PDP must reorganise or die, says Seriake Dickson

Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa west, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must reorganise or face imminent collapse.

Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa state, spoke through a Facebook post on Monday.

The lawmaker was among the party’s stakeholders who attended a consultative meeting of PDP governors, former governors, and members of the national working committee on Sunday.

“I had the opportunity to interact, share ideas and gave my views both as a former governor, former chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and former chairman PDP national reconciliatory committee, appointed by five chairmen; so, there is no player in the party across the country that I have not interacted with,” he said.

Dickson urged the governors to take ownership of the party’s revival and show greater commitment.

“I hope the governors who are the operational leaders of the party follow through with the resolutions,” he said.

“They need to work closely together, show greater commitment to the party, galvanise and mobilise party members and Nigerians generally.”

He recalled the role PDP governors played during the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari.

“We did that under President Buhari, with all the intimidation and harassments, and even in a crippling recession, we did not bulge but kept the party alive, won elections and handed it over to them,” he said.

Dickson pledged his support to the party’s rebuilding efforts.

“I assured them that they have our support and that all hands must be on deck to rebuild and reorganise the party,” he said.

“To this effect, a committee was appointed and it will be a pleasure to work with others in the committee to see how we can advise on ways of resolving all the issues and support the governors and other leaders and save the party from imminent collapse.”

On Friday, Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said there is nothing wrong with having a one-party system in Nigeria.

Reacting to whether the wave of defection of opposition politicians to the ruling APC would not slide Nigeria into a one-party state, Ganduje cited China as an example of a working one-party state.

“China is one of the strongest countries in the world, and it’s a one-party system,” he said.

“We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if that is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that.”