*Complains bad treatment in governing Party, gives 7 days ultimatum
*Questions about nPDP contributions
For the first time after three years, bloc of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who joined the All Progressives Party (APC) after its merger arrangement had been sealed ahead of 2015 general elections, have ventilated their concern about not being well treated in the governing party, even as they tell how they installed Muhammadu Buhari as President.
The PDP bloc is speaking as the APC grapples with its crisis-ridden ward congresses, as it serves what appears to be a quit notice to the governing Party.
The bloc on Wednesday, in a strongly worded petition to the leadership of the APC, reeled out how it made General Mohammadu Buhari Nigeria’s president in 2015, but lamented that its members in the APC have been harassed and treated as outcasts and meddlesome interlopers in a party they helped build.
In the petition copied President Buhari and Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the bloc gave President Buhari and leadership of the party seven days within which to address a plethora of grievances and injustices that exist within the party.
Led by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, the group said the party has suddenly forgotten what role the nPDP played in the landmark victory of APC in 2015, saying the letter was written patriotically with the best of intentions and the good of the Party.
Alhaji Baraje said the desire of the group is to see an APC that is devoid of divisions, factions and cleavages, which he said can only be attained when all in the party are fairly and justly treated.
“We wish, with due respect, to restate our expectations then and now that the APC we all laboured to be build would be one united, inclusive, cohesive and progressive party devoid of divisions, factions, cleavages and tendencies. We envisioned a political party promoting equal rights for all Nigerians and ensuring rapid and even development across the country.
“Of course, there is no gainsaying that the lofty ideals enumerated above cannot be attained without ensuring justice for all party faithful and citizens.”
Enumerating the immense contributions and sacrifices the group to Buhari’s triumph at the polls in 2015, the Bloc stressed that it has borne the brunt of pervasive neglect, which it said must be addressed.
Going into memory lane, the new PDP said its movement into the APC was the masterstroke that assured Buhari victory.
“It is an undeniable historical fact that the movement of the new PDP bloc to form the APC contributed immensely to the victory of the APC in the elections.
“The former New PDP included five sitting governors of Sokoto, Kano, Kwara, Adamawa and Rivers States, and former governors of Kebbi, Gombe, Osun, for Vice President of Nigeria, former Acting National Chairman of PDP, sitting Speaker of House of Representatives, many serving members of the National Assembly and many renowned politicians and elders. It was a watershed movement in Nigerian political history,” he said.
Alhaji Baraje further stated that the party leaders delivered their states and influenced outcomes in their zones.
He particular noted the contribution of Senator Bukola Saraki, Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and former governors of Sokoto and Kano states in the massive victories recorded in North-Central, North-West political zone and Jigawa, Kano, Sokoto, and Kaduna states.
“These sacrifices were made despite the fact that the presidential tickets were taken by the erstwhile CPC and ACN. It is a matter of grave concern that His Excellency, President Mohammadu Buhari has never publicly acknowledged our efforts in the face of clear evidence that the total number of votes scored by APC in States where leaders and members of the then New PDP block held sway made the difference.”
The letter signed by Baraje and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor of Osun State and Secretary of the nPDP, also listed Kano (1,903,999), Kwara (302,146), Sokoto (671,926) and Adamawa (374,701) as some of the states where the new PDP won for the APC.
Other States listed include Kebbi, Gombe, Kogi, Benue and Jigawa amongst others where it claimed stalwarts of the new PDP made invaluable contributions.
In the letter dated April 27, 2018, the group also highlighted its grievances to include non-significant patronage and appointment of members to executive positions or executive directors of government agencies, and board of parastals, positions they claimed went to other blocs that make up the APC, namely CPC, ANPP and APGA.
It further claimed that the APC reneged in promises of level playing field during the party primary 2015 and which it wanted addressed this time around.
It lamented that when the new PDP members showed interest in the National Assembly, they were subjected to vicious and relentless political assault as if they are not legitimate members of the APC family.
It also alleged lack of consultation, recognition and even persecution of former members of the new PDP, just as it was shut out from making contributions to programmes and policies of the party.
It therefore demanded that for APC to galvanize into a fighting force ahead of 2019 general election, the grievances should be satisfactorily addressed, and urged President Buhari and leadership of the APC to address the injustices in the interest of the Party.
Questions about nPDP contribution
It was not clear by the petition whether it was in reaction to the perceived unsatisfactory treatment in the party that Senate President Bukola Saraki had teamed up with others in the bloc to ensure that they played no more or less than role of inimical to the progress and success of the APC in government since it took over power on May 29, 2015.
This is as an Abuja source said, “I have looked forward to this petition for a long time. Now you are claiming that you installed President Buhari but you cannot point to one single support that you have given to the Buhari government since it took over. The Buhari government that you installed came on three tripod agenda of fighting corruption, tackling insecurity and fixing the economy.
“You have vehemently frustrated his anti-corruption fight, which is the core of his administration, by not deliberately sweeping under the carpet the two anti-corruption Bills he sent to a Senate headed by your bloc member of the party and who had chosen to run a legislature set out to wrestle powers with the Executive, probing everything comment, statement and action of the President and his security agencies, ministry and parastatals, as well as summoning the President and his ministers all the times and also blocking the President from carrying out his duties as Chairman of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). What have been your contributions therefore to the governing party to which you are now issuing ultimatum?” He asked.
