As things have began to take proper shape as the God of Justice has taken over the battle to restore the stolen mandate of the good people of Kogi State, there is no better time for our great party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to swiftly begin a clean-up and/ or internal purging in Kogi State than now. This becomes very pertinent, at this point, to enable the party achieve genuine bonding among members in order to completely weather the opposition storm.
In the build up to the November 16, 2019 Governorship Election in Kogi State, so much efforts were frustrated through unchecked anti-party activities. Anti-party practices are deadly and dangerous political sins that frustrate genuine efforts by genuine members and executives. As such, it is a trespass that should not be overlooked or forgiven. It eats deep into the fabrics of a political party and collapses it when least expected.
While concerted efforts from committed PDP National Executives down to the grassroot chieftains brought the party the undeniable victory in the Kogi State governorship election, the hide and seek or pinch and knife stabbing through anti-party activities by certain members of the party affected the party in no small measure. No party romances with cases of anti-party issues and survive.
I want to particularly call the attention of the National Publicity Secretary of our great party, Kola Ologbondiyan to urgently wade in with the sole purpose of cleaning up the PDP in Kogi State.
Even while the case is in court, some party leaders in the State were still doing everything possible to frustrate and thwart the struggle to reclaim the mandate that was freely given to Engr. Musa Wada by the good people of Kogi State. This is sad. The good people of Kogi State lost so many souls in the course of the battle for justice in the last election.
Should we fold our hands and allow the blood of Umoru General who was murdered in Abocho or the burning to death of Mrs. Acheju Abu and others who were murdered in cold blood in vain?
The time to act is now.
The PDP needs urgent and rigorous internal purging as members are looking forward to the party to rescue the State and the nation from the scourge of abject poverty, absolute corruption, insecurity and government ineffectiveness.
We can no longer understand what seems like a delay on the part of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party in serving justice to the erring leaders and those who think they are above the party’s laid down rules and regulations. PDP therefore, needs no wasting of time in enforcing Section 58 (1) e, f, g, h of the party’s Constitution.
For those people directly or indirectly involved in anti-party activities, I also urge the party to exercise section 29 (2) a, b and c, and invoke Section 59 (1) d of the amended constitution in order to purge the Kogi State chapter of the party.
What transpired in Osun State is still fresh in our memories. The party must, at all times, stand to protect herself against attempts to thwart her efforts through anti- party activities. Kogi PDP needs urgent clean up, re-unification and unity for stronger bond.
In the same vein, as we expect the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retrace her steps and adhere strictly to the judgement given by the Appeal Court and declare Engr. Musa Wada of PDP winner of the Kogi State Governorship Election, I want to say that history will always remember all the executives whose hands were genuinely on the deck to liberate Kogi State from the shackles of oppressors and self- centered individuals milking the State and sucking every single blood in her veins.
The PDP has fought a good fight thus far and all the noble fighters for this collective course are on record for posterity. I want to emphatically appreciate the National Executives and all the State chieftains of the party who worked assiduously to achieve this feat and I pray that this clean-up begins soonest.
Truly, power belongs to the people!
– Usman Okai Austin
PDP Chieftain, Kogi State.
