The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BOT) has advised Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, the National Chairman not to extend his tenure beyond May.
The acting Chairman of BoT, Walid Jibrin, who gave the advice while addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, urged Sheriff to heed the advice and not stay in office beyond three months.
Jibrin said that the advice became necessary “following calls by praise singers who were calling on Sheriff to extend his tenure.”
He explained that following the unanimous approval of Sheriff by PDP Governor’s Forum, the National Caucus, BOT and the National Executive Committee,
the tenure, as well as that of the National Working Committee (NWC) should terminate on May 21.
He added that “the above responsible bodies have approved that the tenure of the national officers will end immediately after the convention when new officers are duly elected.
“The present NWC received an overwhelming ovation at the meeting of the national caucus, BOT and NEC by overlooking their 2017 tenure in support of the three months approval of the respected organs of the party which should strictly be complied with.
“Instead of listening to praise singers, Sheriff should follow the path of honour by simply taking a bow in May 2016 after the national convention.
“The recent courtesy calls to Sheriff and the presentations being made, especially calling on him to continue beyond the stipulated three months tenure is an invitation to trouble, anarchy and the return of impunity in PDP.”
Jibrin urged Sheriff to come out clearly to exonerate himself from such tenure elongation plan and maintain his stand on the three months given him by NEC.
According to him, if he does that, his honour and integrity will be more respected and will remain in the PDP record book of achievers.
The acting Chairman of BoT also advised the party to adhere to Sen. Ike Ekweremadu Post-Election Review Committee’s recommendation that the PDP should seek its 2019 presidential candidate from the Northern part of the country.
He warned of the dangers of not adhering to the recommendations aimed at compensating the North “for the obvious violation of the zoning arrangement in the 2011 election.”
According to Jibrin, this led to a major apathy against the party in the north from 2011, culminating in the poor performance of the party in the 2015 elections.
“The national caucus, BoT, and NEC have already approved this recommendation by unanimously zoning 2019 presidency to the north.
“To change this decision now is a further invitation to impunity, the lack of party democracy, non-adherence to party zoning principles, influence of ‘god fatherism’, the lack of respect for the decision of constituted party organs, self-imposition and killing the PDP.
“Anyone who attempts to reverse the position by changing it with another position will ever remain an enemy to the north, a mercenary and killer of PDP.
“All members of the party must unite not to allow themselves to be bought by anyone and not to be tempted with anything to divide and rule us.
“All PDP members must be ready to cooperate to say final bye-bye to impunity, the lack of internal democracy, god-fatherism and naked exhibition of mans inhumanity to man by man.”
He added that the BOT would resist any move by anybody to destroy the good foundation set by the PDP founding fathers and mothers and shall remain the conscience of the party.
Jibrin maintained that the above submission was done based on the powers given to BoT in PDP party constitution part ix section 32 5(a) (b) (c) (g) and 6.
He added that the party’s BoT intended to meet next week to further strengthen its position in support of the last decision of the caucus, BoT, and NEC.
According to him, other items on the agenda for the meeting include membership of BOT sub-committees.
He added that the BoT was also expected to be briefed by Sheriff on the approved PDP congresses and convention committees of finance, zoning and reconciliation. (NAN)