OLD WINE IN NEW WINESKINS : 12 PDP governors may join new party

About 12 governors, who are members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, may join the newly formed political party, All Progressive Congress.

Our correspondent gathered that the governors were already talking with the leaders of the newly formed political party.

Investigations further showed that some of the governors were already thinking of how to leave the party and join the newly formed APC.

The new party was formed by the merging of the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party, All Progressive Grand Alliance and Congress for Progressive Change.

It was gathered that some other minor political parties had also discussed with the newly former political party.

Sources close the PDP said the party was already fidgeting that some of its governors and lawmakers could leave the party.

A member of the National Working Committee of the PDP, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the leadership of the party and the Presidency were afraid that their governors could abandon the umbrella.

Umbrella is the symbol of the PDP.

He said behind the show of ‘we don’t care’ by the party’s leadership, there was concealment of fear, as the party was afraid that the current crisis rocking the party could consume it and make it a minority party in the future.

He said, “The party’s leadership is afraid. I must tell you. We are not convenient at all because the formation of the party is coming at a time we are having problems in our party.

“Don’t forget that the NWC is divided. The governors are angry. We cannot hold National Executive Committee meeting. We are even finding it difficult to elect the chairman of our Board of Trustees.

“We are also having financial problems in the party as the governors have refused to fund us the way they used to do before the crisis started.

“So, if anyone is telling you that we are at peace and are not worried as a result of the formation of the party, such a person is being economical with the truth.”

The source also added that though the party is convenient with the attitude of his members in the Senate, the same thing could not be said of the House of Representatives.

“We know that the opposition is in control of the House, because though the Speaker, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal belongs to our party, he is more popular among the opposition political parties,” the NWC member said regrettably.

Among governors touted that could leave the party, four are from the North-West, three from the North-East, two from the South-South and three from the North-Central.

Our correspondent further gathered that these governors, especially those from the North, would move if it was clear that President Goodluck Jonathan would run for a second term.

“His second term ambition, if he declares it, will quicken the death of this party,” a source close to the party said.

Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, told our correspondent that that would not happen.

He said he was sure that none of the governors would leave the ruling party and join the opposition, whose future he said was not known.

Metuh said, “Definitely, such will never happen. We are not afraid of the newly formed party. Our governors are too committed to the PDP to join the APC.

“You cannot leave the ruling party to join an opposition party, whose future you cannot even tell. It has never happened in the history of this democracy for the PDP to lose any of its governors to the opposition.

“Yes, it is agreed that the party is having some challenges, but we are managing the situation. When other parties had challenges, we knew how they handled them.

“We are therefore not afraid that some of our governors could leave the PDP and join the APC.”

Also, the spokesperson for the CPC, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, told our correspondent that the APC would gladly welcome the PDP governors, adding that it was high time the governors abandoned what he called the “torn umbrella, which can no longer stop the rain.”

Fashakin said, “It is not impossible for the governors to join us. The governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, just said today (Thursday) that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) remains his leader and that he is happy at the birth of APC.

“APC is a success story that has come to stay. The governor also added that the formation of the new party would stop all riffraffs from contesting the presidency.

“So, even if all the governors of the PDP want to come, they are welcome. APC is a party with large heart.”