by Peregba Jerry
Former governor of Bayelsa state, Sen. Seriake Dickson, has cautioned members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against leaving loopholes for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to exploit and fuel crises in the party.
The senator representing Bayelsa West senatorial district, gave the warning while reacting to the resignation by some deputy leaders of the party, sparking claims of fresh crises in the PDP.
Sen. Dickson noted that the PDP as the main opposition party at the center should be focused on reclaiming power in the 2023 general elections, stating that the party does not have the time, resources and mechanisms to set up a caretaker committee to resolve issues may arise before the forthcoming national convention of the party.
In a statement titled, ‘PDP CANNOT AFFORD THE GRAVE DANGER OF A CARETAKER COMMITTEE- DICKSON…ATTEMPT BY A FEW PEOPLE TO HIJACK PARTY WILL LEAD TO IMPLOSION,” he called on the National Working Committee of the PDP to begin consultations in a bid to immediately fill in the positions, recently vacated by some members.
It reads in part, “As we are all aware, some officers of our party, resigned yesterday and we should thank them for their services but If their resignation is aimed at causing crisis in the party then we should all condemn it and those behind it.
“By the party’s constitution the appropriate authority, the NWC is empowered to make replacements. I therefore call on the National Chairman and other members of the NWC in accordance with the constitution of the party to immediately make appropriate consultations from the states and zones from which these officers have resigned and forthwith, make those replacements subject to ratification by the NEC.
“An emergency NEC meeting should be convened which should take appropriate decisions to stabilize the party. And if there is any member of the working committee who wants to resign, such a person should consider the over all interest of the party and have a rethink. If however, any NWC members goes ahead to resign, the resignation should be accepted and consultations be made by the Chairman and NWC to fill those positions as temporary vacancies subject to ratification.
He further called on NWC to deal with erring party members, emphasizing that the party is bigger and cannot shrink because of any member’s ambition.
“The National Chairman and NWC members should utilize their powers under the constitution to discipline erring members involved in the nefarious plot to destroy the party. PDP is bigger than any individual and should no longer tolerate people with inordinate ambitions to destroy the party which belongs to all Nigerians. People with ambition must know that unless the party is stabilized and strengthened, their ambition will be of no consequence even if they pocket it.
“If the PDP shrinks from a party for all to a party for a few, it would lose its selling point and many members and leaders will have no option than to review their membership.
“We are not a ruling party at the centre. We don’t have the time, resources and mechanisms to resolve problems that will arise from a caretaker committee which will throw up more problems before the party convention and primaries at the centre and across the states.
“I caution all those behind this crisis not to leave any opening to the APC to exploit with their control of the resources and machinery of Government.
“We should all learn from the challenge the APC has found itself with the appointment of a caretaker committee which is still unfolding. With only four months to the end of the tenure of the current working committee, it does not make sense to either push for and force a resignation, or to force the appointment of a caretaker committee on a party with officers who have a constitutionally guaranteed tenure.
“Furthermore, with only about a year to the nomination of candidates in the light of the ongoing electoral acts amendments bill, it again does not make sense to push a divisive agenda that the party may not have the time resources and mechanism to resolve before the nomination processes and primaries which by their nature are divisive.
“Our singular target and focus for now if we are serious, should be to stabilize and strengthen the NWC by supporting it and correcting whatever may be wrong in-house quietly while putting our efforts wholly on the task of identifying and selecting credible candidates and ensuring fair primaries.
“Our window of opportunity to take over power in 2023 is fast receding as a result of these self inflicted challenges and the hope that Nigerians have in us as an alternative is fast dimming too unless we pull back from the brinks and do so quickly.
“I call on our governors to close ranks and stop the unnecessary battles amongst themselves, support one another and work with other leaders to strengthen and support the party, rather than weakening it.
“I am of the view that governors should be supported in their respective states and the party at the national level should not over ride their decisions and judgments but to guide and advice when necessary.
“It is a good thing that our governors are all doing well but they should pay the necessary attention to the need consolidate their states in order to be able defeat the APC challenge in 2023.
“I call on the BOT, the National Assembly Caucus of the party, elders and leaders of the party across the country to stand with the National chairman and the NWC to prevent the party from this avoidable crisis.
