From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has said he cannot be intimidated into abdicating his responsibilities.
Damagum, who spoke at the inauguration of the PDP National Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee, yesterday, in Abuja, said moves to oust him as acting national chairman has made him more popular.
This is as the Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoTs), Adolphus Wabara, said the survival of the PDP depends on the success of the Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committees, headed by former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and former Minister of External Affairs, Tom Ikimi, respectively.
The acting chairman, apparently referring to a recent letter he allegedly wrote in conjunction with the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, to the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, disowning the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, said the uproar generated by the correspondence was unnecessary.
He said those clamouring for his sanction against alleged anti-party activities in Rivers State were out to discredit him ahead of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) scheduled for next month.
The NEC meeting, among other issues, is expected to choose a substantiative national chairman.
The party organ, at its last meeting, on April 18, had resolved to allow Damagum continue to lead the party until its next meeting.
However, ahead of the NEC, Damagum has come under fire for allegedly seeking to undermine the interest of the PDP in the case involving the 25 members of the Rivers State of Assembly, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year.
The acting chairman and Anyanwu had allegedly written to the Appeal Court, in Port Harcourt, asking it to disregard an application by Ajibade to withdraw a suit filed by some persons on behalf of the PDP in the Rivers Assembly tussle.
Nevertheless, Damagum said: “Last I checked, the signatories of this party are the chairman and the secretary. Just because the chairman and secretary signed a letter, it has become an issue. People are making all sorts of insinuations about it.
“Nobody is going to intimidate me into abdicating my responsibility. You can say all sorts of things. I know this is a buildup to coming NEC. ‘Damagum must go. Damagum must go,’ I thank God. People are making me very popular lately. Anytime you open social media, television, it is ‘Damagum, Damagum.’
“Honestly speaking, I have started contemplating it is time throwing myself into the ring and vying for the presidency of this country. I have become popular; even though the negative publicity is meant to bring me down, I am not deterred.
“I have a responsibility to this party to keep it safe and stable. I intend to take all necessary actions to ensure the party remains stable. But, I have reached a point where I have to speak out.
“I have avoided talking because I know so many things. When I open my mouth, I know it will not be pleasant. But, that is the price of leadership. I am ready to take that bashing, more bashing.
“And to my detractors, let me tell you, you’ll see more of that later because I will not abdicate my responsibility. But, I will do it within the confines of the law, as stipulated by the constitution.
“For those interested in seeing Damagum go, this is a build up to run me down before we have that NEC. But when you run Damagum down, you lose the party because in trying to run me down, you are running down your party.”
Wabara, who also spoke at the event, said the inauguration of the reconciliation and disciplinary committees was pivotal to the future of the PDP.
According to him, “What we are doing today is the beginning of the future of this party and this nation. I sincerely urge the two committees to function without fear or favour, no matter whose ox is gored, and as much as our constitution, the constitution of this party guides whatever decisions or actions you will take.”
He said if the committees fail, it will lead to the country becoming a one party state, which will not be in the interest of the country’s democracy.
