By Emeka Nze Abuja
Chairman, National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi , has declared that the party would evolve mechanism for dedicated and loyal party men and women, as compensation for their commitment to its cause. He also declared that new entrants into the party “will not enjoy special privileges.”
Makarfi , who stated this yesterday while receiving Th e PDP Rescue Group at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, said, the decision was aimed at avoiding the mistakes made by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Th e group was led by former Governor of old Gongola state, Wilberforce Jutta, who pledged loyalty to the Makarfi – leadership of PDP.
Makarfi ’s statement vis-a-vis political developments Makarfi ’s statement is coming against the backdrop of the decision by some runaway party members who abandoned it in its moment of travails, spanning close to two years. His position is coming some 72 hours after an APC chieftain and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar took a swipe at his party, describing it as undemocratic in its conduct.
Atiku’s outrage came after Blueprint hinted in its Tuesday edition that the former VP was eyeing a possible return to the PDP fold, hence a speculated plan by former PDP governors to settle the longstanding row between him and his erstwhile boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Also, former governors of Oyo state, Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala and Rasheed Ladoja, were also reported to have staged a comeback the party during the week.
Makarfi warns But in what appears to be a subtle reaction to this political development, the party’s caretaker committee, said it would not give special privileges to new members over and above those that stood by the party during its moment tribulations. Receiving the PDP Rescue Group in his offi ce yesterday, Senator Makarfi said, the party is, however, open to reconciliation with all.
He said: “We are open to reconciling with everybody. We are open to accepting new entrants into the party, but no special privileges for anybody coming into the party. Th at is not an issue to be contemplated. No exclusivity. It will be inclusive without any special privilege to anybody or group of individuals. “Th at’s how APC got it wrong. We should learn from how APC got it wrong. What we need to do is that we will create a level-playing fi eld; and that we don’t lord it over those who have slaved for the party.” Continuing, he said: “Th e party must evolve mechanism for dedicated and loyal party men and women.
Th at’s how people can remain committed. But if there is none, people can question themselves; ‘why do you have to continue exhibiting such loyalty and commitment to the party?. “People can as well also be nomadic politicians and migrate to where the pasture is greener for whatever reasons. In some African countries, we didn’t hear of this kind of mobility. But in Nigeria, we are nomadic politicians. We have many nomadic politicians and they should behave well. Th ey will be welcomed, but I stand by what I have said earlier.”
