The Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) plateau State has
finally resigned his position as the chairman of the party in the state
following unresolved crisis that has rocked the party for close to a
year now for allege misappropriation of funds.
As the embattled Chairman Hon .Damishi arrived at the decision of
resigning to allow the state chapter of PDP that had been literally
stagnant for the past eight months following the crisis to start moving
again.
Hon. Damishi Sango make the revelation in a farewell press conference
held at the party secretariat along Yakubu Gowon Way in Jos , the
plateau state capital.
Sango who is relinquishing the party leadership for his Deputy Hon.
Amos Gombi , though in Acting capacity as the chairman, said,
“April this year,2019,the state chapter of our great party has been
rocked by a tsunami-like crisis that has threatened its very existence
as one united political party. ”
“This followed my purported suspension along with my Deputy ,
respectively, by some members of the executive committee on trumped up
allegations of mismanaging funds meant for the party’s logistics
arrangements in the 2019 presidential election in the State”.
The former minister of Sports said following the unfortunate
incident, determined to resolve the crisis and get the Chapter moving
again, the national leadership of the Party, led by Prince Uche
Secondus, set a three-man committee, under the chairmanship of Senator
David Mark, to look into the said allegations and advise it
accordingly.”
“The Senator Mark-led committee swung into action immediately, having
an interface with individuals and different stakeholder groups within
the Party in the State, including Senators Ibrahim Mantu, Jonah Jang and
Jeremiah Useni; former Speakers of the State House of Assembly; sitting
members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly.”
” The three wise persons, after a painstaking exercise, dutifully
submitted their report to the National Working Committee (NWC). On
receipt of the report, an interactive meeting between the NWC and
selected stakeholders from the state was convened at the Legacy House,
Abuja by the National Chairman.”
At that August meeting, the National Chairman communicated the following, which were adopted as resolutions:
He however said the Senator Mark led Committee did not find me guilty
of any financial impropriety, and so I was exonerated of all
allegations against me;
In Pursuant to my being exonerated, the group of sixteen executive
committee members should write to the NWC, withdrawing their
allegations;
” Upon the withdrawal of the allegations, in consideration of the
fact that there’s bad blood between me and most of my colleagues in the
executive committee, particularly the group of sixteen, and to pave way
for peace in the State Chapter, I should step aside as Chairman; and in
line with provisions of the party’s constitution, my Deputy, Hon. Amos
Gombi shall be Acting Chairman.”
“The group of sixteen have written to the NWC as resolved, I have
been communicated by the NWC accordingly and I have also written to the
NWC; the sequence of events is now complete,I am formally resigning my
position as the State Chairman of our great Party.”
“I however express my sincere gratitude to the PDP family in the State for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity.”
Sango who held sway as the chairman of PDP for three years said he
has not one day take the party and position as chairman for granted.
“I would like to place on record my gratitude to the national
leadership of the Party for the cooperation I received in my official
capacity as State Chairman, for standing by me at my most difficult
moments, and for the amicable resolution of the crisis that tended to
destroy all that we had laboured to put in place in the last three
years.”
He advised the incoming excos to sustain not to tinker with the
agreed zoning formula adopted by the party that has bring peace and
harmony into the party.
“Hope that we deepen this understanding as we put our house in order
and prepare for subsequent elections; and came up with a framework that
saw us conduct one of the most transparent gubernatorial primary
elections in our twenty-one years of practicing democracy in the State”.
” I cannot leave the stage without drawing our attention to some
developments that have remained pervasive in the last twenty years in
the life of our great Party in the State.”
The out going chairman decry the leadership crisis that had been the problem of the party right from time in the state.
“Although Plateau State is the birthplace of our great Party, its
leadership, especially the tenure of the Chairman, has always been
dictated by the whims and caprices of some forces. ”
“It is on record, and I stand to be corrected, that apart from Chief
Raymond Dabo who acted as State Chairman after the exit of Dr. Haruna
Dabin, no other was allowed to serve out his term.”
” The self-serving individuals have over the years, through their
activities, hindered the optimal functioning of the state leadership,
consequently leaving in its trail mistrust among the ranks, and ending
up with a factionalized team “.
“My resignation today is a product of such activities of forces that
usually feel that the leadership of the Party is there to do their
bidding, even at the expense of majority considerations.”
Advice any person in the party seeking any elected positions to be dedicated to the party,
“Let me use this opportunity to specially speak to “those of you who
may wish to contest certain offices/positions in the future. I have
noticed over the years that there is always a tendency of creating
confusion within the Party, or outright detection when things don’t go
our way, even when primary elections are adjudged free, fair and
transparent. Let’s resolve to always join hands with winners in greater
interest of the Party.
” It is my earnest prayer that my exit today shall cause us to
resolve that never again shall we allow narrow-focused personal or group
interests to determine the tenure of elected leaders of our Party. We
cannot afford to have such forced exits albeit through trumped up
allegations, like in my own case to continue as a common feature of our
journey”.
“As I draw this press conference to a close, I would like to, on
behalf of my colleagues, I extend our depth of gratitude to the
following individuals and groups their support and contributions of all
forms to making the Party in the State to remain vibrant in spite of
being in the opposition:”
Sen. Jeremiah Useni, our candidate and leader of the Party, for
allowing us lean on his broad shoulders; he has, amongst other things,
including the welfare of our support staff, ensured that we continue to
operate from this present party secretariat Yakubu Gowon Way.
” He has also remained resolute in the defense of democracy by
encouraging our team of lawyers to continue the search for the stolen
mandate given him by the Plateau electorate.
” Our esteemed Members of the Board of Trustees from the State,
Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jonah Jang and Ambassador Sir, Fidelis
Tapgun, for allowing us leverage on their goodwill at all times;
” Members of the National Assembly, sitting and past, Senator Istifanus I. Gang, Hon. Beni Lar, Hon. Solomon Maren, Hon.John-Bull Shekarau, Hon. Timothy Golu, Hon. Simon Mwadkwon and Hon. Musa Bagos for their critical interventions to the State Chapter”.
“I am particularly thankful to my Deputy Hon. Amos Gombi who did not
only stand with me, but demonstrated loyalty, while my travails lasted.
“I hold no grudges against those who felt and acted otherwise”.
“As I bow out today, feeling fulfilled, and having been cleared of
the trumped up allegations, I wish to make a solemn declaration,that as a
founding member of this great Party and a former minister of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will continue to avail the Party of my
services at all levels and at all times. My doors shall remain wide open
to all of you.”
Sango appeal to all to forgive one another, let go of sad chapters of
the past , leave yesterday behind, and forge a partnership based on the
ideals of this great Party.
I call on those I am leaving behind in the Executive Committee and
other organs of the party to work in harmony with Hon. Amos Gombi, the
incoming Acting chairman as the Party finds its footing once more.
“I urge the party faithful in the state to stand with our candidate
and leader, and the Party as we go the last step to the Supreme Court in
search of the mandate freely given to us by the good people of Plateau
State”.