2019: Sheriff Predicts PDP Victory in 30 States

• Party suspends Borno chairman

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has said with the strategic repositioning currently taking place in the party, it would be able to record victory in at least 30 states of the federation in the 2019.

The position of the PDP chairman, came just as the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Bala Mohammed, led a delegation state of party stakeholders from Bauchi to the National Secretariat of the PDP yesterday, pledging that top party leaders in the state are ready to unite for the challenges ahead.

Addressing the party faithful from the state, Sheriff, challenged them to go beyond mere show of solidarity and go back to work as family to rebuild the party.

Sheriff said unless other aggrieved political bigwigs from the state agree to sheath their sword like the former FCT minister is doing, there would never be headway in the reconciliation effort of the party.

“With the present efforts at reconciling ourselves and rebuilding process taking place in the PDP, the party stands a good chance of reclaiming our lost glory. I like to see us emerge from the 2019 general election with at least 30 governors,” he said.

According to Sheriff, Bauchi is one of the most important states of the federation, adding that the state chapter of the party should try to summon a stakeholders’ meeting to kick start reconciliation among its aggrieved members.
He said he was aware of the crisis rocking the leadership of the party in Bauchi but expressed the hope that time had come for all involved to reconcile their differences and to work together in the interest of the party.
According to Sheriff, with the calibre of leaders of the party in the state, reconciliation should not be a problem. He promised to be party of any reconciliatory meeting to resolve the problems.

“If the North-east has problem and is not resolve I may not have the locus standi as a politician to go outside to seek their mandate,” he said.

While speaking during the visit, the former FCT Minister, Mohammed, declared that he is ready to extend his hand of friendship to the former state Governors, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Muazu and Mllam Isa Yuguda, for the progress of the PDP in the state.

Mohammed said: “There is no way to write the history of Bauchi State without the mention of Mu’azu and Yuguda. I respect them as my seniors and if I will constitute a stumbling block to the unity of the state, we are advocating I would rather stand aside for peace to reign.

“Instead of washing our dirty linens in public I’ve agreed to bow to any of my ambition in order to ensure that there is unity of purpose for PDP to prosper in the state.”

The former FCT minister who earlier stated that he was among the contenders for the national chairmanship position of the party, said he was pledging his loyalty to the new leadership as Allah gives power to whom He so wishes.
He described impunity, arrogance and lawlessness as the cause of the party’s defeat in the general election, commending the PDP national chairman for his doggedness, stating that: “You are devoid of such vices that lead to the party’s defeat.”

A member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and the Minority Leader, Mr. Marcus Makama, said the time has come for the PDP to encourage greater youth participation in politics and affairs of the party.

The delegation also advised Sheriff to pursue with greater vigour the reconciliatory efforts aimed at wooing back former members of the party who had left the party.

A woman legislator said there was no doubt that Bauchi State is a PDP state despite not being in government presently, adding that the party would definitely bounce back to power in 2019.
Meanwhile, the PDP has approved the suspension of the chairman of the Borno State chapter of the party, Alhaji Baba Basharu.

In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said it reached the decision after “preliminary hearing on reports of various activities inimical to the progress of the party, especially flouting the provisions of article 58 (1), (b), (c), (f) and (h) of the PDP constitution.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) has suspended the Borno State Chairman of our great party, Alhaji Baba Basharu. The above is in line with the relevant provisions of the PDP constitution on disciplinary procedures.
“Accordingly, Alhaji Baba Basharu has been referred to the national disciplinary committee for appropriate action in line with the provisions of the constitution of the PDP.”