The deputy Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo State, Alhaji Usman Shagadi has taken a deep look at the political drama presently unfolding within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and concluded that, it was an indication that President Goodluck Jonathan does not have a firm grip of the affairs of his party.
Shagadi who spoke in Lagos described the factionalisation of the PDP as a bad omen that can tarnish the image of the country in the comity of nation, noting that the manner the party conducted its convention in Abuja last Thursday was a bad public relation for the country.
Speaking to reporters at the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Alhaji Shagadi said “the crisis shows that they have shot themselves in the toe, they are a party of bad fellows, that is why God is revealing their secrets, you can imagine inside a convention some prominent members of the party walked out on the President of the nation, in advanced societies they have respect for their leaders, irrespective of party differences, PDP is an exception. They are disorganized”.
However, The APC leader however said that his party was willing to accept aggrieved members of the PDP who may choose to cross over to the APC, affirming that the likes of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State among others who left PDP in the past and were accepted by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) are doing well as elected officers in their respective states.
“We will accept them and reform them and they will make good candidates for future elections. You can see how we brought out the likes of Governor Amosun and others; you can see the works they are doing in their respective states. They will be accepted since our cardinal principle is a party with inclusion,”
The Edo State born politician said Jonathan is only using his power of incumbency to control the affairs of the PDP, “but he lacks a grip on the party,” affirming that “when we come to a popular election l can bet you he will not win.”
According to him, Nigeria is gradually descending into anarchy under the present administration, noting that Jonathan’s predecessor, the late Umaru Yar’ Adua was able to bring sanity into the system which saw the Appeal Court upturning several fraudulent elections.
“When Yar’ Adua was alive, we had some sanity in the party and we thought we could manage them, but the current crisis has showed that they are purely interested in the pockets of individuals. The country would have missed the likes of Adams Oshiomhole, Rauf Aregbesola and Kayode Fayemi if we had this present crop of leaders then,” Shagadi said.
