TheCable

Bamanga Tukur, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says he had an idea that the fall of the party was imminent and he tried to protect the party against it.

In a statement titled ‘Were You Not Warned?’, which he released in Abuja on Thursday evening, Tukur, who was forced out of office in 2013, said the decision of the party to ignore his warnings contributed to its woeful performance at the 2015 general election.

He reminded the party leadership that on June 20, 2013, he made a presentation to the national executive committee, detailing the steps that the party needed to take if it must succeed.

He quoted himself as saying in the speech: “In our efforts to achieve success, we must rededicate our genuine political beliefs, change our attitudes and identify our political needs. These good values cannot be realised without accepting the supremacy of the party constitution as key instrument that ensures progress, stability and internal discipline.

“We must strengthen our democracy through determination, not personalisatio; correction, not manipulation; collectivism, not individualism and sacrifice, not disservice.

“If these pronouncements are substantial then, the party should quickly take urgent steps to achieve higher levels, at least by coming to terms with democratic norms and practices.

“We owe ourselves a duty to protect, project and support our President to leave behind a lasting legacy for the Nigerian. It guarantees independence but demands for public trust. It promises opportunity but needs dedication. Nigeria will continue to be a great nation if only we can maturely and jointly tackle its challenges and exploit its natural endowment.”

He said he had charted a new course for the party, but he was forced out as chairman by forces that did not want him.

“We had told them then that our focus for the future should be about consolidation and continuity and that goes beyond the plans of our opponents that PDP will fail,” Tukur said.

He also accused the party of ignoring his proposal on how to develop it and steer it away from crises, such as “reconciling our disagreement by closing ranks and stimulating greater efficiency in our judgments, for which mechanisms were put in place to achieve unity at all levels”.

He quoted himself as saying: “Internal democracy should triumph over the current practice of imposition of candidates during the party congresses thus collectively we sustain the political aspirations of Nigeria.

“Corporate image making consultants should develop a package for an annual PDP Merit Award where party members of proven exemplary conduct and achievements will be rewarded.

“The party should explore methods for improved communications for sustainable relations of the party executive, the party legislature and the party community relations! Enhance the financial position of the party by graduating to e-membership system.”

He said he also warned that the party could not afford to be run through severe underfunding, as “democracy is a serious business but easily broken; a small commodity of exceptional value reserve”.

Tukur was forced out of the PDP chairmanship in January 2014; and although Jonathan immediately appointed him chairman of the board of directors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and five months later as ambassador-at-large, he went to the court to challenge his exit.

Two days after losing the court case, Tukur was suspended by PDP for one month. In January 2015, the suspension was lifted.

PDP performed poorly at the 2015 elections, losing the presidential contest to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and also surrendering majority of states and national assembly slots to the erstwhile opposition party.