Baring any last minute change of mind, three chieftains of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set to dump the former ruling party.
Ex-Information Minister, Jerry Gana, ex-Education Minister Tunde
Adeniran and ex-Niger Delta Minister Godsday Orubebe are moving to the
Social Democratic Party (SDP) which is merging with the Peoples
Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Salvation Party (PSP) to form a
formidable party ahead of next year’s elections.
The aggrieved party chieftains launched into a marathon
meeting/negotiation with the leadership of SDP on Thursday night in
Abuja for a merger, The Nation reports.
The meeting ended early yesterday with the the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding by the coalescing group at Ladi Kwali Hall
in Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
Joining Gana from the PDP are a former Military Administrator of
Katsina State, Sen. Joseph Akaagerger; a former Minister of Niger Delta
Affairs, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe; Chief Mike Oghiadhome, who was a
former Chief of Staff to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; ex-Governor
Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State; and ex-Minister of Defence, Dr. Olu
Agunloye and a former Deputy Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly,
Hon. Dare Emiola.
Also teaming up with SDP are a former member of the House of
Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed; Sen. Bassey Ewa Hensaw; a member
of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olamide Oni; Supo Shonibare
(South-West Zonal chairman of SDP), Hon. Dipo Olaitan (a former leader
of the Alliance for Democracy in the House of Representatives); a former
Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Kehinde Ayoola; Amb. Yemi
Farounbi; leaders of the Middle Belt Forum; Mr. John Dara; the leaders
of the National Intervention Forum led by Dr. Tafawa Balewa; Amb Bejide;
Shehu Gabam.
A highly placed source in the group was quoted as saying: “As a
matter of fact, Mantu propped up the name of a party which should be
included in the merger but it was rejected. He attended the initial
meeting but by the time the MoU was signed, he was not there.
“We are hopeful that he will be at our subsequent meetings.
Some of our leaders are suspecting that Mantu may chicken out because he
has been begging Adeniran and Gana not to leave PDP.”
Jointly signed by Falae (for SDP) and Prof. Gana (for Movement for a
New Political Order), the MoU reads in part: “Whereas on the 12th Day
of February 2018, ajoint resolution was adopted at Sheraton Hotel Abuja,
for working together to ensure the emergence of a new and credible
political order to deepen democracy, good governance and genuine
development, with peace, security and social justice. The said meeting
also unanimously resolved to build: ‘A restructured, balanced equitable
and truly functional Nigerian Federation, ”a umane, free, seIf-reliant
and democratic society; ‘a dynamic, productive, transformed and
sustainable economy; ‘a just, fair, egalitarian and peaceful nation, ‘a
land of bright and full of opportunities for all Nigerians; and, a
national culture of raising good leaders through effective mentoring;
“Whereas, it was also agreed that the proposed movement shall
be directed, driven and defined by such core values as: Justice,
fairness, equity and progress; Democracy, good leadership, good
governance and sustainable development; Transparency, integrity, truth
and honour;
“Accountability and zero tolerance for corruption; Respect for
human dignity, human rights and sanctity of human life;; and Peace,
security, harmony, cooperative solidarity, within the rule of law; and
International cooperation for a common humanity within a secure and
peaceful order.
“Whereas, the movement further resolved to be inspired and
motivated by the ideals of social democracy, with great emphasis on: the
triumph of social justice; the nobility of human dignity; the harmony
of fairness and equality; the power of working together in solidarity;
the excellence of good governance, driven by good leadership; the wisdom
of reforms and transformation far beyond mere growth; the horror of
poverty, demanding eradication; the dignity of prosperity; the
imperative of democracy and the security of peace with justice
“Whereas with due reference to these objectives, core values,
and ideals, a Strategy Committee was mandated to search for a suitable,
popular, meaningful and widespread platform, with a name that already
resonates with the people and to make appropriate recommendations; and
“Whereas, the Strategic Committee, comprising representatives
from all the six geopolitical zones of the Federation, have met and
submitted their report, unanimously recommending the adoption of Social
Democratic Party(SDP) vehicle by the movement for a new political order:
“Therefore, we hereby resolutely agree to: (a) Fuse together
into one political form; (b) adopt the Social Democratic Party(SDP) as
the political vehicle for the fused political formation; (c) Convene a
non-elective convention for Saturday, 14th April, 2018; (d) authorize
the National Working Committee to serve as the Interim Management
Committee until the said convention; Set up a National Steering
Committee of 12 members to guide the Interim Management Committee during
the transition period; Raise a Constitution Review Committee to
consider all necessary amendments to the party constitution.”
Reacting to the development, elder statesman, Dr. Junaid Mohammed said: “Those
involved in SDP are the Peoples Redemption Party(PRP), Peoples
Salvation Party(PSP), the Social Democratic Party(SDP) and some elements
of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). It was like a merger but we do not
want to call it so because the All Progressives Congress(APC) has
destroyed the concept of merger.
“I am an optimist, I believe SDP will make a great impact. The
main reason I want to be associated with it is because it is
ideologically driven. Even it was not ideologically driven before, it
has to be ideologically driven.”
Asked if some governors and National Assembly members have subscribed to SDP, Mohammed added: “It
is not compulsory to have governors or members of the National Assembly
in a party to succeed. There are about 65 to 67 parties thereabout in
the country.
"In terms of electoral performance, most of the parties are not
on ground. The two parties which have led the country are not doing
well. They have impacted negatively on the economy and our political
life. A three-party or a four or five -party system will be better.”
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