The prolonged dispute between former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has unsettled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State.
A crack emerged among the Plateau PDP stakeholders after former Governor Senator Jonah Jang, pro-Wike group, called on PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to resign and relinquish the position to the South for truth and fairness ahead of the 2023 election.
However, former Secretary to Plateau State Government Prof Shedrach Best, the pro-Atiku group, criticised Jang for calling for the resignation of Ayu.
Best, in a statement, said: “The call by Senator Jang was his personal opinion and not that of the party stakeholders.”
In another briefing in Jos, Jang explained that his call for Ayu’s resignation was to ensure truth and justice, the basic principles on which the PDP was founded.
Speaking with journalists on behalf of Jang, Garuba Clinton, Media consultant to the former governor said :‘My attention has been drawn to a publication purportedly issued by a certain unknown group dubbed Plateau for Atiku group and signed by its Protem Secretary, Prof. Shedrack Best.
“The group in the said publication alleged that Plateau PDP stakeholders disowned Sen (Dr) Jonah David Jang for asking the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to resign.
“Perhaps it is important to school the said group, which has arrogated to itself the noble position of stakeholders, which it indeed is not, of the dynamics of the politics of the PDP to which they are latter-day entrants. They may have been carried away by blind followership to know that Sen. Jang and the other founding fathers of the PDP built it on the principles of justice, equity and fairness and it is these principles that held the party to where it is today.
“Subverting the constitution of the party long-held tradition of inclusiveness is a sure way to derail the party from getting back to its winning ways. Senator Jang and the real stakeholders in the party are not surprised that such a publication is authored by Prof. Shedrack Best who is still aggrieved and sulking over his loss in the recently held primaries of the PDP in Plateau State.
“He needs to let go of the bitterness against Jang as he is not responsible for his loss, as the stakeholders agreed then that, the delegates voted for aspirants and only one winner could emerge.
“It is true that Senator Jang and other prominent members of the party have been with Governor Nyesom Wike in the fight to entrench truth, equity and the need to give all members a sense of belonging and they have also made it clear that it is for the purpose of moving the party forward and leading it to victory at the polls.
“Those who have followed Jang closely will attest to the consistent history of Jang as it relates to truth and fairness , such that as a sitting Governor, he once challenged a sitting President of Nigeria who was also a member of same political party ( PDP) in court.
“Prof. Best of all people should know that in pursuit of truth , Jang is always prepared to tow the lonely path. Several calls have been made to the party to salvage the situation and resolve the issues arising from the outcome of the presidential primaries but it seems all call fell on deaf ears.
“Instead of reinforcing the call on the leadership of the party to do the right thing, it is unfortunate that the so-called unknown stakeholders are seeking for relevance by using the name of Senator Jang as a launching path. They could go ahead with supporting former Vice President Atiku Abubaker without dragging Senator Jang into their journey to infamy.
“They should make no mistake either, about the fact that, Senator Jonah Jang does not have anything personal against His Excellency , Atiku Abubakar as those in this journey of infamy will recall that in 2019 , mobilized his personal resources in support of Atiku despite the fact funds made available for the campaigns was in an attempt to ridicule Jang sent to the wrong persons .
“Former Governor Jang has decided to go with the group that believes in the truth and is not surprised that this group of “stakeholders” is not in agreement with the path he has chosen. He did not envisage that everyone will agree with him but he is working based on his conviction that the truth must be told in the interest of the party.”
