PDP Plans Fresh Rules for IBB, Atiku
Decries indiscipline
Tunde Sanni just back from Lafia
As the race for the 2007 presidential election gets more fiery, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disclosed plans to issue a code of conduct that woulud guide the activities of presidential aspirants in the party.
This was made known by the national chairman of the party, Chief Audu Ogbeh, in Lafia, Nasarawa State during the North-central zonal meeting of the party yesterday.
Three years away to the 2007 elections, supporters of prominent political gladiators like former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have intensified campaigns for their candidates, a situation the PDP hierarchy has had cause to worry about.
But speaking on the issue of indiscipline, Ogbeh decried the increasing tempo of campaigns noting that the presidential ambition of some top notchers is already heating up the polity and the party would no longer tolerate the situation.
Ogbeh said: "2007 is still far and yet it is being fast driven on the political highway with emergencies here and there. There are crossings on the highway at uncontrollable speed. I am talking with respect to the vaulting ambition of our presidential asprants."
"There is no harm in ambition but we must watch ourselves. We must avoid deliberate mischief and remember that only God will give to whosoever He wishes. Our destiny is in the hands of God."
The PDP chairman hinted that the highest policy making organ of the party, the Na-tional Executive Committee (NEC) of the party would be meeting soon and would churn out rules to guide the campaigns such that they do not affect the on going government.
"The NEC of our party would be meeting in due course and a Code of Conduct to regulate the campaifn activities woulde merge. They would be told when to start campaigns"
Ogbeh declared that the Code of Conduct will involve restrictions and warned of serious sanctions on violators of the restrictions among the aspirants.
The PDP national chairman talked of the party's undue tolerance which he admitted had allowed for indiscipline in the party and affirmed of a new discipline era that would whip lawless party stalwarts to line
According to him, the party's magnanimity and open-handedness have been abused for long stating "the party has resolved to be strong on discipline as we have had enough of tyranny and indiscipline in the house
"Let me state here and now that any further acts of indiscipline would not be allowed to go unpunished and where such treatment leads to suspension, let it be known that we will suspend, not for the hatred of that person no matter how highly placed, but for the love of the party."
He commended the idea of the zonal meeting which he noted has infused in the party followers across all the six geographical zones that sense of belonging.
The PDP leader also touched on the much talked about Joint Accounts for Local Govern-ments which has pitched the leadership of the party with its governors and said that the meeting with the latter has been revealing and exhaustive.
"We have met with our governors on the issue of joint accounts for local governments in their respective states and I can tell you that we are quite satisfied with their explanations".
Rising from the meeting, Ogbeh charged local government chairmen on the platform of the party to apply their monthly allocations judiciously and use it to impact on the electorates.
"With the understanding reached with the governors on the issue, there is no reason why local councils cannot tar a road, do a bridge, put desks in classrooms and lay a solid foundation for the party and the country at the local level. Failure to do this, distinguished audience, we can't convince the voters in future."
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the party, Chief Tony Anenih echoed the comments of Ogbeh on party discipline as he stressed the need for the party at the national level to address the issue as well as youth restiveness, cohesion and good governance.
He emphasised on the need for the party at all levels to foister sense of belonging on all party members, "remember that we are all members of one family."
He recalled with nostalgic feelings ostracisation and injustices meted to some leaders of the party, a situation, he noted has made such leaders to defect from the party and vowed that such trend would never be allowed to happen again.
Anenih told delegates at the zonal meeting that the outcome of the tours of the zones shall be turned to the National Working Committee {NWC} of the party with suggestions and recommendations that can move the party forward.
"There are people who do not wish us well just like there are parties that don't want peace and looking for soulmates, we should not play into their hands."
"In this respect, we must put our houses in order and restore party discipline. We must respect our party structures, organs and discipline for without these, the freedom which we now take for granted and even abuse so flagrantly can not endure."
Host Governor, Abdullahi Adamu, earlier on called the attention of the party leadership to the "current tremors that are beginning to grip the party about 2007."
He added "desperation is beginning to set in so early. If we are not careful, we may be completely distracted from next year."
According to him, some people are already perceiving 2007 as a do or die affair, "there are rumours of destabilisation if they do not get what they want and our zone must begin to monitor and review developments in the party and find partners to maintain the unity of our great party".
Adamu maintained that the party must be made to survive the fledging ambitions of individuals and groups. "The North Central has invested too much in our great party than to leave it at the mercy of individual or group ambitions and as always, our zone must stick together and work together to ensure the unity of the party."
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