…Adeniran, Daniel too

Even though the zoning committee set up by the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to submit its report, the race for the party’s topmost position has begun. The committee, which has Governors David Umahi (Ebonyi) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) as co-chairmen, was inaugurated last Friday and was given one week to complete its assignment.

Those jostling for the position are from South- West and South-South. They include two former Deputy National Chairmen, Chief Bode George and Prince Uche Secondus; former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran and Chairman Emeritus of Daar Communications Plc., Chief Raymond Dokpesi. Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has also shown interest in the PDP chairmanship.

Chairman of the caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, while inaugurating the committee, charged the members not to limit the search for the next national chairman of the PDP to one particular zone in the South to avoid the mistake made by the previous committee that led to the present leadership crisis in the party.

It will be recalled that the former zoning committee, headed by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, had zoned the chairmanship to the North-East, which led to the adoption of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff by people of the zone as sole chairmanship candidate.

PDP has fixed August 17 for the national convention, which is again scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Bode George confirmed his ambition to CEOAFRICA source , if it is zoned to South-West. The former Deputy National Chairman believes he has the experience given the past positions he held in PDP in the past.

“If it is given to South- West, I will give it a shot. When you have a track record, the track record of service, the track record of loyalty, the track record of commitment, the track record of dedication, you can go and check it. “I have been the National Vice Chairman (South-West), Deputy National Chairman. I want to maintain party discipline,” he said.

Secondus could not be reached, but a source said he is interested in PDP chairmanship if it is zoned to South-South. “He wants to run and most of the governors are backing him, for institutional memory,” he said. Dokpesi could not be reached at press time, but his campaign organisation was quoted to have said the media owner will commence his campaign this week by first seeking “the blessing of his royal father, the Okumagbe of Weppa-Wanno Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, George Eghabor before embarking on the official tour.”

“It is in furtherance of my democratic ideals that returning power to the people must first begin with discussions with the people,” his campaign group said. Dokpesi will flag off his campaign in Benin City, Edo State. According to the campaign organisation, the purpose of the tour is to personally meet with, listen to and address all the delegates of the party who will be voting at the National Convention slated for August 17 in Port Harcourt.

“High Chief Dokpesi, as a point of principle, believes that it is only through consultations with all stakeholders and delegates of the party that a national leader who will understand and appreciate the pains and yearnings of the party members across the nation can emerge,” If experience is anything to go by, the contest will be between George and Secondus who had held number two positions in the party leadership before. But Adeniran and Dokpesi might spring surprises and upset the apple’s cart.

Already, Dokpesi has stepped up his campaign and has deployed his media organisation for that purpose. Dokpesi has been nursing the ambition since last year and has hosted series of meetings at his Kpadoma Hill Abuja residence.

At a point, he was accused by the former National Working Committee (NWC) of running a parallel party administration. Although he was arrested and detained last year by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly receiving N2.1 billion from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) from the controversial $2.1 billion arms deal, the media mogul said he is not deterred by this case, which is still pending in court.

Adeniran was appointed co-coordinator of Concerned PDP Stakeholders’ Forum led by Professor Jerry Gana. He was not known to be nursing chairmanship ambition before now. The former Education Minister also served as deputy director general of the 2015 PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation. Among those who have so far indicated interest for the party’s number one job, Adeniran is the only one without blemish. He is believed to be enjoying the support of former PDP Ministers’ Forum and the Stakeholders’ Forum.

Secondus is enjoying the support of some PDP stakeholders because of his experience in party administration. He served as two-term PDP chairman in Rivers State. He was also National Organising Secretary (NOS) before his elevation in 2013 as deputy national chairman.

Secondus also has age on his side, which is the attraction of some PDP governors. He was arrested early in the year by the EFCC in connection with some vehicles donated to the party by an oil magnet, Jide Omokare. He has since obtained a N10 million judgement against the anti-corruption agency for illegal arrest and detention.

The fear, however, is that Secondus could easily be manipulated by the governors. There have been calls for the party to be returned to the people, to prevent it from being hijacked by the governors. George is one of the most loyal and dedicated members of the PDP. Despite his travails, he has remained committed to the ideals of the party.

A former PDP national officer told New Telegraph: “I am supporting Bode George as old party member. He is a former military man with a lot of contacts.” George is strong willed. Those rooting for him believe he is needed in PDP this time, especially now that the party is no longer in government. They believe that if George is at the helm of affairs in the party, the leadership crisis would have long been settled.