Ogbonna Nwuke, a former member of the House of Representatives, has praised Senator Walid Jibrin, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), for his remarks regarding the party’s leadership structure. In an interview on a Channels Television program, Jibrin pointed out that the leadership positions within the PDP are predominantly held by Northerners. He emphasized that it would be inappropriate for the North to retain the roles of the party’s presidential candidate, the National Chairman, and the BoT chairman ahead of the 2023 elections.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Jibrin reaffirmed his position, asserting that the PDP is not a sectional party but is embraced by all Nigerians. Nwuke, a supporter of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, responded to Jibrin’s comments in an interview with The Punch, commending him for his principled stance on the PDP leadership structure. The former Rivers Commissioner for Information expressed that Jibrin deserves recognition from both party members and Nigerians for his commitment to truth.
Nwuke stated, “I think the chairman of the BoT deserves the appreciation of all Nigerians, particularly those of us who are in the PDP. He has stuck by the truth since this crisis started. Truly, he has turned out to be the conscience of our great party.” He highlighted that Jibrin’s acknowledgment of the inappropriateness of the North holding all key positions reflects his patriotism. According to Nwuke, those advocating for justice, fairness, and equity will remember Jibrin’s contributions.
Furthermore, Nwuke referenced the PDP constitution, which stipulates that the party chairmanship and the presidential ticket cannot be concentrated in one geographical zone. He pointed out that Article 7, subsection 3(c) underscores this principle, which has historically been a cornerstone of power-sharing within the PDP. Nwuke recalled that prior to the National Convention, all positions in the South were allocated to the North, while those held in the North were transferred to the South. He noted that the presidency, however, did not shift to the South after the National Convention, arguing that, based on the PDP’s historical practices, the presidency should now reside in the South.
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