Chief Olabode George, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern over the party’s internal crises, saying it appears like devils have infiltrated the opposition party.
George also said it was wrong for Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to decline to quit as PDP’s national chairman.
He, however, urged the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubarkar and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike to calm down and resolve their differences.
He also confirmed that PDP governors and the Board of Trustees would meet today “to resolve these issues.”
George, who made the assertions on Channels’ Politics Today, said: “It is a major issue bothering not only me but a lot of the upper chambers of the party. It looks like some kind of devil has entered our party.
“But, our party has enough committed leaders and followers who will sit to resolve our issues once and for all.
“All my appeal is for both Governor Wike and our presidential candidate to cool down. This is because none of their ambitions should subvert the wish and aspiration of the party.” George also alleged the possibility of the fifth columnist within the party.
“Yes, sometimes, when these things happen, you wonder if it is only from our own people or are there some other unseen hands trying to foment trouble in our party.”
On Ayu, he said: “Our founding fathers divided Nigeria in the six geo-political zones. Earlier on, the majority had their ways while the minority looked on. These geo-political zones are not reflected in our constitution.
“But to create that sense of belonging and oneness, these zones were divided between the North and South.
“Section 7 of our party’s constitution affirms that zoning and rotation are maintained in our party. Ayu himself knows this.
“We are saying for purposes of inclusivity, give us a position that we can use to engage our people at home.
“It has never happened in our party that we have both the presidential candidate and the chairman of our party from the same zone. No, it has never been done.
“You can’t tell us that that will wait till after the election. If we don’t do that, we will not be able to convince our people, especially from the South, of their place in the party. If it has been on our side, will the North have allowed that? What is good for the goose is good for the gander” he maintained.
The PDP has been enmeshed in a series of internal wrangling. But, the one that has become too feasible is the polarisation of the party between the camps of Atiku and Wike.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
