PDP crisis: Ayu’s removal possible, achievable — Atiku

…Says Party’s law must be amended to remove embattled Chairman

…Ayu’s removal will facilitate proper restructuring — Makinde insists

By Uthman Salami

The Standard bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said the removal of the embattled Chairman of the party, was possible and achievable.

He, however, cautioned that the constitution of the party must be amended to facilitate such removal, noting that the party had done it before and could do it again.

This is just as the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde insisted on the resignation of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyiocha Ayu.

The former Vice President made this known at the Emeritus Professor Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall Ibadan during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South West stakeholders interactive session.

Atiku in his remark noted that Ayu’s resignation must be done in accordance with the party constitution, rules, regulations and practice, adding that what Governor Makinde was requesting is achievable if it is backed up by the constitution of the party.

“We cannot do anything outside our constitution except it is amended, we cannot do anything unless the law is amended, Ayu must go through our constitution, rules, regulations, and our practice, otherwise, we cannot give the kind of leadership Nigerians want.”

He, however, urged PDP not to allow the issue to derail them from winning the next elections, adding that “it is possible, it is achievable, we have done it before and we have started doing it.”

While speaking, the Governor of Oyo State, Makinde admitted that there were still some issues to address in the party before the general elections, which the party must do to get to its desired destination.

He maintained that the National Chairman of the party needs to step down to give room for fairness and equity, which would enable the party to move on, most especially in its electioneering campaign process ahead the 2023 general elections.

In his words Makinde said, “we need to be factual and speak the truth to ourselves, I have read on social media and some have been saying one thing or the other about my person, or Governor Samuel Ortom and some of us as far as the PDP crisis is concerned but I want to say here that I don’t have issue with the party nor the presidential candidate of our party.

“But  If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify PDP first, if we want a government of national unity, it must reflect in PDP. If we want to restructure in Nigeria, we must restructure PDP first.”

“Our Presidential candidate is from Northeast, our National Chairman is from North Central, the Director General of the Atiku campaign, Aminu Tambuwa is from the Northwest, so the PDP National Chairman should step down.”

The PDP Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, while speaking on behalf of the National Chairman of the party urged members of the party to commit themselves and worked diligently for the emergence of the party in the coming elections.

He noted the choice of the venue for the meeting was deliberate because Ibadan was the capital of politics in Southwest and Nigeria at large. He however commended Governor Seyi Makinde for hosting the program.

The Chairman, PDP Governors Forum, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwa, stressed that the stakeholders’ meeting was a sign of good things to come, adding that Southwest would come back to PDP in 2023.

Dignitaries at the event include, Bala Mohammad of Bauchi State, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, Osun State Governor-elect, Sen Ademola Adeleke, PDP governorship candidates, ex-Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, Ex Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ex Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Amb. Taofek Arapaja, Sen Dino Melaye, Former Deputy Governor Of Oyo state, Barrister Azeem Gbolarunmi, Chief Jumoke Akinjide, Elder Woke Oyelese, and Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Speaker of Oyo state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin and others.