The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamau Mu’azu, has accused the ruling party of encouraging the ignoble principle of “use and dump” in its relationship with stakeholders.
Mu’azu who spoke at the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team in Abuja on Tuesday, identified injustice, inequity and unfairness as factors responsible for the defection of five state governors from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and ex- Governor Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) had in November 2013 defected from the PDP to the APC.
Similarly, a number of prominent party chieftains, including serving senators and members of the House of Representatives also left the PDP for the APC, owing to factors earlier identified by the PDP chairman.
Mu’azu, therefore, urged President Jonathan to consider the governors’ defection as a challenge ahead of the general election.
Decrying what he described as politics of use and dump, which according to him, was pervasive in the ruling party, Mu’azu said the trend, if not stemmed, could spell catastrophic consequences for the democratic process.
“I appeal to President Jonathan to consider it a challenge to discuss with your governors, senators, all elected officials of the PDP that members of the PDP said they should not be used and dumped.
“Adhere to equity, fairness and justice, substantial membership of the APC, APGA and others are members of our party.
“A lot of our party members have left because they have been used and dumped. It should not happen again.”
Also speaking at the event, Jonathan said the performance of his administration would be his selling point during the electioneering campaign and urged his campaign team to be civil in the use of language.
Reiterating his promise of free, fair and credible elections, the President said 2015 poll marked a critical point in the nation’s history.
Apparently referring to his major challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, he challenged his critics to tell Nigerians how many women served in their administration.
The President said that “I am not campaigning to you, I have no doubt you are already familiar with the achievements of this administration.
“We will see those who said they would form a parallel government. Do not join them in violence, every Nigerian is free to campaign in every part of Nigeria.”