Pockets of social riffs and bickering amongst party members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) extraction would strengthen the party but not dismember its fold, former governor of Niger State and member of the party’s Board of Trustees, (BoT), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has said.
Dr. Babangida Aliyu said for every big organisation, there are bound to be such social tiffs but noted that the party was working on itself to get every divergent view harmonised for the over all good of the party.
He pointed out that the issues being put on the dais were not about the soul of the party but arguments by stalwarts who wants to be heard or to have larger stakes.
The former governor who is also a member of the party’s National Working Committee, (NWC), spoke to a group of newsmen during an interview in his house.
He said the PDP has been streamlining and working on it’s unity and mending fences to solidify its house for a stronger and more formidable house ahead of the next general elections.
He spoke on party supremacy and noted that ongoing rebuilding processes within the party would bring out the best of the PDP in the long run but admonished members of the party to be mindful of how much they stretch their luck and the fate of the party.
Dr. Babangida Aliyu stressed that what was crucial to the party at the moment, was not to dissolve any organ of the party but to hold on strongly to the various organs to the party’s next convention slated for December this year.
He said it was not good for any member, no matter how highly placed, to continue to denigrate the leadership of the party or even call for the dissolution of of any organ of the party because of his personal or group’s interest.
“The PDP is not for one person. It is not for sale. Nobody should imagine he can pocket the party. Mounting pressure to get rid of anybody or the National Working Committee of the party at this material time is not only counter productive but doing such would erode the confidence of the party’s leadership in the eyes of the public” he cautioned.
Babangida reminded all party members to remain loyal and committed to the party, stressing further that every member should acknowledge the fact that majority of Nigerians were eagerly waiting for the PDP to bounce back to power at the centre and most states of the country hence it was only proper for the party to bury whatever differences exist amongst them.
He noted that though differences could exist, it must not be allowed to fester and extend to acrimonious stages. “Our differences should bring down the party”.
Speaking on the recent petition by someone to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe the leadership of the party, the PDP’s Board of Trustees member said the constitution of the PDP unambiguously stipulates who could petition against the party in the face of any matter just as he argues that a none party member has not ground to petition the anti graft agency against any leader of the party.
“I think it is proper for the EFCC to critically screen the petition itself. If there is a reward for a whistle blower for exposing any fraud, there should also be penalty for anyone who raised a false alarm” he added.