SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, (THEWILL) – A former Senate President, Senator David Mark, on Tuesday broke his silence on the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The lawmaker, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, said the problem with the party had remained because the major actors in the peace talks were not coming with an open mind.
A former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed Makarfi, and erstwhile Borno governor, Ali Modu Sheriff,, are laying claims to the topmost office in the party, though Sheriff has an appeal court ruling affirming him as the authentic National Chairman.
Mark however vowed to remain in the party despite the challenges even as he criticised those who have been dumping the party.
According to him, “The problems in the PDP remain intractable because some of the combatants are not coming with an open mind for reconciliation.
“No matter the difficulties and challenges, I will remain in the PDP. I am convinced about the party’s ideology.
“The party’s ideology is to among other things keep Nigeria united, progressive, peaceful and a nation where every citizen is free to live and pursue his or her legitimate ambition without fear of molestation or intimidation in any part before I joined in 1998.
“PDP will come out stronger from this crisis. Those cross carpeting at will have no direction. They have no respect for political ideology.”
Mark said those defecting were doing a disservice to democracy, adding that the only way to sustain “our democratic culture is to be consistent with political ideology instead of dancing to the whims and caprices of any government in power”.
The immediate past Senate President urged his party members to work hard and remain steadfast on the forthcoming local government elections in Benue.
“I want you to go to the field and work hard for the election. We must say no to any electoral malpractices. You must not allow them to manipulate the process.
“We crave for a free, fair and credible election so that the wish of the people will prevail,” he said.
