Obianuju Kanu-Ogoko Responds to Damagun as Nigerians Anticipate PDP’s Revival and Leadership

REPONSE TO PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN’S SPEECH AT THE INAGURATION OF PDP’S RECONCILIATION AND DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Dear Hon. Chairman Damagun,

I appreciate the sentiments you expressed during the inauguration of the PDP Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee on August 21, 2024.

It is evident that you seek to guide our party towards healing, forgiveness, fairness and understanding. These are indeed noble goals that resonate deeply with the ideals of any progressive institution. However, I must take this opportunity to emphasize that while these virtues are vital, the foundation of any successful organization, especially a political party, must rest on order, discipline, strict adherence to rules and regulations, accountability and transparency. Furthermore, it is imperative that in the future, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are individuals whose loyalty to the party is beyond question. They must be people who prioritize the party’s interests above all else, especially in the face of external pressures.

Your call for forgiveness and fairness is commendable, but the party of our dreams requires more than just these virtues. It demands a structure where every action is visibly guided by principles that ensure the party remains strong, united and capable of leading effectively. The reality is that a political party cannot function optimally if the mechanisms that govern it are not enforced with the necessary rigor and commitment.

You mentioned that party members should avoid falling into the trap of negativity and should speak positively about our collective future. I agree that positivity is crucial, but it must be underpinned by a willingness to acknowledge and address the underlying issues that have caused discord. The preponderance of PDP members voicing concerns cannot all be dismissed as misguided or malicious . To do so, is to live in autocratic denial, and that is detrimental to the growth and unity of the party.

As you rightly pointed out, no institution is perfect and the PDP is no exception, We acknowledge with gratitude, the feats achieved by your National Working Committee; however, the failures outweigh them. These failures cannot be ignored. The challenges we face today are not solely due to external factors but also due to internal lapses that have been left unchecked most emanating from activities of your led NWC. Some of the issues pointed out by party members include:

• Non-existent opposition engagement:

The PDP’s role as a formidable opposition has diminished to abysmal levels due to the lack of strategic engagement and effective challenge to the ruling party.

• Compromised members of the NWC: Allegations of bribery and compromised decisions have created a trust deficit within the party, leading to widespread disaffection among genuine party members.
• Converting the party to favor non-party members: There is growing concern that the party is being co-opted to serve the interests of wealthy individuals who are not genuinely invested in the PDP’s core values.
• Holding down the party to favor the ruling APC:

The perception that some NWC members are more aligned with the interests of the ruling APC than with the PDP’s goals has caused significant disillusionment.

These issues are at the crux of the dissatisfaction among genuine party members and are the primary reasons why you are being asked to resign. It is crucial that we do not sugarcoat these germane issues, as doing so would only exacerbate the existing discontent within the party.

In your speech, you emphasized the need for reconciliation and urged all party members to support the committees’ efforts. While this is a positive step, it is crucial that the NWC also introspect on its role in the current state of affairs. Acknowledging the compromised nature of some actions and taking corrective measures is not a sign of weakness but of leadership strength.

As you aptly noted, Hon. Chairman, “the party will outlive all of us,” but this will only be possible if we build a legacy based on integrity and accountability.

Finally, I urge you, Hon. Chairman, to consider the advice of Elder Edwin Clark not as a threat but as a valuable perspective on how we can strengthen our party. His wisdom, born of years of experience, should guide us in making decisions that will ensure the PDP remains a formidable force in Nigerian politics.

Let us, therefore, move forward with a renewed commitment not just to heal but to rebuild the party on principles and a foundation that will stand the test of time. Nigerians eagerly await PDP’s rebirth and leadership .

Yours sincerely,
OBIANUJU KANU-OGOKO