‘Ahmed Makarfi’s tenure a disaster’

As a result of the dismal performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra State governorship election held on Saturday, the senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Buruji Kashamu, has described the tenure of the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), Senator Ahmed Makarfi as “a disaster and the worst nightmare for our party”.

In a statement he issued in Abuja on Sunday, Kashamu said: “it is clear that Makarfi and his allies have brought ill-luck to the PDP.”

“Makarfi and his team came as if they were the saviours that PDP was waiting for but they have turned out to be the ones who are killing the party with their illegality, impunity and self-centredness. They believe they can do anything and get away with it. They did it in Anambra where all the popular aspirants were disenfranchised and the ticket was sold against democratic norms. Today, the party is worse off for the dastardly act of these interim caretakers.

“It was bad enough that the interim National Secretary, Senator Ben Obi, lost his ward; that the constituents were rejoicing over his disgraceful loss is indicative of outright communal irrelevance. This calls for concern from our national leaders that specialise in unreasonable harmonization and impositions of unpopular candidates over the popular ones.”

Speaking on the activities leading to the national convention, Kashamu said it was regrettable that thus the “logic is likely to prevail over the thinking that elections at the national convention shall be a bazaar for the highest bidder, irrespective of the likely hazard to the existence of the party. This will discourage the misappropriation of state funds for unworthy political misadventures.”

He said at the rate Makarfi and his people are going, anyone who wants to become anything in PDP would have to first go and pay obeisance to a demi-god in Rivers State and his orchestra special assistant from Afao-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

“Even though I know that our respectable leader and Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike means well for the party, he should endeavor to be a national leader without self-aggrandisement. He should not allow anyone to mislead him and plunge the party further into avoidable crises because of their egocentric agenda.

“I reckon that in the buildup to the National Convention and the election of national officers for the PDP, Governor Wike has a right like other governors to support whoever he wishes to support. But as a foremost leader of the party, he should show uncommon grace and leadership at this crucial time so that whatever he does would not be misinterpreted to mean riding roughshod over other stakeholders and leaders.”

“I do not have anything against his support for the two eminently qualified national chairmanship aspirants from the South-South. They are respectable leaders and party men for whom I have a lot of admiration”. But, having sat with all the leaders of the party in Port Harcourt where the National Chairmanship position was zoned to the South-West, if our brothers from the South-South now wish that the position be rezoned to them, a meeting should be called where such a position will be canvassed with a view to getting the confidence and support of the South West geo-political zone. That way, the other offices can be appropriately rezoned without any rancor and ill-feelings.”

“If the National Chairmanship goes to the South-South would it be possible for the South East to get the Vice-Presidency in 2019?

“Are they saying the South West can also vie for the Vice-Presidency alongside the South East in 2019? Or does the South East not have interest in any of the topmost positions again? If it does, why not take a stand and make it known to all and sundry?”

He said if the vice presidency is not rezoned to the South West, the initial zoning arrangement which conceded the National Chairmanship to the South West should be adhered to.

“Otherwise, it shall be politically unsustainable for the South East to have a Vice President under a South South National Chairman. If our brothers in the South-South want, they can back any candidate of their choice from the South West. But it should not be done with impunity and utter disregard for the views and feelings of other stakeholders. We in the South West are one and we are united in our quest to produce the National Chairman. Any semblance of disunity should be discountenanced,” Kashamu said.