…As Wike’s loyalists take over Kano leadership
Former governor of Jigawa State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamiɗo, has warned that the opposition party risks further political decline if its leaders fail to reconcile with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and resolve the lingering leadership crisis within the party.
Lamiɗo, who issued the warning while speaking with newsmen during a Ramadan Iftar with PDP leaders and members in his hometown of Bamaina yesterday, urged party stakeholders to set aside personal grievances and work toward unity in order to safeguard the future of the Peoples Democratic Party. According to him, Wike acted strategically when the tenure of the party’s National Working Committee expired, creating a leadership vacuum within the PDP.
According to Lamiɗo: “Wike is a very shrewd politician. He saw the situation clearly and moved quickly to establish a caretaker committee. By the time the tenure of the existing leadership elapsed, that was the only structure in place”.
He noted that although many party members may have political disagreements with Wike, the party’s survival should take precedence.
“Even if some of us may not like him, or have political differences with him, we must still invite him in the spirit of unity, brotherhood and PDP sisterhood. The priority now is reconciliation and moving the party forward”, he added.
Lamiɗo also expressed concern over persistent internal disputes and the growing wave of defections affecting the party’s ranks. He warned that unresolved conflicts could weaken the PDP’s ability to prepare effectively for upcoming elections, especially given Nigeria’s tight electoral timetable.
Meanwhile, developments within the party appear to reflect Wike’s growing influence in some states. In Kano State, strong supporters of the FCT minister have emerged as the new state executives of the PDP following the state congress held on Saturday.
The 36-member executive committee emerged through a delegates’ consensus arrangement, which confirmed their leadership under Alhaji AbdulRahman Mohammad Takusara. Among those elected into the new state executive are Dr. Bello Gambo Bichi as chairman, Sagir AbdulƘadir as vice chairman, Hon. Rabi’u Sale Wangai as secretary, Barr. Abdullahi Umar as legal adviser, Lawan Shehu Yakasai as treasurer and Ali Mati Shantake as Financial Secretary, among other officials.
Leader of the Congress Committee from the party’s national headquarters, Dr. Aminu Abdullahi Taura, said the Kano Congress was conducted peacefully after members agreed to adopt a consensus formula. He maintained that the PDP remains one indivisible entity and urged the public to disregard claims suggesting the existence of factions within the opposition party. He explained that the emergence of the new leadership followed the dissolution of the previous state executive.
However, the development has yet to receive a response from other factions within the party in the state. The factional chairman aligned with Kabiru Turaki, Hon. Yusuf Kibiya, declined to comment on the emergence of the new leadership, while the camp of Aminu Wali has also remained silent on the outcome of the congress.
