The National Publicity Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, in this interview with LEKE BAIYEWU, speaks on the crisis in the ruling party
Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party have accused the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, of acting with impunity, stating that he shifted the date of the special national convention, which was held recently. How could he have done that?
We should not talk about rumours about the party’s administration, when we have the facts. There was an issue in court and it was resolved. Rumours are not tenable in party administration.
It was alleged that Tukur has a hand in the crisis rocking the party in his home state — Adamawa — due to personal interests. Has he managed the crisis well enough?
First of all, we have challenges. And because the challenges are being resolved by the leaders of the party, it is not good to dwell on the issues therein. What is most important and appropriate in this circumstance is to discuss and publicise to Nigerians the value of the PDP. It is a fact that we’ve been able to make a lot of impact in the country, being a party that has ruled for 14 years. We are the only party in the history of this country that has sustained democracy. These are the issues we want to talk about. The fact is that the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan believe in free and fair elections and have made it a cardinal programme and objective of a democratic rule, not just provision of infrastructure. These are the issues we want to bring to the fore for Nigerians to know that the PDP is actually bothered.
We are the only party that represents the national interest, we stand for unity of this country; we are not a tribal party like one or two parties that are controlled by individuals. These are the issues we want Nigerians to know and that is what we want to bring to the table; these are what we want to discuss, not to discuss about the one or two challenges that we are facing. Even in families or associations, there is none that does not have challenges. We do not want to dwell on that.
If the PDP is the only national party, as you said, don’t you think the crisis in the party is worth a national debate?
The challenges we are talking about is about the PDP and the party alone. We are happy that Nigerians are concerned about the developments in the PDP and they’ve been praying that we have a lasting peace in the party. Once we are able to resolve them, it means the 2015 election has been ‘finished’ because no party, no other group can challenge us. We are happy about it. But discussing it for the sake of discussion when we are working on the resolution and when we are trying to do a peaceful resolution is not appropriate. At the appropriate time, when the leaders have completed their assignment, I will be able to talk about the underlying factors.
While the leaders are busy holding meetings to restore peace to the party, critics have faulted Tukur on his approach to the crisis, which has been described as offensive. A member of the House of Representatives also described him as a dictator, why has the chairman adopted this style?
I don’t believe so. He is trying to provide sound leadership. Don’t forget that these people are crying PDP as if there are no options. What he has done as the leader of the party is to show that there are options available to everyone but he has insisted that he wants everyone to come together and be on the same platform. Whatever happens, the PDP is bigger than any individual or group of persons. And we cannot frustrate the interest of the party to satisfy one person or few people.
But do you think the suits in courts and threats issued by Tukur would help in resolving these issues?
There are no threats by the chairman; there is a promise for him to implement party decisions and the constitution of the party. It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.
What about the threat to declare the seats of elected officials loyal to the rebel faction vacant?
He did not say he would declare their seats vacant; he was talking about options available to the party. These are options available to the leadership of the party and making them (rebel governors) to understand that there are options available. These factors are there, they are practicable and they exist. But we are not following them now because we want peace and that was what he said.
Is there any hope that your party would embrace dialogue and withdraw the suits in court, just for peace sake?
The court suits were filed from both sides. They are elements and instruments being sued to claim and achieve positions and that does not affect the peace in the party. We do hope that by the end of this week, all issues would be resolved. Whatever happens, I’ll ensure that I brief you.
Do you see the rebel faction making a compromise?
This party has had many challenges. The crisis is between the same people that belong to the same party. The underlying factor is what the ideology of the party is. Are we still focused on the ideology of the party? What are we giving to Nigerians? Are we implementing the programmes and promises we made to the people when we were campaigning? Our focus is on what we have promised Nigerians and to ensure that the President and our elected officials redouble their efforts to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians, this country and national interests. The ideology is that wealth should be transferred to the hands of the public. We would continue to propagate our ideology and we will continue to promote it.
Nigerians will still vote for us and that is what is most appropriate. There are a lot of Nigerians — a lot of PDP members who have been showing their commitment and confidence in the party.
Despite the fact that the party has programmes to execute, would you admit that the ongoing crisis will slow down governance in the country?
We are aware that the people in charge — the President and the governors — are not fully involved in the negotiation directly. The people involved are elders of the party, former presidents and Board of Trustees members and some of our governors. When the governors attend a meeting, they can go back (to their states) the next day, and these meetings are not held every day; they are not held more than once in a week. So, I don’t think it will affect governance. But it is a topic of discourse for people who patronise public relaxation points, where it could be a topic for discussion.
Do you see the hand of the opposition in the PDP crisis?
No. The opposition cannot have any hand in it; they do not have the capacity to influence anything whatsoever. They have not put their house in order, how can they influence what is happening in the PDP? It is like giving them more than they are worth. The opposition is very insignificant in Nigerian politics. We do not have any fears because they cannot influence or change anything. How can we be discussing the opposition? These are mushroom parties; these are parties that are tribal. These are parties that only fight to exist to satisfy the yearnings of certain individuals. They feast on religious politics. When a party that is filled with fanatics, that believes in religion as a tool for governance comes together with a party that serves the interest of one man, can Nigerians go with them? No. Can they achieve any result? No. Should the PDP listen to them? No. Can they influence what is happening in the PDP? Never, they cannot; they do not have the capacity.
Some observers have linked the crisis to some PDP chiefs who have presidential ambition in 2015 and do not want President Jonathan re-elected for second term. How true is this?
Politics is about interest. Every individual has the right to fight for his interest. But when you’re fighting for your interests, there should be boundaries. The interests of other Nigerians and their democratic rights should not be affected. To make a demand that an individual should forgo his constitutional right, without thinking that that infringes the constitution of the party or the land, or against the pronouncement of a legitimate court, is unfair, unjust and undemocratic.
SOURCE: PUNCH
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