PDP Reconciliation: Gov Dickson Submits Report, Warns Against Rigging
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Governor Henry Seriake Dickson-led National Reconciliation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advocated a broad based coalition to wrest power from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2019
It said to salvage Nigeria from further ruins, the PDP must work hard on building thriving alliances and establishing inter-personal contacts with members, including those that have either left or abandoned the party due to different grievances.
Submitting its report to the National Working Committee (NWC) through the National Chairman, National Reconciliation Committee at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata House, Abuja, the Bayelsa State Governor said the broad-based coalition should accommodate everyone who intends to salvage the country from the present mismanagement by APC
Governor Dickson, who acknowledged the Party’s thoughtful and proactive steps in setting up the Reconciliation Committee, however warned the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against plans to rig the 2019 general elections.
He also thanked the party for backing the Committee to actualise its mandate even as he congratulated the Chairman and the NWC for a great job at mobilizing support for the PDP as witnessed during the recently held rally in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.
Governor Dickson described the massive turnout as indicating that Nigerians across party lines have embraced the PDP while issuing quit notice to the APC come 2019.
The Bayelsa Chief Executive explained that the committee had commenced its assignment even before the Convention ended and proactively moved round the country; engaging party leaders and members with grievances and complaints in respect of the December 2017 elective National Convention.
He thanked the Party leaders and members nationwide for the warm reception, high regard and team spirit accorded the committee throughout its assignment, adding that having interacted with a cross section of party leaders, women and youths, the Committee has detailed key issues raised in its report to the NWC.
The issues are:
- The committee is of the view that the PDP should lead a broad-based coalition to wrest power from the APC in order to salvage Nigeria form further ruin. It recommended that the party should build alliances and establish inter-personal contacts with everyone, including those that have either left or abandoned the party. This desire for the broad-based coalition should be open to everyone who intends to salvage the country from the present mismanagement of the ruling party.
- The NWC should as soon as possible constitute all statutory standing committees of the party, including a strategy committee for the task ahead. The composition of the leadership and membership of these committees must include women, youth and leaders of our party especially those who feel aggrieved and excluded from party activities.
- In the course of our engagements across the country, we realized that the South West Geo-political Zone deserves some special attention and thus we recommend close personal interaction between the NWC and the zone.
- We equally received several complaints that border on the involvement of women. Thus we suggest that the party should deliberately crave the support and involvement of women. As the most women-friendly party in the country, the NWC should deliberately cultivate them and assure them that our doors shall remain open for them at all levels of the party.
- The most crucial part of our recommendations, which the entire country has reiterated, is the Party’s respect for the rule of law and internal democracy. Even though, we are adjudged the most Democratic Party in the country today, we must re-examine ourselves and create a level playing field for all aspirants at all times.
Appreciating the party for giving the Committee members the honour and privilege to serve, Governor Dickson pledged that they are readily available to serve the PDP in whatever capacity whenever called upon to do so in future.
“I and other members of the committee have pledged to work for the party and the nation until the nation is salvaged”, he said
Receiving the report, the National Chairman, Uche Secondus thanked the Committee for doing a great job, promising that the report would serve as a guiding template for the PDP going forward.
He said the Committee has been re-designated a standing committee as part of measures to effectively engage aggrieved party members going forward.
