By Gloria Emmanuel The newly appointed National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Modu-Sheriff has been asked to resign.
A group of party chieftains under the aegis of PDP Rescue Group made the call at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.
The group led by one of the contestants for the chairmanship, Wilberforce Juta, posited that Sheriff is not a man of impeccable character capable of lifting the party from its present state of doldrums.
Other prominent members of the group area former senate president, Adolphus Wabara and former Deputy Governor of Sokoto state, Mukhtar Shagari, who doubles as the secretary.
Juta told newsmen, “Most PDP members did not see in Sheriff a model of impeccable integrity that the party badly needed to lead it at this critical moment.
“We are upset by the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in appointing Ali Modu-Sheriff as national chairman.
“We are convinced that this decision is against the will and wish of the generality of members. We know for a fact the North-East Zonal wing, having been directed by the National Caucus of the party to forward nominees from the zone, did not nominate Modu-Sheriff for the position of national chairman.
“Consequently, Modu-Sheriff should do the needful by stepping down honourably as it is evident that party members nationwide have overwhelmingly rejected him.
“Having the PDP destroyed by acts of error of judgment as being witnessed now is denying Nigeria of a strong opposition party that is badly needed if Nigeria’s democracy is to be strengthened and all tendencies toward civilian dictatorship checked.
“The crisis must challenge all party members to action to halt the party from further drift. The plan of PDP Rescue Group is to mobilise party members and leaders to help attain this noble goal.
“It is, therefore, critical if the PDP must come back to national reckoning, that we remodel its leadership on the platform of honesty as required by the party manifesto.
“It is our considered view that we endeavour to elect only those with discernible traits.
“Under no guise should the tenure of the current leadership of the party be extended, if we must make the needed fresh beginning.”
