The Peoples Democratic Party has kicked against the plan by President Bola Tinubu to deploy troops in Niger Republic to flush out the military junta that overthrew the democratically elected civilian President in that country.
Rather, the main opposition party advised that all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed by stakeholders to resolve the crisis in Niger.
The PDP stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of leaders of the party, led by its presidential candidate in the February general election, Atiku Abubakar, and governors elected on its platform on Saturday at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.
The meeting, which was attended by the party’s vice-presidential candidate in the last election, Ifeanyi Okowa, and governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kefas Agbu (Taraba) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), as well as the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; and National Vice Chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih, among others, was called to deliberate on the state of the party.
“The meeting advised the President, Commander-in-Chief and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country. Rather, all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed,” the communiqué read in part.
At the meeting, the PDP leaders renewed their commitment to discipline in the interest of the party.
They also resolved to shun any form of anti-party activities in line with the ethos of the party.
Reading the communiqué, Mohammed said, “The meeting emphasized the need for party discipline and re-iterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage. No individual or group of individuals will be allowed to undermine the unity of the party and its processes.
“The meeting committed to repositioning and stabilising the party. To this end, the healing and reconciliation process is in progress and yielding results.
“The meeting signalled that unity and loyalty are still core values of the PDP and will be rewarded.
“All the governors and organs of the party solidly support the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the PDP vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescue the stolen mandate in the tribunal and will do everything lawful towards achieving this.
“The governors will work in partnership with the party at the state and national levels to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability.
“The meeting congratulated the party for empanelling the campaign councils for the off-session elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states and urged the campaign councils to ensure victory for the party in the three states.”
The PDP leaders also faulted the number of ministerial nominees to serve in President Tinubu’s cabinet.
“The meeting counselled the Federal Government to show leadership in curtailing the cost of governance. Forty-eight ministers, as well as several special advisers and assistants, should be reduced to ensure the health of our economy,” the communiqué added.
However, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was again absent from the meeting.
Although no reason was given for Fubara’s absence, a party source said the governor was still playing the loyalty card having been advised by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, not to shoulder the party’s financial responsibilities.
“The Rivers governor didn’t give reasons for his absence but his political mentor and the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, has not mend fences with the PDP and is unlikely to do so. This perhaps explains why he (Fubara) was away. He was said to have been advised by Wike not to spend money on the party like he (Wike) did while he was in power,” the source told Sunday PUNCH in confidence.
