The political crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party has continued to linger and polarise the party into different factions. In fact, while the party is still tasked with the issue of resolving the rift between Governor Nyesom Wike and its flagbearer Atiku, the National chairman of the party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu has also refused to step down, according to tradition.
As it seems, the National chairman, Ayu recently insisted that he is going no where because he was elected for a term of four years. However, Babajide Otitoju, a popular investigative journalist on Tuesday, advised the PDP to revert to tradition in resolving this matter.
Speaking on Journalists’ Hangout, Babajide went on to explain instances, including what happened in the party when former president, Umaru Yar’adua died in office and Jonathan took over. While querying Ayu’s insistence on remaining party chairman, Babajide said thus:
“My problem with political leaders is that they crave for power unnecessarily. PDP has a tradition which is clear. When a presidential candidate emerges from a zone, whether North or South, the party’s chairman will have to come from the other zone. In 2010, when Yar’adua died in office and Jonathan stepped in as president, that forced the PDP to remove the National chairman of the party who was a Southerner and installed a Northerner in his place. So why should Iyorchia Ayu now say he is going nowhere? It is not right that the North is holding unto both positions in the party. Even Secondus boasted that he will not leave this seat and even sued the PDP in court, but he is not there now. All they need to do is revert to tradition and this matter will be settled”.