PDP Not Ready to Suspend Wike’s G5, Others – Nat’l Chairman, Damagum

By Reporter

Those waiting for the suspension of the Federal Capital Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike and members of the G5 governors, thy may have to wait for much longer as the Acting National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made it clear that the discussion was not on the National Working Committee list.

According to Umar Damagum, the National Working Committee (NWC) under his leadership will not suspend or dismiss any member who have been accused of working against the party during the last election across the country.

Damagum’s position comes is on the heels of the ongoing calls by some PDP stakeholders, demanding NWC to sanction former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and many others for alleged anti-party activities.

However, Damagum dismissed the call when he addressed the PDP Mobilisers Group in Abuja two days ago. Rather, he stated that the NWC had decided to set up a committee to review and reconcile all aggrieved members.

He insisted that the party was more interested in reconciliation that will bring more members into the party than sanctioning any members on allegation of anti-party.

“They are always telling you these people are not doing the right thing. But when you are in a position of leadership, you are bound by a set of rules, and these rules, even though they are itching you, you don’t apply them, not because of anything, but so that you don’t destroy the house.

“I have been seeing the agitations within our platforms, saying the NWC was not doing this or doing that. This is an opportunity for me to explain.

“Somebody has said that sometimes when you are not knowledgeable about certain things and you go on saying about your thinking, it will always injure the sensibility of others to understand you.

“I am very proud to say that this party was started by me as a driver. Today, I am the acting national chairman by the grace of God. I have never calculated that I will be given this title. I believe in this party, I believe that this party is the best in this country.

“The NWC has already come up and approved a 2023 election review and reconciliation committee. They will go and investigate. We’ll give them the mandate to form subcommittees. However, there is only one national committee that will review the 2023 election and also review from 2015 to 2019. This is so that at the end of the day when they bring the reports, we will meet and take decisions.

“If I said we should start suspension, I will end up suspending many people because they were involved in anti-party activities. So, please bear with us. We intend to keep this party together and to manage it. This is my mandate.” The PDP National Chairman said, while admitting that several members were involved in anti-party activities at different levels.

It will be recall that the PDP lost Edo State to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) for the first time since 1999. The governor, Godwin Obaseki led the pack of losers, including some members of his cabinet, the PDP State Chairman, Mr Tony Aziegbemi, and numerous political leaders in the state.

Damagum’s latest position on the punishment for those that lost or sold their units will be received as a relief by Governor Obaseki and all his aides and supporters that sold their units or were defeated at the polls.