COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 2024/7TH Meeting @ GOVERNMENT HOUSE, JOS, PLATEAU STATE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024.

The meeting, held at the Plateau State Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos was attended by the principal organs of the party: l NWC, PDP-GF, BOT, NASS Forum, Former Governors Forum, Former Ministers' Forum and other leaders of the party.

Rising from the meeting, the organs of the party resolved as follows

1. The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance. 

2. The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

 

3. The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC latest by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party.  The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.

4. The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government. The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians. The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.

5. The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when in fact majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in Ondo Elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.

6. The Forum recognises the good work that the majority members of NASS is doing. NASS is therefore called upon to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally. 

7. The Forum commiserates with the Government and people of Plateau State on the recent Katako market fire incident which destroyed properties worth millions of Naira. The Forum also commiserates with the Government and people of Jigawa State on the recent tanker expulsion whereby scores of people lost their lives and several others were injured.

8. The Forum expresses its gratitude to the Government and People of Plateau State for not only hosting the meeting but extending to all the participants the hospitality for which Jos is reputed. In particular, the meeting commends the Government of the State for visible and laudable transformation in social services, tourism and transportation that have taken place and ensure all Nigerians to look forward, with GENUINE HOPE to the replication of this not only presently but after 2027 when the party would reclaim its rightful position in the Nigerian political scene.

Governors in Attendance

H.E. Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed  (Bauchi State) – Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum

H.E. Barr. Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State) – Host Governor

H.E. Dr. Agbu Kefas (Taraba State)

H.E. Rt. Hon. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri   (Adamawa State)

H.E Seyi Makinde  (Oyo State)

H.E. Dr. Dauda Lawal   (Zamfara State)

H.E. Sir Monday Onyeme (Deputy Governor, Delta State)

H.E. Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai (Deputy Governor, Enugu State)

Signed:

Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed 

Chairman – PDP Governors’ Forum/Governor of Bauchi State

RT HON. DEWAN GOES 365 DAYS ROUND THE ORBIT AS SPEAKER, PLATEAU STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (PLSHA)

By Ayuba Yilgak'ha 

It all started like a story of failure but it is honing into a great story of success. Who is the subject of discussion here? Rt. Hon. Dewan Gabriel Kudangbena, the Speaker, PLSHA. So many puzzles, so many lessons, so many possibilities in the air.

Towards the 2023 general elections, Ambassador Dewan as he was, generally, called attempted, and lost his bid to clinch the ticket that will enable him contest to represent Pankshin North in the State Assembly, under the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He, however, bounced back to surprisingly win the seat under a relatively unpopular political platform, the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the Country. 

Upon inauguration, the political matrix of the House favoured him to be the Minority Leader - one of the Principal Offices in the 'House of necessary actions', ahead of other members from the main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC). 

While that shocker lasts, another political miracle struck as 'the man in the mirror' emerged the Speaker of the House, from the same senatorial zone with His Excellency, the Governor and is currently the Chief Principal Officer of the Temple/Beacon of Democracy, and third Citizen of the State!

This achievement is no mean feat. Against all odds, the Rt. Hon. has continued to spark surprises and his next move may as well be another shocker, who knows? What is known is that he has been in charge as a Speaker for 365 days, and continue to enjoy seamless working relationship with his Hon. Colleagues, other arms of government in the State as well as his constituents!

Let me borrow from 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV) to stress the point that: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived", i have seen in the political graces of Rt. Hon. Dewan. The political opportunities the legislator is enjoying defy logic and  protocol normal democractic practice. Somebody will agree with me that his case is substantially different!

God rules in the affairs of men. If Rt. Hon. Dewan had won his election under the platform of PDP, he would have been swept away by judicial tsunami the befell his colleaques from that platform. As humans, he might have complained and, maybe, blame others for losing the PDP primaries but now, he knows better.

The ranking legislator's story indicates that, in the contest/struggles of life, the wise do not say, 'it is over, until it is over.' When one door closes, another one can be tried with relative success. Rt. Hon Dewan lost in PDP, and won under YPP. His contest in the latter might have been written off by pessimists but now they know better. The lesson here is this: Do not write-off anyone God has not written-off because, you will be disappointed. Only God has the power to say anything with finality!

Again, it is generally important to note that when God raises a man, he expects such a one to stay humble. When the great Carpenter's intervention is abused; His interruption could take place; this could result in the favoured being dragged from grace to grass; and you know what, nobody who has experienced exceeding grace will like to go back to grass. However, such a reversal is a reality that has happen to many in recorded history!

The God that raises the powerful today is always in the business of raising many others. He has not stopped extending favours to people He pleases. Therefore, do not belittled anyone when fortune beckons on you. That little chap that walks bare footed in your neighbourhood could be the next in line to be favoured. This is a lesson of history, divinity and, even politics!

In politics, performance is key, yet not a guarantee for success but sentiments sometimes. The best performer might be defeated with ease when prevailing sentiments do not favour him/her. Similarly, the worst performer could emerge because the odds favour him or her. These are practical/possible outcomes in the game of politics. The tyranny of sentiment has continue to remain a puzzling reality of political outcomes, especially, in developing democracies like ours. Most times, it discourages performance.

Point is, no political office holder should brag about exceptional performance (though good) or give up for failing to deliver (though bad). What matters is to always make the best efforts, praying that the odds are in his/her favour. In other words, performance is very important but the influence of sentiment can never be underestimated in politics. All said however, it is better to win or lose a contest as a performer than win on the strength of sentiment which most often result in bad representation!

Time is a crystalising factor. The story of the man who has just began a political voyage to serve his people cannot be concluded in one bid. It will continue to unfold/develop as times and seasons change. All things being equal, whoever cultivates good will enjoy more harvest of good in due season. 

Of the stewardship of Rt. Hon. Dewan as Speaker, it can be said, 'so far so good' in terms of general and relative stability of the House. I am yet to get the full details of the House's corporate performance in the areas of people's oriented legislations, thorough oversights and representations, under his leadership though. However, it is hard to crystalise performance in just one out of a four (4)-year opportunity to serve. One year is just a minute fraction of a time which can on give an idea, but not any thorough and convincing assessment of performance as expected.  

More in time of service is a better ground for constructive performance evaluation in any democracy. However, good works and consensus building are tools that all political office holders should leverage for gaining support from critical stakeholders, especially, as it pertains the future of their politics.

May God uphold and guide the Rt. Hon. Speaker with others who are in position of authority towards doing well for the common good. Power is a responsibility that cannot be delegated or outsourced, but it allows room for consultations, collaboration and cooperation. Nobody does it alone in politics and governance!

*(Modest Thoughts with Ayuba, Yilgak'ha, 22nd November, 2024)*