A group in the Ekiti State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Ekiti PDP Reformers Forum, has advised President Goodluck Jonathan to digest and act on the serious national issues contained in the letter written to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo rather than vilifying him.The group, which said that the message was more important than the messenger, faulted critics of the letter, saying they failed to realise that national interest was far more important than personal and parochial interests.In a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Ado Ekiti, the forum also appealed to PDP leaders, including President Jonathan “to urgently take steps to rekindle the dimming hope of our party. We must not allow our party to die or allow an unserious opposition to take over.”Describing the opposition as “angry politicians that have nothing to offer the country,” the forum, in the communiqué signed by its leaders: Chief Dapo Alibaloye (Chairman); Dr Albert Jide Akinyemi (Vice- Chairman); Engineer Banji Olowofela (Organising Secretary); Engineer Femi Adeniyi (Secretary); and Hon Justice Edward Ojuolape (Patron); stated that “the pertinent question to ask is whether the issues raised in the letter are true or notIt said: “Former President Obasanjo raised a number of issues ranging from security, corruption in government circles, ethnic consideration and consequent lopsidedness in appointment into high offices in the land, the state of affairs of the PDP, among others”.It said that it naturally followed that the issues, if true, should be taken one by one for analysis and “if not true, then the Presidency should tell the nation the true position of things.”The forum added that there have been allegations and counter-allegations over malfeasance in public office, adding: “Despite the huge sum of money given to some people to protect the nation’s oil pipelines in the South-South region, has there been reduction in oil theft? The nation is reportedly losing almost one-third of oil production, and in essence, oil revenue, to oil theft. Is it true that Aviation Minister, Mrs Stella Oduah, is untouchable? Is it true that the EFCC is broke?”Saying that the issue of national security raised by the former president was from a vantage position, the forum added that Obasanjo “has no reason to talk carelessly and he has never been frivolous. Since the country’s independence, our collective security as a nation has never been challenged like this.“As for our party, the PDP, is it not an open secret that the Presidency supported other parties’ candidates in elections in some states? If those politicians supported by our leaders feel strongly attached to the PDP or if our leaders feel such candidates could be worked with, why not lure them to come over to the PDP? That will not only make our party win such elections, it will also make the party
stronger.“Our party is sick and sinking, the rate at which members are defecting from the party, of recent, is alarming. We must stem the tide. Now, our party is on the brink of losing its majority in the National Assembly as a result of defection of lawmakers elected on the platform of our party,” the forum said.While acknowledging Jonathan’s constitutional right to seek re-election, the forum noted that the President, as the PDP leader, and his aides must work selflessly to unite the party first, before there could be the possibility of the party winning any poll.The Forum expressed the confidence in the ability of PDP leadership to amicably resolve the crisis rocking the party, but cautioned that self-serving attitude to issues would not do the party any good.
by ABIODUN NEJO
