Sen. Buruji Kashamu
represents Ogun East. In this interview , he shared his thoughts on a
number of issues including the ceding of the chairmanship slot of
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to North by the South West zone, how PDP
can reclaim power in 2019 and his agenda for the party in the zone.
The South West PDP is said not to be interested in the party’s chairmanship, what informs this position
?
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 Southern
Nigeria, the PDP only controls two states in the whole of the 19 states
in Northern Nigeria. Thus, the need to strengthen the North to pre-empt
the branding of the PDP as 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 in the last
general elections.
It was for this simple reason
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 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.
It should also be noted that the
South West had the Presidency for eight years as well as the Speaker of
the House of Representatives for four years; these positions are more
influential than the chairmanship of the party which some now argue must
be given to the South West because no one from the region has ever
served as National Chairman.
Are there other reasons 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.
Is the step taken by the South West PDP leaders not likely to haunt the zone in future?
This is the auspicious moment for
the South West 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 South West, 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 South West?
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.
To most of them, I should either
be a political son or associate and certainly not an opponent. Now is
the time for us all to unite for the sake of our great party even as we
inevitably swap batons; the old giving it up for the young. The future
is now and the young people who own the future must be accommodated and
empowered. With great humility, I am grateful to be the rallying point
for this vision which I have committed the best of my ideas, time and
resources, to promote and sustain
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