond that,” he said.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
