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| Senator Danladi Sankara |
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.
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