By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi.
The mass exodus of members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi has degenerated into the national psyche of the party with its national youth vanguard giving it a junkyard in support of former governor, Isa Yuguda who first sparked the dumping of the party.
The vanguard in a statement signed by its former State Coordinator, Sadat Saleh and made available to newsmen in Bauchi, said they observed that since its defeat in the 2015 elections, the PDP leadership in the state is in an unenthusiastic position in reforming the party.
“All the reasons that made PDP lost elections are now clearly manifesting, as impunity, absence of rules and internal party democracy, dictatorship by party leaders, and sponsorship in Bauchi State have now hijacked the party to the detriment of loyal party members”, the youth leader said.
According to them, such tendencies informed the undemocratic practices of selection rather than election of party leaders in Bauchi State without recourse to due process and consultation with members of the party that led to its defeat in the last general elections.
“In Bauchi, things have gone so bad as more disagreement with party leaders will lead to suspension and there is a clear manifestation of intolerance and arrogance of power by PDP leaders in the state”, Saleh lamented.
It is in view of these tendencies, he contented, that all members of PDP Youth Vanguard in Bauchi State withdraw their membership of PDP and are now taking decision to pursue a political future in another political party.
The youth vanguard in the statement categorically stated that they will lend their support to the former Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda who recently left the party, saying that they will join him in deciding the political future of the state.
They also noted that Yuguda’s past political antecedents qualifies him as a National Leader, as he touched the lives of many people and is one of most respected politicians who will deliver a positive political direction on any platform for greater Bauchi State and a better Nigeria.
Meanwhile, political associates and supporters of the former governor, comprising of former commissioner, advisers and other stratum of the past administration in the state have formed a political consultation committee for wider consultation among interested groups and individuals on their political future.
Christened, “Yuguda Political Transition Committee”, and formed by the former governor’s henchmen, the consultation committee on board after Mallam Isa Yuguda dumped the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) two weeks ago.
Yuguda had at his exit from the PDP, cited loss of direction by the present leadership of the party, and the involvement of top members of the party in the $2.1 billion arms scandal as the genuine reasons that prompted him to dump it.
The Bauchi State PDP women leader, 20 Yuguda Support Group local government coordinators and one PDP local government party Chairman also dumped the party recently and pledged their loyalty to the former governor.
A former Commissioner of Religious Affairs in Yuguda’s cabinet, Salisu Ahmed Barau told reporters that the consultation committee is to consolidate the political movement and philosophy of the former governor, as it also determine next passage, as well as advise their mentor, Isah Yuguda about what next to do.
Headed by the former adviser to the former governor on political matters, Abdulmumini Mohammed Kundak with his eastwhile Works and Housing counterpart, Sani Mohammed Bura serving as the secretary, the committee will consult people from different political groups towards reaching consensus on likely decision.
Barau, however debunked rumours of the former governor’s possible move to the APC, saying Yuguda has the right to join any political association of his wish as guaranteed by provisions of the Nigerian constitution.
