Sen. Ningi says “you can’t be member of PDP and belong to another party”; ‘Wike is a coward who lacks the courage to leave PDP’_ Fmr. PDP legal adviser
A member of the Board of Trustees, PDP, Senator Abdul Ningi, has said that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is not the property of any individual and will resist any attempts to diminish its influence.
During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Ningi emphasised that “PDP has a history and it was not formed a decade ago. It was formed more than two decades ago by some of the best political brains in the country.”
He added, “When I look at people comparing their powers to that of the PDP, I’m always taken aback. Remember, 24 years ago, most of these key actors that are in place are products of this party; they would not have been anything if not for the PDP.”
Ningi further stated that “PDP is a party that has produced three presidents; PDP is above individuals.” He acknowledged the efforts of the reconciliation committee but noted that “you need to understand the mindset of some key actors is that this party must not survive. This party does not warrant our sympathy because at a time in the immediate past, some people did not get what they wanted. The key actors are members of the PDP; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been a crisis.
“You cannot be a member of the PDP and be a member of another party; you can’t be a member of the PDP and at the same time enriching and influencing other members to buy the PDP,” Ningi stressed, emphasising the importance of loyalty.
He also raised concerns over a sitting PDP governor potentially leaving the party, saying, “It really disturbed us, so we reached out to him, and he confirmed to us that he will remain in the party. We came back after talking to him with all the information we had, but we are not bringing this information into the public domain because part of the crisis has to do with the current Minister of the FCT.”
Ningi expressed optimism about upcoming discussions with the FCT Minister, stating, “I take his statement in good faith because what we need is unity, coming together with the same aspirations.”
Reflecting on the resilience of the PDP, Ningi asserted that “PDP has been the biggest political party on the face of the continent and the most organised political party. Just because we lost an election in 2015 does not mean that the party will vanish. However, anybody that tries to bring down the party into banishment, we will resist him. We are not going to fight anybody, but we will sort out things our way according to the rules and constitution of the party.”
He concluded by stating, “PDP is beyond individuals personalising it as their own property; it is beyond the issue of Wike, Atiku.”
Ningi also criticised the tendency of politicians to switch parties after electoral losses, saying, “Politics is a very serious matter; it needs dedication, a complete submission to the party. It needs a lot of firepower to be able to cultivate and call the interest of people to say we are the best, we can serve. But when you find yourself jumping from one party to another, it becomes a problem.”
Lastly, Ningi pointed out that “the government of the day understands that we have what it takes to bring about positive change in the country because Nigerians are comparing what we have done between 1999 and 2015 to what they have done from 2015 to date.”
The former legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mark Jacob, has criticised FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, calling him a coward for not having the courage to leave the PDP despite his ongoing criticisms of the party.
During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Jacob said, “Wike is a coward who is not bold enough to leave the PDP and go to the APC. Having taken a stance against the PDP, a gentleman who wants to be respected should have resigned from the PDP. You cannot be kicking against the PDP and still claim you are with the PDP; it is complete irony, ungentlemanly, and lacking in integrity.”
Jacob stressed that it is time people told Wike the truth, arguing that no one can, in good conscience, claim to be a member of the PDP while actively fighting against it.
Jacob further expressed his disappointment with the current state of the PDP, noting that “it is a sad day for anyone who identifies with the PDP or is a member of the PDP.”
He lamented that “the largest opposition party is neglecting its main assignment of holding the ruling party accountable. Instead, the PDP is engaging in minor squabbles centred around ego and personal interests.”
He criticised the PDP’s leadership for its inaction, stating that the party has failed to address several critical issues.
“PDP has failed to address several issues, and as a member of NEC, at the last NEC meeting, people wanted to discuss several matters, but they were shut down,”Jacob remarked.
He added that in his time as legal adviser, such behaviour as displayed by Wike would not have been tolerated.
Jacob also noted that “the PDP is failing in its responsibility to raise and present a viable opposition voice to the ruling government.”
He expressed doubt about the PDP’s ability to win a national election under the current circumstances, saying, “…the party has been made deaf and dumb to the cries and complaints of right-thinking members of the party.”
He concluded by calling on the PDP leadership to abandon selfish and individual issues and refocus on the party’s core duties.
Jacob emphasised that the PDP must regain its footing as a formidable opposition party and stop allowing individuals to overshadow the collective goals of the party.
