By Godwin Chukwumaechi
A former member of the House of Representatives (Degema/Bonny), Hon. Dagogo Farah, has described the outcome of the recent National Executive Committee (NEC), meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a win-win situation for the party.
He said it was another demonstration of the resilience of the party to weather any storm that comes its way.
Prior to the NEC meeting, which was held Thursday there was widespread fears of the likelihood of the PDP running into another round of crisis following misgivings in several quarters about leadership structure of the party at the centre, among many other agitations.
But speaking on the sidelines of the NEC meeting that saw Umar Damagum retaining his position as the party’s acting National Chairman until the subsequent NEC meeting scheduled for August, Farah Dagogo said those who genuinely have the best interests of the party at heart made timely sacrifices to keep it firm and afloat.
The former member of the House of Representatives said but for the political maturity and sagacity employed by the party’s national leader and former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, along 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 in order to improve their political fortunes”.
He expressed optimism that by the adjourned date of August, Damagum would have seen that “it is in the best interest of the party for him to vacate the position for a more purposeful and result oriented leadership.
“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 to the NEC Meeting was actually 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 in order 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 other leaders, before and during the NEC Meeting. We are where we now because of their sacrifices and dedication to the party, ” he added.
