PDP: Retrace Your Steps In The Right Direction Or Risk Disastrous Outing- Jonah Jang Warns

PDP: Retrace Your Steps In The Right Direction Or Risk Disastrous Outing- Jonah Jang Warns

A former governor of Plateau State, Chief Jonah Jang, yesterday warned the Peoples Democratic Party to retrace its steps in the right direction with hope of salvaging the already bad situation within the shortest time or risk a disastrous outing in the general election come 2023.

This is coming on the heels of many agitations due to the nomination of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as the presidential running mate by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s Presidential candidate.

Jang spoke 48 hours after Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom expressed dismay at the way Atiku ignored the recommendation of the PDP committee that Rivers State Nyesom Wike be picked as vice presidential candidate.

On the same day as Ortom, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose declared on Twitter that it was the turn of the southern part of Nigeria to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

He insinuated that the PDP had deviated from the provisions of its own constitution on rotating the presidency between the North and the South.

But an aide to Governor Okowa said yesterday that his principal was willing to “work very well” with Wike and ensure that the party emerges victorious in the 2023 elections.

The Nation gathered yesterday that the anger over Atiku’s choice of Okowa was not about to subside.

Among the aggrieved are some of the state governors elected on the platform of the PDP.

Some are said to be canvassing for Okowa to be dropped outright for Wike who was recommended by 14 of the 17 members of the committee set up by the party to pick Atiku’s running mate.

Atiku and Ayu are currently out of the country; the former vice president in Dubai and the party chairman on vacation.

A source said yesterday that the growing discontent in the party may force them back home earlier than planned.

Atiku himself twitted on Thursday that “we are taking action to address the feelings of all party members.

He said when governors, legislators and other elected officials of the party speak, “I listen. I do not only listen, appropriate actions have been taken, are being taken, and will continue to be advanced.”

A party source said yesterday: ”All through the week, party elders, chieftains as well as other stakeholders have been bombarding the PDP secretariat with visits and calls to express their worries over the growing negative outbursts by some of our governors and chieftains as regards our chances at the 2023 presidential election.  Many of them want urgent steps to be taken.

“The National Chairman is aware of the developments and he is reaching out to concerned officials on what to do in the interim as he is out of the country.

“Hopefully, he will be with us soon to personally lead the moves towards the needed solutions.

“I am not the national chairman and he is the only one who can officially comment on these issues. That is why I say this is off record.

“But PDP is a serious party and we appreciate the concerns from Nigerians. It shows we are loved and Nigerians don’t want us to do anything that can keep the ruling party in office beyond 2023.

“Our presidential candidate too is in touch with the secretariat and I can tell you he too will soon be here to take urgent steps to pacify all those who are genuinely aggrieved.”

According to The Nation, some party elders met during the week and resolved to appeal to Governor Wike and his supporters to forgive whatever might have been done against them.

“There was a meeting of prominent party elders in Abuja during the week. It was called by the BoT and the attendance was good. The main agenda was to begin moves to beg those who are angry,” another source said.

“The meeting resolved to not only reach out to Wike and his supporters, but to also mandate Atiku and Ayu to enter into discussions with angry party men to ensure that  the PDP does not go into the next general elections divided.

“Aside from the complaints over Okowa, there are also issues that emanated over the emergence of the governorship candidates in Osun, Delta, Lagos and Ogun states among others.

“But the absence of most of the gladiators from the country at the moment stalled immediate action by the elders. Wike, Atiku and Ayu are all out of the country as we speak.”