The senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Senator Buruji Kashamu, spoke with reporters on issues affecting his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). OLUKOREDE YISHAU was there.
Southwest PDP is saying the North should hold on to the chairmanship of the party. What informed this?
On Thursday, the 17th of March, 2016, I was part of a delegation which visited the National chairman of the party. The delegation included all six State party Chairmen, leaders and elders in the zone and was led by the National Vice Chairman of the party in the South West.
The visit was the forum we needed to express our solidarity with his leadership as well as to keep him abreast of the challenges threatening the peace and unity of the party in our zone. Without prejudice, we clearly stated our conviction that the National Chairman of the party should emerge from the North.
Our opinion was informed by the fact that while the PDP controls 10 of the 17 states in the Southern Nigeria, the PDP only controls two of the 19 states in the North. Thus, the need to strengthen the North to pre-empt the lessening of the PDP to a regional party if the National Chairman emerged from the South, as it was already being pushed. The choice of a National Chairman from the South West will be too devastating for the party that is still smarting from the losses it suffered at the last general elections. This development might spark off the tendency to be flighty in those who are fond of breaking away to pursue their own interests when things don’t favour them at any point in time. Another break-away political organisation from the already depleted ranks of the PDP will be dismal.
It was for these simple reasons that we posited that a reversal of the current choice of leadership will certainly shrink our party into a regional party that lacks the capacity to sustain itself. However, I am convinced that our party leaders do have a good sense of history and can clearly recall the fact that once upon a time, key leadership positions like the BOT chairman as well as office of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the nation were occupied by leaders from the South who were adequately empowered and highly influential because the PDP was the ruling party at the time. Unfortunately, the huge resources at their disposal could not guarantee and secure victory for the party at the polls. It is even a much more daunting task for anyone wanting to be party chairman right now because we have lost the privileges and advantages of being the ruling party.
Thus, it is not an abnormally for both positions to be occupied by the North at this point in time when they need to be encouraged to remain loyal to the party. Furthermore, denying the North the privilege they seek could be perceived as marginalisation because right now they have a depleted membership base as a result of the wave of defections that hit the party with the creation and evolution of the APC.
It should be noted that the South West had the Presidency for 8years as well the Speaker of the House of Representatives for 4 years; these positions are more influential than the chairmanship of the party which some now argue that it must be given to the South West because no one from the region has ever served as National Chairman.
Apart from what you have said, is there any other reason the chairmanship must go to the North?
I must say that we need the cohesive political character of the North to re-build and reposition the party, going forward. It will be easier for them to pull the needed resources for rebuilding the party. This possibility is already evident in the way the north has rallied around the National Chairman in spite of their previous disapproval and criticisms of his person.
We are witnesses of how activities have picked up at the National Secretariat since the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman. Our prestigious national secretariat that experienced a lull is now alive and busy with prolific political activities. There are measured steps being taken to appease the aggrieved and bring estranged party men and leaders back home. Since Senator Sheriff came on board, the PDP has been winning most of the re-run elections. There is a ray of hope in the horizon and it will be utterly irresponsible to put off the flicker.
Besides, no one can discount the fact that Senator Modu Sheriff is a man with great political antecedents that speak of the quality of his political service to his people; it takes an extra-ordinary man to win successive elections into the National Assembly and the office of the Governor. We must learn to and be willing to give honour to people when it is deserved.
What does this development portend for the Southwest?
This is the auspicious moment for the Southwest to position itself for other political offices like the Vice-Presidency that will certainly emerge as we walk the road to 2019. We do not need a National Chairman that is without the critical mass that is imperative for meritorious service. Without denigrating us, we, the people of the Southwest, are rather contentious and engrossed with tackling each other through petition-writing. This is sadly evident in the fact that since the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff most of the petitions that have flooded the national secretariat are from the South West zone.
From my conservative estimate, it would cost millions of naira monthly to run the National Secretariat. Anyone who wants to be National Chairman must be able to source for the money. It is baffling that since our party lost power at the centre, not many of our respectable leaders in the South West have spent a dime on the party at the ward, local government, state and zonal levels; let alone at the national level. If core constituencies are left unfunded, how will the national hub of the party be revived and empowered for mandatory political activities?
