ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Amidst the escalating crisis over the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a northern group has rebuffed the claims of the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, and thrown its support behind the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as the party’s leader.
With just three days remaining until the pivotal meeting of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), the Arewa PDP Transparency Group voiced its stance, asserting that the recent media sparring over the national leadership position ahead of Thursday’s NEC gathering was unnecessary, as Wike possesses the capability to steer the party’s fortunes in a positive direction.
In a statement issued by the national chairman of the Arewa PDP Transparency Group, Hon. Haruna Bature, on Monday, it emphasized that true leadership entails care, concern, and responsibility, and should not be driven by self-interest, periodic motivations, or spontaneity.
The group highlighted the numerous leadership crises that have plagued the PDP, attributing them to insensitivity, lack of political foresight, and disregard for the party’s founding principles and the aspirations of Nigerians.
Addressing concerns raised by some PDP leaders regarding Wike’s alignment with an APC government, Bature dismissed these fears as rooted in jealousy, bitterness, and shortsightedness.
READ ALSO: PDP North Central Insists On Completing Ayu’s Tenure, Says Denagun Must Revert To Deputy
He pointed out that the PDP’s failure to ensure power rotation to the South contributed to its loss of central power.
Asserting their position, the Arewa PDP Transparency Group endorsed Wike as the National Leader of the PDP, citing his track record of leadership, inclusivity, and commitment to the party’s objectives.
Bature noted in the statement made available in Port Harcourt that having assessed the performances of these leaders, “Leadership means care, concern and responsibility. It is not self serving, not periodic and not spontaneous. The PDP as the biggest opposition party in Africa has suffered a lot of Leadership Crises which resulted in its loss of Power at the National Level from 2015 till date.
“These Crises are largely self inflicted due to insensitivity, lack of political vision, lack of care, concern and respect for the Vision of the Founding Fathers of the Party, and for the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian Citizenry. Charity, they say, begins at home. A Party whose Leadership cannot take care of its own and showing good leadership definitely cannot take care of Nigeria and offer good Leadership.
“We wish to particularly bring to the attention of the Leadership of the Party that the Fears by some PDP Leaders about His Excellency, Chief Barr. E. N. Wike’s appointment in an APC Government is born out of jealousy, hate, bitterness, bias and their blindness to the political reality that the failure by the PDP to ensure power rotation to the South led to its loss of power at the centre.
READ ALSO: NNPP Better Than APC, PDP – Kwankwaso
“Arewa PDP Transparency Group says no Self Serving leadership only at times of political interest, non-inclusivity, lack of concern, sustenance and responsibility in the management of the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party and hereby endorse His Excellency, Chief Barr. Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS Africa and Life Bencher as the National Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party.”