President Jonathan, PDP Members Inaugurate New Chairman Adamu Mu'azu
Apparently aware that frictions between the former chairmen and their state governors was usually responsible for the constant rift, Muazu promised not to tamper with the governors structure in their states.
The former Governor of Bauchi State made the speech on Monday, at his inauguration ceremony at the party's headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
After a unanimous vote by party leaders, the deputy Chair of the PPD Uche Secondus said, "Today Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu is now appointed as chairman of our party."
Mr. Mu'azu thanked the incumbent Governor of Bauchi State Isa Yuguda for nominating him as the National Chairman, saying it was "rare" in the history of the PDP.
He apparently hinted previous disagreements between the former Chairman Bamanga Tukur (who was not present at the venue) and state governors, addressing them, "I won't tamper with your structure in your states."
He pleaded with the governors "to allow the [state] chairmen of the PDP to register everyone interested in joining the party in their states."
He also admitted that the party is facing challenges, but stressed that this is normal for large parties:
"In the last few months, the PDP has occupied front pages of our newspapers with negative screaming headlines. Most political analysts predicted that the end of the gains has come.
"Over the years, the PDP has developed its home front internal conflict resolution mechanism. So while false prophets were professing its collapse, insiders knew that the crisis is a storm in a tea-cup. Today, we have proven to the whole world that we had an instant cure for what looked like a terminal disease.
"There is no doubt that all as not been well with our party. However, the crisis that has rocked the party is a common phenomenon with large parties.
"I have helplessly watched the dwindling fortunes of our party from 2003 to date. From controlling a record of 28 states in 1999 down to 23 currently. This situation is unacceptable and must change."
Mr. Mu'azu will remain in the chair until the PDP convention which is expected to take place within 2-3 months. Party members will then elect a long-term chair.
See the photos from the inauguration below
President Jonathan, Others React
President Goodluck Jonathan, who spoke last, commended Governor Yuguda for agreeing to work with Mr. Mu'azu. The President said he used to believe it was better to have a National Chairman of the party from a zone where it did not have many governors.
"We needed someone who can build the party, who can reach out to the people and be friendly with them; someone who can bring the party together.
"A lot of things has been said about you [Mu'azu]. You don't have tribal sentiments and you are not a slave to your tribe. We need somebody who can build the party and not fighting and fighting every time."
The President maintained that the PDP lost elections in some states due to the inability of local leaders to settle their rifts.
"We are happy that your governor was the one who moved the motion for your nomination. Our governors don't want their states to produce the chairman. We even thought of taking the office to a state without a governor from our party. But we are happy that history has been made."
Earlier, Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio had said that the President should lead the party at the national level while the governors take charge at the state level. He decried the fact of certain people "blackmailing" the governors.
"You must beware of banana peel," Mr. Akpabio warned. "We agree that crises have always been the main problems between the PDP executives and governors."
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, said the board would make sure that Mu'azu succeeded in fulfilling his new duties.
"I want to commend the Bauchi State governor. He has demonstrated a high level of maturity with his action, and I know that the whole PDP in the state will work together for the success of the party," Chief Anenih said.
"For the BoT, we want to assure that we would work with you and offer credible advice in order to make sure that you succeed in your work."
Others present at the event were the Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Senate President David Mark, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Emeka Ihedioha. Some members of the PDP BoT and former national chairmen of the party were also in attendance.
Source: Legit.ng