With all due respect, most of those agitating for leadership are simply positioning themselves for the spoils of political office and not service. Gone are the days when the PDP was in power; the party is certainly not in a position to attract funding like it did in the past. Thus, those aspiring for leadership must have the capacity to fund the party either directly or through a credible fund raising drive. It is immoral for anyone to look for party positions so as to leverage on it to line their pockets by cornering party or campaign funds.
Our proposal, however, is not cast in stone as the only logical option to choose. Let those with contrary views join the debate and I will be willing to defer to superior arguments. Hopefully, in line with our zoning policy, when a presidential candidate of Northern extraction emerges in 2018, the various organs of the party will meet and decide where to take the National Chairmanship to.
What are the challenges facing the party in the Southwest?
There are crucial issues such as the current internal conflicts, rivalries and misgivings that must be progressively resolved. We do not need further recriminations and back-stabbing in the ranks of the party in the South West. The conflict flash points have been identified and we look forward to the reconciliation and healing processes. No single interest is greater than the collective interest of our great party. Every true, faithful and loyal party leader should be focused on reconciliation and healing and not parochial interests.
Let me state from the outset that going by the constitution of our party, the highest decision making organ of the party in a zone is the Zonal Executive Committee which comprises of the National Vice Chairman of the zone, the state chairmen and other notable leaders and elders. If these leaders at a certain point in time decide to defer to a particular individual, there must be a reason for it; the most important being the person’s commitment and dedication to the party.
An objective account of the events of that fateful day will reveal that it was simply a spontaneous expression of their esteem and appreciation of the leadership I have provided so far. I must say that I was so shocked and speechless. The National Chairman even urged me to say thank you to my people for the honour, but I could not. It was when I got into my car that I began to say “Thank you, Allah”; “How did it happen?”; “Oh Almighty Allah, You have always got my back”.
It was indeed an honour and privilege to see eminent party leaders and political juggernauts pronounce me their leader. While I remain humbled by their action, I must acknowledge that leadership is earned. If they have decided to reward my unwavering sense of responsibility and commitment to the well-being of the party this way, what option do I have other than to rise to the occasion?
I do reckon that they see me as a rallying point, even though I have superior leaders ahead of me. I do not assume that I am the No.1 leader of the PDP in the South West. I am just a rallying point. I am reminded of what Jesus said to his followers in the Scriptures that those of you who are ashamed of me before men, I will also deny you in the presence of my father in heaven. Frankly speaking, how would anyone expect a people they never catered for to validate them? Even some of those who managed to spend for the party did not go beyond their respective states.
Thus, if over 70 per cent of the functional leaders across the states spontaneously bestow their confidence in me as the rallying point at this trying time in our political history, it should be seen as a necessary inevitable step and not a superiority contest. I have always, without reservations, acknowledged other superior leaders who have served the party in various capacities. The likes of Chief Bode George, Senator Seye Ogunlewe, Alhaji Yekeen Adeojo, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Chief Clement Awoyelu, Chief Abiola Ogundokun and others too numerous to mention.
It appears you are lenient with the ruling party. Are you practising what some people call ‘opposition with altruism’?
Those who know me very well know that I do not play to the gallery. For me, opposition is not about rabid criticisms. We should be solution-providers. If we are united in the current efforts to rescue and rebuild Nigeria, we will stand successful. But, if we are disunited and contentious, we will fail. The failure of the Federal Government is, by implication, the failure of the state and local governments. It is thus foolhardy to sit in our various constituencies and throw stones at the government of the federation, simply because we belong to different political parties.
In as much as criticism is a vital requisite for good governance, I do strongly believe that there is need for balance. There is a crucial need for balance in order to eliminate the negative effects that criticisms tainted with bias could unleash on our country. Being in opposition is not necessarily an obligation to perpetuate dissonance. The culture of mindless criticisms is always adverse because even when the critic means well, the manner of approach and presentation could make it counter-productive. The stability and sustainability of the lower levels of government depends on the well- being of government at the federal level.
It is inevitable that the ripple effects of issues troubling the Federal Government will be felt at the state and local governments. As a lawmaker, I know how many constituency projects that I have attracted to my constituents under this government even when I am of the opposition. I know how many blocks of classrooms, motorcycles, grinding machines, sewing machines, among others, that I have attracted to my constituency for the benefit of my constituents.
The elections are over and governments have emerged at various levels. Wherever we live or belong, let us rally round the government of the day and allow it deliver on its promises to the people. When the election comes, we can then go to the field to campaign.
