Did you have a meeting where you arrived at the decision to align with the governors in the new PDP?
All of us who signed that statement are with our governors 100 per cent! There is no exception. Whoever you see his or her name on that list is on board, you don’t have to ask questions. For example, my name was the second on the list. I can assure you that if there is anything more than 100 per cent, I am in support of the decision taken by my governor over the issue. I can say the same for my colleagues. You can also be rest assured that we represent many senators who feel the same way. I don’t even know why you are asking this question,
These are political times, someone could issue a statement in the name of a group somebody may come out to dissociate himself from it… (cuts in)
We are all free adults who out of our own free will decided to join people to serve our people. For instance, in my own case I am from Jigawa State, I share the same political ideology and vision with my governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido. Where he stands on this issue is where I stand, there is no question about it. So, I don’t see this as an issue that should give anyone sleepless nights. All we are asking for are reforms to return the party to the ideals of its founding fathers because the situation now is that some people are trampling on the rights of members. We suggest reforms which will make the party better and stronger. We are in a democracy, not a dictatorship and in democracy, members of any political party have every right not only to ask questions but also to suggest reforms. What is wrong with that? Politics is all about ideas, we elected these leaders in the first place, if we observe that they are derailing from the basic tenets of the party, we have a right to come out and demand changes. It is in the military that a leader gives a command: do this, and followers will say yes sir! Without asking questions. It is not so in democracy. In a democracy a leader can say this and someone down the ladder says no, this is not correct and based on superior logic, a change is made. This is what some people refuse to understand, we have a right to say things are going wrong and come out to offer advice and proffer solutions, and it is our duty as loyal members of the party. This party is ours, it does not belong to the opposition and it is ours till this day.
Is there any move to approach the Independent National Electoral Commission for registration?
The issue now is that, to have a faction in a political party is not a crime, not just the PDP. The faction we have in the PDP today is one that seeks the improvement of the PDP, this is a democracy for God’s sake, and no one should beat you up and deny you the right to cry.
… But members of the new PDP have gone to court?
Well, if a matter is in Court, all parties to the dispute will have to wait for the outcome of the court process, so I cannot comment on the process.
Will the crisis in your party not open a floodgate of defections into opposition political parties?
The PDP is different from any other party in Nigeria, we are still members of the PDP in spite of whatever challenges we are having at the moment. It is an internal matter, our internal wrangling is our business. It does not provide any opportunity for the opposition to have a say in our affairs. It is entirely our business, it is possible we resolve our issues; it is possible we do things our way but it does not concern the opposition at all, they should mind their business. We remain in our party because it is our party they should not rejoice because we have no plans to defect.
Our current challenges may sound new to those in opposition but to us in the PDP, such disagreements are normal. We have survived crisis of this nature before, we have the capacity to do it again. It’s too early for our detractors to celebrate.
The PDP national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, recently referred to the seven governors and those of you who support them as rascals. What do you make of this?
Where I come from, we have respect for our elders. We don’t trade insults. However, when an elder begins to behave like a toddler, you know something is wrong. Politics is not madness; it is a game of numbers and a marketplace of ideas. Name calling will not solve the problem. The tenure of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is the worst in the history of our party; the party has not suffered this kind of humiliation since it was created in 1998. In fact, where was Bamanga when the PDP was being formed? Let me ask you a question, where in the world have you heard that 16 is greater than 19? It is sad and regrettable that instead of addressing issues, Tukur and his people are chasing shadows.
What is the way forward?
All those involved in the crisis know what to do to bring this crisis to an end. But are these things being done? There are actions taken which are unconstitutional; a reversal of such actions will be a good start.
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