Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stakeholders across the North Central geopolitical zone have declared support for Nasarawa State to produce the next national Chairman of the party to complete the remaining tenure of Dr Iyiorchia Ayu. They believed that its only fair that Nasarawa State be allowed to complete the zone’s Chairmanship slot previously occupied by Benue’s Dr Ayu as a way of spreading mutual respect and promoting harmonious cohesion within the rank and file of the party.
Stakeholders are of the strong view that Nasarawa State which 2023 gubernatorial victory was unjustly snatched demonstrated strong support for the party and should be encouraged.
Rising from a joint meeting in Abuja at the weekend, a group of eminent stakeholders across the six north central states and the FCT are of the opinion that the remaining tenure of Dr Ayu be completed by Nasarawa State.
In a statement on behalf of the north central group led by Hon Samson Paul, the stakeholders are of the view that,” Nasarawa state has shown excellent loyalty and goodwill towards the PDP and the people are ready and willing to go the extra mile in support of the party. Look at the magic performance of the party in the last gubernatorial elevtions where it won and defeated the ruling Apc handsdown, but denied the victory.
In addition, only Nasarawa state and Niger are yet to produce the national Chairmanship within the zone and its only proper that the state be considered in the spirit of fairness. Plateau started with the late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar, Benue had Chief Audu Ogbeh and then Sen Barnabas Gemade. Kwara state produced Kawu Baraje who was elevated from being national secretary to Chairmanship position. Kogi state produced the late Ahmadu Ali. Even though Niger state did not occupy the Chairmanship position but held many strategic positions within the National Working Committee, NWC plus the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, BOT in the person of Prof Jerry Gana”.
The group call on the elders from the zone to rally round Nasarawa State to ensure it nominates a capable ha d that will take over from where Dr Ayu stopped.
” Its unfortunate that Benue State is warming up again after the removal of Ayu. The spirit of give and take be encouraged among us as a way of giving all of stakeholders in the zone a sense of belonging and pride in the party. Look at the performance of Nasarawa state in the last election. Look at the level of acceptability of the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Rt Hon Dr Davematics Emmanuel Umbugadu and how the party in the state, being in the opposition in the last 12 years to strike a huge surprise and defeated the ruling Apc in government.
Just recent, the state has to sacrifice the position of the BOT chairmanship to the South East to allow Benue bring in Ayu as the national chairman. The state has not been compensated and its expected that the marginalisation be addressed with the chairmanship slot be given to it. It will be an act of insensitivity and injustice to allow the same Benue which Nasarawa state sacrificed the BOT position to, to seek to vie for the chairmanship position again. We urge party faithfuls across the six geopolitical zones to critically look into this and ensure that justice is done and served.
The party should be fair to Nasarawa State by allowing it to produce the leadership to also have a strong sense of belonging like other states in the north central axis. Benue state which is showing interest again must be told in clear terms that the party belongs to everyone and the chairmanship position is not its birth right. We must respect each other as a party and not seek to dominate others. We are all equal and therefore we should exhibit the reciprocal spirit of give and take.
Nasarawa state has capable hands that can provide digital leadership for the party at a time like this. The north central is known for its expertise in building consensus and therefore, it should rally round Nasarawa state to complete Ayu’s tenure. It will be abnormal for Benue state to seek to occupy the seat again after the exit of Ayu when Nasarawa State has sacrificed its illustrious son as the BOT chair.
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