PDP under pressure in Bauchi

The recent defection of thousands of members of the PDP in Bauchi State to the APC is not a healthy development for the party in the state and its national leadership. But whether the minders of the PDP would take heed is another matter
The recent political developments in the country that heralded the defection of five governors from the People Democratic Party (PDP)  to the All Progressive Congress (APC) has in turn created ripples even to states where the governors did not defect.
In Bauchi State for instance, the agitation against the PDP is gaining traction following the defection of thousands of members to the APC where they were received by former minister of police affairs, Dr. Yakubu Lame.
The leader of the defecting group, Alhaji Abubakar Doma explained that their defection was in pursuit of justice and fairness in the country just as he debunked the claim by their former state chairman, Muhammed  Isah that those who were supportive of the nPDP faction have reconciled with the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led mainstream.
According to him, “apart from Isah who was allegedly persuaded by the ruling People Democratic party, all of the other new PDP members and executives across the 20 local governments in the state have unanimously followed the footsteps of their counterparts in the country to join the APC”.
“The Bauchi State chapter of the new PDP has since joined the progressive National leadership of APC and has since been received by the party under the leadership of the former police affairs minister in the person of Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame. It is noteworthy that our resolution to join the APC was unanimous with no second thoughts,” he said.
The decampees therefore warned that they would not hesitate to institute legal action against anybody who continues to sponsor advertorials in newspapers to relate them with the PDP, whether old or new and its affairs, saying that they are committed to working spiritedly towards the victory of the APC come 2015.
Genuine integration
“We are calling on the leadership of the APC in the state to dismiss any insinuation meant to ridicule our genuine integration into the party with all our subjects. We remain loyal and committed party members who are ready to use our time, abilities and resources, to work hard in ensuring the success of the party”.
An interview with the APC national auditor, Captain Bala Mohammed Jibril further predicted doom for the PDP as he said that the decision of the five former PDP Governors to join the APC was the kind of political revolution that many had desired.
“The PDP for a very long time had things going its way and if left unchecked we will continue to have a lot of excesses within our political structures. It is so disheartening that the PDP has no concrete plan for the nation besides squandering public resources and impoverishing Nigerians,” he said.

*Gov. Yuguda

While calling for a stronger alliance among the defecting governors, he, however, urged them to discard the politics of corruption, nepotism and deception in favour of transparent and accountable leadership.
The national auditor said that registration of membership of the party would begin soon and already the party has made available forms for the registration of members.
He also warned members of the party to be careful of wolf in sheep clothing whose mission is to create faction and cause confusion within the party.
“Some people who were rejected and frustrated in their party came and pleaded that they wanted to join the APC. We received them and carried them along, but they later turned around to stab us  and decamped to another party. This time around, we will not allow this kind of tragedy to befall the party again”.
In his reaction, the state PDP secretary, Alhaji Samaila Burga said that the defection of the five governors and thousands of members of the party to the APC was not a healthy development for the national leadership of the party.
According to him, “the massive defection of members of PDP, including five governors is a minus on the leadership of Bamanga Tukur and a plus for the APC. If all the various opposition parties will merge and get a booster, then it is not a good development for our party. The only way out of this predicament PDP has found itself is to wakeup from its slumber and work hand in hand to mend all the broken fences”.
Burga stressed that the PDP must restrategize and appeal to all aggrieved individuals who left the party to return.
“I feel this is the only way out of our problem. Let the national leadership of the PDP give a listening ear to the complaints of its members and make amends. If they say they do not want the national chairman of the party, let us meet their demands and expectations, instead of watching the party disintegrate and fall,” he said.