From Paul Orude Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has said only the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can deliver Nigeria from its current woes.
He is confident that the main opposition party would be repositioned to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 despite the crisis.
Mohammed, chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum spoke when he received the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) led by its Chairman and former Senate president, Chief Adolphos Wabara, at the Government House, Bauchi, yesterday, as part of efforts to rebuild the party.
The PDP is facing one of its worst trying moments as the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, is locked in a power tussle with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over the structure of the party in Rivers ahead of local government elections in the state.
Despite the crisis, Mohammed was certain that the visits of the BoT and a delegation of the National Working Committee (NWC) to Bauchi was a source of encouragement.
He said efforts were made by the PDP governors to reconcile Wike and Fubara and reposition the party to win elections with support from the major organs of the party.
The BOT team, which included former Governors Achike Udenwa (Imo), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna) and Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), among other heavyweights visited the governor a day after the PDP sent a delegation of the NWC.
“I am very optimistic that the PDP will reclaim power in 2027 and I am encouraged by the visits of the BOT and the NWC, and the resolve of the governors to close ranks,” he said.
The governor was also confident that the resolution of the governors to close ranks would surmount whatever obstacle that is in the party.
The Governors’ Forum had resolved to back Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers in line with the constitution of the PDP. The Forum’s decision was also supported by the BOT and the NWC.
Despite the Forum’s resolution, Mohammed said Wike remains a key member of the PDP though the former Rivers governor’s decision to serve in the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government was bizarre.
“But there is no challenge that is insurmountable. It will be surmounted by the grace of God and we will find a solution to that
You will notice that the crisis is a creation of the other side that wants us to be in disarray
“They always want to have moles within us, they always want to have knowledge of what is going on with us.
“Even Wike that is in APC is a PDP man and he is performing very well. The APC doesn’t have people that will perform like our members, that is why they picked Nwike and gave him a structure to run.
“To us, it’s a commendation. Irrespective of the bizarre situation, it is a recognition that the PDP has the capital to deliver Nigeria,” Mohammed stated.
