In this interview with JOHN ALECHENU,
Senator Danladi Sankara explains why he and his colleagues from Jigawa
State are staying in the Peoples Democratic Party despite pledging their
allegiance to the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the ruling party.
Sir, you were a vocal member
of the now defunct New PDP. The leadership of that splinter group and
majority of the governors announced on Tuesday, November 26, that they
had joined the opposition APC. What is your position on this
development?
First of all, let me make it
categorically clear to you that we have not merged with the All
Progressives Congress. When I said “we”, in this case I am referring to
the Governor of Jigawa State, Dr. Sule Lamido, the people and Government
of Jigawa State. We are in the PDP, and we have not defected to another
political party.
Secondly, contrary to what some people
think was a crisis in the PDP, the truth is that in PDP, we are one big
family and it is normal for some members, who feel strongly about
certain issues, to make their views known, all in the effort to effect
desirable corrections and changes that would strengthen the party for
greater and brighter prospects to serve the interest of Nigerians for
progress and development.
Remember that we are in a democracy.
Therefore, people should have the right to express their views on
certain issues to draw the attention of the leadership, especially by
members of a political party, on the need to do the right things.
It is only in the armed forces that the
commander would issue an order which no one can question. But in
politics, in a democracy, if a leader gives an order, and if that an
order is objectionable, even his cleaner can object to such an order.
Some have argued that aggrieved members of the party went too far by forming a new faction. Do you agree?
We are in a democracy. What is wrong if
we come out to correct an error? To me, it is normal in politics to
raise questions and pin-point areas or issues which require intervention
to effect changes for true progress. This is not the first time, we are
politicians.
Are you not scared that the departure
of the aggrieved PDP governors along with some other notable members
into the opposition party will weaken your party?
You see, this issue is far beyond mere
generalisation or sentiment. The truth is that even if a single one
card-carrying member of a political party decides to team up with
another rival political party, it is a loss. However, the consolation is
that consultations are still ongoing and you cannot rule out the
possibility of reconciliation. The mistake some people are making is
that they think that the issue at stake is personal. It is not so, all
the issues are about the Nigerian nation, the survival of democracy and
the rule of law.
It is not possible for everyone to keep
quiet and watch while the party is being run aground through some
actions that are contrary to the basic tenets of democracy.
With this development, how can you assess the present and future of the PDP?
Like I said, even with the purported
defection of some notable members of the party and governors to the
opposition party, I have the strong feeling that true reconciliation can
still be achieved.
It is not possible to under-rate the
strength of the PDP even without some governors and others. PDP is the
ruling party; still with the majority of states in the federation.
As things stand today, the PDP still
remains the dominant party with clear majority. This is because no one
has yet to categorically declare that they have defected to another
political party. What we hear is that some people are merging.
Besides, I said you cannot foreclose
reconciliation. Those who have left can still come back. There is
nothing permanent in this world, not even life itself is permanent. What
is permanent is change.
Sources: Punchng
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