The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum, has called on party members to stop encouraging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that such actions might stem from fear.......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
He made this statement on Thursday during the inauguration of the newly constituted PDP South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee.
Speaking at the event at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, Damagum emphasized that PDP remains the dominant political force in the region, asserting that there was “no election as far as this party is concerned in the South-South.”
Recall that the faction loyal to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had purportedly organized a South-South Zonal Congress where they returned Chief Dan Orbih as the National Vice Chairman (South-South).
However, Damagum clarified that the tenure of the previous Zonal Committee had expired and that the caretaker committee was necessary ahead of the forthcoming Zonal Congresses.
“I believe from your choices, some of you I have known and related with. I have no doubt that you will be diligent in your responsibility and usher in the new, soon-to-be-elected Executive Committee of the Zone,” he said.
He urged committee members to work with fairness and diligence, ensuring an all-inclusive leadership that would reflect the party’s strength in the region.
Reaffirming PDP’s position as a formidable force in Nigerian politics, Damagum dismissed the ruling APC as a party lacking the history and experience to lead effectively.
“This party, the PDP, is still the party to beat. A party that has been tested for 27 years, one of the oldest parties. All these shenanigans you see around – the APC, the others – have not been more than 10 years old,” he stated.
According to him, PDP remains the only credible alternative to the current administration, which he suggested has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
He stressed that the party has the capacity to redirect the country toward progress.
Damagum took a swipe at PDP members who, he alleged, have been too accommodating toward the APC-led federal government.
“I want to use this opportunity to caution our leaders – don’t fear them. Nobody is going to change your destiny for you other than yourself,” he declared.
Expressing his disappointment, he said, “I’ve noticed that maybe because of fears, you find sometimes leaders encouraging this present administration at the center. I find it really very disgusting. Let’s tell ourselves the truth.”
He called on party faithful to remain resolute and proactive, stating that Nigerians deserve a political platform that genuinely represents their interests.
“So please and please, let’s be up and doing. Don’t fear anyone. Nigerians belong to all of us. There’s nobody who is a better Nigerian than you are,” he added.
Speaking to journalists after the inauguration, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to focus on resolving its internal challenges in order to strengthen its position as a viable opposition.
Diri emphasised that the party’s success depends on its ability to put its house in order.
“The inauguration today was seen as a good step in the right direction. However, this is coming on the heels of the fact that a lot of people have accused the APC-led federal government of destroying democracy,” Diri said.
He, however, stressed that PDP’s role as a strong opposition should not be based on attacking the ruling party but on internal unity and stability.
“The main question now is whether the PDP can serve as a ready and vibrant opposition going forward. We have to look inwards. If you listen to the BOT chairman, we have to, first of all, fix our own problems,” he stated.
Diri criticised party members who focus on external issues while ignoring PDP’s internal weaknesses.
“It’s very easy to point fingers at others, but what is happening within us? The PDP has to sit back and fix its own internal issues and challenges. That is the only way we can stand up to compete with others,” he said.
Governor Diri called for PDP to be a more competitive force in Nigerian politics, reminding members that the party remains the country’s oldest political platform.
“We are indeed the oldest political party in Nigeria, so we have no reason to be accusing outsiders. Let us look inwards and fix our challenges, and I’m sure that by the time we do that, we will be very competitive,” he said.
He urged party members to recognize that no single individual is bigger than the party, emphasizing that collective effort is needed to restore PDP’s dominance.
“The political will is with the people, the members of the party. The moment we all come to that resolution – that we need to fix our party – there can be no one person that is bigger than the party,” Diri declared.
When asked about the areas the newly inaugurated South-South Zonal Committee should focus on, Diri stated that the committee has a broad mandate from the National Working Committee (NWC).
“They will look into every area that concerns the party. So, it’s not just one area,” he explained.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated committee, Emmanuel Ogidi, Chairman of the South-South Zonal Committee, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and pledged to carry out their duties with dedication.
“On behalf of the committee, I want to give thanks to God Almighty for this opportunity to serve and also to the National Working Committee for approving us,” Ogidi stated.
He assured the party leadership that the committee would remain impartial and committed to its responsibilities.
“I want to assure you that by the grace of God, we will discharge our duties dispassionately to the glory of God,” he added.
Ogidi reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to following the directives of the national chairman, promising to work diligently toward the success of the forthcoming Zonal Congress.
