Dagogo said it was instructive for Damagum to give way to usher in a more purposeful and result-oriented leadership beginning August 2024.
Dagogo made the call in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday and sent to newsmen.
He spoke against the backdrop of Thursday’s National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in Abuja.
The statement which was signed by his media aide, Ibrahim Lawal, however, described the outcome of the 98th meeting of the party’s NEC as another demonstration of the resilience of the party to contain any situation that comes its way.
He stated that in the build-up to the NEC meeting, suggestions and permutations had been rife regarding the likelihood of the PDP running into another round of crises as the party tries to navigate a path for the ‘North Central Zone’ in producing a substantive national chairman to complete the ‘truncated’ tenure of the former chairman, Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu.
On Damagum retaining his position as the party’s acting national chairman until the subsequent NEC meeting scheduled for August, Dagogo said those who genuinely have the best interests of the party at heart made timely sacrifices to keep the party firm and afloat.
The former federal lawmaker stated that but for the ‘political maturity and sagacity’ employed by the party’s leaders and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, along with other leaders, before and during the NEC meeting, the party would have ‘played into the hands of some individuals, who wanted the party to implode to improve their political fortunes’.
“For me, the outcome of the NEC Meeting was a win-win situation. Against all odds, the party came out unscathed and will continue to wax stronger.
“Yes, the Acting Chairman retained his position, but it is obvious to him now and others that it would be in the best interest of the party for him to vacate that position for a more purposeful and result-oriented leadership by August.
“The so-called tension generated in the build-up of the NEC meeting was orchestrated by the inordinate desire of some few individuals who wanted to thwart the sterling call by party faithful for a review of its failing leadership and directionless.
“The party however did not play into the hands of those individuals, who wanted the party to implode so as to improve their political fortunes.
“Thanks in good measure to the political maturity and sagacity employed by the party’s national leader and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, along with other leaders, before and during the NEC meeting. We are where we are now because of their sacrifices and dedication to the party.”
