Prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the party’s newly appointed national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to step down to save the opposition party from further embarrassment.
The leaders, under the aegis of PDP Rescue Group led by Ambassador Wilberforce Juta, also warned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party not to attempt to extend its tenure, adding that the March expiration date of their stay in office remained sacrosanct.
The demand by the PDP Rescue Group came on the heels of the notice given by another group – the PDP Ministers’ Forum – led by the former Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, of a meeting tomorrow in Abuja to deliberate on Sheriff’s appointment.
Speaking during a press conference held yesterday in Abuja by the PDP Rescue Group, a founding member of the party and chairman of the group, Juta, said last week’s appointment of Sheriff as the new national chairman of the party elicited widespread outrage and condemnation by members nationwide.
“It is therefore critical, if the PDP must get back to national reckoning, that we model its leadership on the platform of honesty as required by the party manifesto.
“To this end, we call on all the party organs to rise to the challenge by insisting on the reversal of what was clearly an imposition of Senator Sheriff on the party,” Juta said.
He said there was no way leaders of the party, especially the founding fathers of the PDP would fold their arms and allow the present threat to the survival of the party continue.
The group urged all major party organs like the state and zonal chapters, Board of Trustees, National Caucus, NWC, National Executive Committee, and pressure groups such as National Assembly caucus, PDP Ministers’ Forum, PDP Governors’ Forum, G-34 as well PDP leaders, past and present, to immediately embark on a search for persons with high integrity, strategic insight and fear of God to lead the party.
The group added: “We are upset over the decision of the NEC of the party on its appointment of Senator Ali Modu Sherrif as the new national chairman of the party. We are convinced that this decision by the NEC was against the will and wishes of the generality of faithful members.
“We know for a fact the North-east zonal wing, having been directed by the national caucus of the party to forward nominees from the zone, did not nominate Senator Sheriff for the position of national chairman.
“In the interest of PDP and the country, Senator Sheriff should do the needful by stepping down honourably, as it is evident that party members nationwide overwhelmingly have rejected his imposition.”
The group also called for an early congress and national convention to elect party leaders, as the term of the current leadership would end in March 2016.
The leaders further warned that “under no guise should the tenure of the current leadership of the party be extended, if we must make the needed fresh beginning”.
While answering questions from journalists, former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara, who is the deputy chairman of the group, also said Sheriff’s appointment was imposed on the party.
In the same vein, former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and Secretary of the group, Mukhtari Shagari, asked Sheriff to toe the path of honour and resign, cautioning that leaders of the party would not stand by and allow the party to die.
Also, the PDP Ministers’ Forum has announced plans to mobilise members to seek ways of solving the leadership crisis bedevilling the party.
A statement issued yesterday and signed by the forum’s chairman, Committee on Strategy, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said contrary to some media reports, membership of the PDP Ministers’ Forum was not restricted to only ministers that served between 2011 and 2015.
He said a meeting of the forum, which would hold tomorrow in Abuja, was not just for the ministers who served under President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The meeting is for all PDP ministers that are still in the party and that served between 1999 to 2015. If you are in that category of persons, then you are more than welcome to attend the meeting and we would be delighted to see you.
“This is especially so because crucial decisions which will undoubtedly affect and shape the future of our great party will be taken at the said meeting,” he said.