PDP ‘overcomes’ trauma of first-ever defeat
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has overcome the “post-election trauma” of its first-ever defeat in a presidential election, which is responsible for the infighting among its principal officers and institutions.
PDP also commended its leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, for his “timely intervention” in ending the bickering, declaring that it has now overcome the shock of the defeat.
On Wednesday, Olisa Metuh, national publicity secretary of the party, released a statement to say the national working committee would abide by the president’s counsel and had instructed all the executive of the party at all levels to comply accordingly.
“The leadership of the PDP regrets any embarrassment the avoidable skirmishes may have caused the members of our great party, especially our founding fathers and teeming supporters across the country,” he said.
“We are aware that this unfortunate development is a consequence of post election trauma arising from our first ever defeat. We however note with relief that we have now overcome this challenge.
“The National Working Committee assures that in the new spirit of harmony in the PDP family, the reengineering process, which began on Tuesday with the inauguration of the Post Election Review Committee, will be vigorously sustained to restore the lost glory of our great party.
“We therefore urge all our members to ensure that they henceforth guard their utterances and actions no matter the provocation and distortions in some section of the media while channeling their energies and ideas towards the rebuilding process.
“In this regard, all members who have reports, grievances and suggestions on the way forward should transmit same to the Post-Election Review Committee for an all inclusive roadmap in the overall effort to regain power in 2019.
“Our members should be wary of the activities of some mischievous persons within and outside the PDP family who are bent on frustrating this peace effort. Such individuals and groups have found the social media a veritable tool for their mischief through distortion of facts, false allegations and fabrications against our party.”
The leadership therefore urged all members to join forces to ensure the sustenance of the core values and the vision of the founding fathers, while also directing all organs of the party to focus only on party administration in a manner that rekindles zeal and commitment among members and supporters at all levels.
Nigeria needs a virile opposition party, however, the PDP needs to seriously think again to be able to step into those shoes. For one thing, it cannot hope to survive on pay-per-action membership. Money has destroyed the party completely. Hardly any member does anything without consideration in money terms. Internal democracy has gone to the dogs, and ideology has been completely subsumed under cults of personality. The road will be long and lonely, but I pray for Godly wisdom for the few honest and patriotic ones that stay to rebuild and reposition the party.