The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum, has warned those he described as being used by the devil to destroy the party to know that the law of karma is real and alive.
Damagum stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a gathering of the Forum of State PDP Chairmen, who were in Abuja to pledge support for his leadership of the party.
Addressing the State Chairmen, Damagum said, “I want to use this opportunity to call on our colleagues that the devil is using, to see wisdom in casting the devil in them because treachery, especially to an institution that has made you what you are today, will not heal.
“You may be lucky now, but there is the law of karma. What goes around comes around. I think it is not too late to see the need to do justice to this party that has given you all. Sometimes, when I resort to the ways of God, people think it is a weakness.
“We exist because God exists. We owe everything that we do to Him. He is watching us. He will judge us by our behaviour. I will leave this on this note. They say a word is enough for the wise.”
Damagum laughed off insinuations in some quarters that the PDP is gasping for breath, saying, “People are saying the PDP is dead. Today, in Nigeria, the story is about the PDP. You don’t tell a story of something that does not exist.
“This is an attestation that the PDP is alive. The PDP is ready. The PDP is a vehicle that knows how to navigate the challenges within our fold and also solve the challenges that are bedevilling us in this country.
“I also want to use this opportunity to call on all that matters in this country to know that every citizen of this country has a right to be. Every citizen of this country has a right to aspire, has a right to explore whatever way he feels he wants to exercise his right. To those who think humiliation, intimidation, and harassment will deter citizens, they are just jesters.
“This country belongs to all of us. We are law-abiding citizens. We will continue to pursue our dreams in a lawful manner. We will not be intimidated by anyone who feels that, because God has given him the opportunity, he can behave the way he likes. It is a temporary one. And one day, everyone who does what is not right will be at the front,” he added.
Earlier, in their communiqué, 29 State PDP Chairmen pledged their total support for the Damagum-led NWC.
Signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Tony Aziegbemi, and the Secretary, Edward Marsha, the communiqué also lauded Justice Akintola, saying his courage has paved the way for the PDP to go ahead with its planned convention.
“The Forum urges all delegates, as duly recognised and provided for in the PDP Constitution (2017 as amended), to begin preparations in earnest to participate in the convention and to elect credible, competent, and loyal men and women into the National Working Committee.
“The Forum commends the effective and collaborative leadership being provided by the National Working Committee under Ambassador Umar Damagum, the PDP Governors’ Forum under His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed, and the Board of Trustees (BOT) under His Excellency, Senator Adolphus Wabara. The Forum notes that this synergy has contributed immensely to stabilising and repositioning the Party,” the communiqué read in part.
It further called on the leadership of the party at the state level to apply sanctions to erring members in line with the provisions of the PDP Constitution.
“The Forum emphasises the critical importance of discipline within the party and calls on all state chapters not to hesitate in invoking the relevant provisions of the party Constitution to discipline erring members whose conduct undermines unity, cohesion, and the collective interest of the PDP,” it added.
The crisis rocking the party worsened last week following the suspension of the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, the National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, and the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, for alleged anti-party activities.
The three suspended National Working Committee members, who enjoy the support of the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, met after their suspension and announced the suspension of Damagum and other working committee members.
The Deputy National Chairman (North Central) of the party, Abdulrahman Mohammed, was announced by the Wike faction as the new Acting National Chairman of the PDP.
The crisis took a fresh turn on Monday as Mohammed, accompanied by a team of policemen, took over the party’s secretariat and urged members to join hands with him in taking the party to a new level.
Both parties are laying claim to the leadership of the party. While Damagum and his group are relying on the order of Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in planning for the November 15 and 16 convention of the party slated for Ibadan, Mohammed and his group have appealed the judgment, insisting that the convention will not hold.
