Baraje-led splinter group wants elders to intercede in PDP crisis

The Abubakar Baraje-led splinter group of the PDP has appealed to elders in the party to intercede in its current crisis to rescue it from imminent doom.
The group made the appeal in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chukwuemeka Eze, on Monday in Abuja.
Eze said: “After a careful review of developments in our troubled party, PDP, the new PDP wishes to make a passionate appeal to PDP elders to take urgent steps to rescue the party from imminent doom.
“We are forced to cry out because of the unbelievable silence of our revered party elders in the face of the chain of developments.
“PDP’s current challenge was instigated by its National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who had put the party at the edge of the precipice.”
The party frowned at the suspension of Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dr. Sam Jaja, and PDP National Vice-Chairman, North West, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, on November 11.
The statement said that their suspension from the party by its national leadership was illegal.
It also frowned at the call on Oyinlola and others to appear before the Umaru Dikko-led Disciplinary Committee on November 27, which it said was illegally constituted.
The meeting of the group with President Goodluck Jonathan, which was supposed to hold on November 24, was put off to later in the week.
The statement wondered why the party’s founding fathers who risked their lives during the military regime to ensure its formation had remained mute over its current challenges.
Such founding fathers, it noted, include Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Barnabas Gemade, General Abubakar Abdulsalami, Chief Tony Anineh and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The statement added: “Why are they maintaining grave and grievous silence and allowing this great institution to be reduced as an opposition political party in their life time.
“We weep for our dear party that has become a laughing stock in the comity of nations. What an unspeakable tragedy.
“We, therefore, call on our revered party elders and other well-meaning Nigerians to rise with one voice and one purpose to put a stop to all forms of impunity and injustice.”
It further added that the battle to salvage the party should not be left to the splinter group alone.
The group staged a walk out from the party at its special national convention on August 31.
The Baraje-led splinter group has in its fold former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State.
Others are Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State.
Also in the group are former Governors Danjuma Goje of Gombe State, Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State and Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State.