By Henry Umoru
ABUJA- ELDERS, leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, stormed the National Secretariat of the Party, warning that if the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, fails to intervene in the political crisis in the state, the party stands the risk of members dumping the PDP.
According to them, the national leadership of the party must address what they described as the problem the party leadership the state is having.
The faction headed by Chief Medan Teneke and led by Sen. Paul Wampana visited the National Working Committee (NWC) members at the party national secretariat to state their complaints.
According to the immediate past national vice chairman, North East, Senator Paul Wampana, PDP in the state will not be party to illegality, adding that it appreciated the national leadership of the party for the bold decision it took in cancelling the primaries held in the 226 wards of the state.
Reading a communiqué of the Adamawa PDP elder, Wampana said, “We did not come here to argue cases, but we are here because of the decision of the leadership of the party, we are in support of the decision. You (Tukur) is our own, we will be loyal to the party on one condition, on the condition that illegality is removed from the party, we will “We brought ourselves here, you did not invite us, we have come to support you, we hope the NWC will not let us down and we will not let you down.
“We demand the dissolution of all organs of the party in the state, from the wards, local government to the state level. We call for an immediate appointment of a Caretaker Committee comprising party members and headed by a respected party elder to undertake the task of harmonizing and standardizing the state party and therefore conducting free, fair and transparent congresses throughout the state.”
Ensuring that peace and justice reign
Responding, Tukur who assured his people that the national leadership of the party was working on its agenda to ensure that peace and justice reign supreme in the party. He said: “Our party is for the people, we have to give back the party to those who own it. The government should govern the country on justice and equity. Our umbrella is large enough to accommodate our people in Nigeria.
“You are all part and parcel of the party at the formation stage and I know what you want the party to be, you want to make sure that the party is based on justice and equity. When I came here you all supported me.
“No matter the security and other challenges facing Nigeria today, we shall come out stronger and united. No nation is an island in terms of crisis. It comes and goes, but the united countries like Nigeria will survive the challenges and move on stronger as one indivisible country. This is why, I am preaching and championing party supremacy, because when the party is strong and united, the nation will be better for it.
“In every ten Nigerians, six to seven Nigerians are members of the PDP, so a united PDP built on justice and equity will be to the advantage of all Nigerians. The umbrella of the PDP is large enough to accommodate all Nigerians. It is my policy, therefore, to return PDP to all Nigerians.”
Speaking on his 3Rs that are based on reconciliation, reformation and rebuilding, Bamanga Tukur said, “reconciliation without confrontation, reformation without revenge and rebuilding based on justice,”
Speaking on security, the PDP National Chairman said it is dialogue, which forms part of his agenda. He, however, promised that it will take care of Boko-Haram, adding that through reconciliation there will be peace in the country.
Other members of the delegation that visited the NWC members were; General Anthony Hananiah, Senator Grace Bent, Air Commodore Dan Sulieman (rtd), General Aliyu Kama (rtd), former minister of state for Health, Dr. Idi Hong, former Chairman of PDP in the northeast, Wilberforce Juta and former state Chairman of PDP in the state, Joel Madaki.
