By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Amb Ilya Damagum, erstwhile Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Muhammed, among others, have openly admitted that the party is facing critical challenges, pointing out that they (the challenges) are mostly self inflicted.
The trio of Damagum, Saraki and Mohammed, among others, spoke on Wednesday at the consultative conference of founding fathers and stakeholders of the PDP held in Abuja.
They, notwithstanding, expressed the firm optimism that the challenges are not beyond solution.
According to Damagum, “We must also confront the hard truth, much of the injury the PDP has suffered has been self-inflicted.
“From the Obasanjo era to this moment, we have too often jettisoned ideology in favour of personal ambition. This has cost us dearly.
“Yet, there is still a beauty that exists only in the PDP; our founding vision, our commitment to internal democracy, our enduring mechanisms for dialogue and reconciliation, and our true national outlook.
“These are not ordinary attributes. They are the very pillars that made and have sustained the PDP as the bedrock of Nigeria’s democratic journey, and they remain our guiding strength today”, he said.
The former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, in his address at the conference, said, “We have a lot of challenges-and some of the challenges are self-inflicted injuries. They were built up over the years.
“Yes, the party will have its challenges and is having its challenges. But the question we should ask ourselves is: should we abandon this party because of these challenges?
“Yes, mistakes have been made in the past, but the question still remains — should we abandon this party?
“I stand here as someone who has experienced being in this party and not being in this party. I stand here as somebody who left this party with anger. “Anger does not solve problems in leadership. A lot of people are leaving the party now, and leaving with anger. We must not leave – if we have to leave — based on ideology, based on plans, based on a vision for Nigeria — not on anger.
“Yes, we have problems. But the other parties that we’re talking about also have problems.
“The other parties, especially the ruling party today, has already spent almost 12 years in government. Is their record any better than PDP’s? Of course not. So what are they offering Nigerians?
Speaking in the same vein, Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed declared, “we have a lot of challenges — and some of the challenges are self-inflicted injuries. They were built up over the years.
“In doing that, we need every hand on deck. We don’t need distraction. We don’t want anybody to take us to the other side — abusing each others.
“At least our founding fathers and mothers have said it all.
“We don’t have to join issues and engage in unnecessary squabbles or abuses. But certainly, we want to be visionary, to be straightforward and focused.
“We beg our members to be patient with us. We are working together with all the governors that are remaining. And we are even giving benefit of doubt to those who are leaving — that they will realize and come back, because they don’t belong to the other side.
“When they come, it is always a tradition of PDP to accept them.
“Even other governors from other parties may come back to PDP — if we get it right. And every section, every zone will be free to actualize its ambition or aspiration to govern Nigeria, to contribute positively to the growth and development of the country, Saraki said.
