Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has attributed the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the actions of its leaders.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, Okechukwu responded to Senator Adolphus Wabara, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, who had warned against attempts by the APC to establish a one-party state in Nigeria.
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Wabara’s remarks coincided with the resignation of key figures from the PDP, including former Governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, and Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Chuka Odom.
Okechukwu argued that blaming the APC for the PDP’s woes was misplaced, pointing to the PDP leaders’ disregard for the party’s internal conventions, such as the presidential rotation between the north and south.
He highlighted instances of defections from the PDP to other parties, suggesting that the PDP’s internal issues were contributing to its decline rather than any external factors.
He criticized the PDP’s tendency to engage in blame games rather than addressing its internal challenges, urging the party to reflect on its failings and work towards reconciliation and adherence to democratic principles.
Okechukwu emphasized the need for the PDP to conduct a thorough self-examination and address the root causes of its recent setbacks, including the departures of prominent members like Obi and Kwankwaso.
He cautioned against ignoring the party’s internal divisions and called for genuine efforts to rebuild and strengthen the PDP from within.
“The blame game dished out to the APC by Senator Wabara and co who dug the grave of the PDP is misplaced in all materials particular”.
“as long as the nemesis of Wabara and Co’s deliberate crass breach of presidential rotation convention between north and south, albeit PDP’s Constitution; Obi’s Labour Party, Kwankwaso’s NNPP;
“And Wike’s Masquerade are alive and breathing, with open arms admitting defector-exits from PDP, there is no valid fear of one party state in Nigeria.”
“therefore PDP should earnestly introspect on how best to pick the pieces of the party that is dangerously sinking.”
“instead of careful introspection of its bleeding ailments and how to fix Obi and Kwankwaso’s exit and its troubled Wike’s Masquerade, plus imbibing the best tenets of internal democracy devoid of breach of the zoning convention, extant laws, planlessness and squandermania, the PDP most times arrogantly hauled unnecessary blame game on the APC.”
“My understanding from our elder statesman’s vituperation is that PDP may not even recover in August after the ward, LGA, and State congresses and national convention, when they failed ab initio to embark on careful introspection to examine the root causes of Obi and Kwankwaso’s exit, especially Wike’s Masquerade which led a party that boasted of 60 years uninterrupted reign to woeful failure in 2023 presidential election.
“Truly PDP needs soul searching to make amends, rather than sweeping its troubled faction under the carpet.” he said.
