There’s Plot to Keep Damagum in Office, Endorse Tinubu in 2027, Opposition Lawmakers Raise Alarm
By Juliet Vincent
Opposition lawmakers Coalition in the House of Representatives has raised alarm over alleged plot by some PDP governors and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to weaken the party, keep the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum in office till 2027 and endorse President Bola Tinubu for second term in 2027.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Coalition’s Spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) in a statement on Sunday when the group made the allegations at a world press conference held in Akokwa, Imo state.
According to him, 24 PDP state chairmen that will endorse President Tinubu before 2027, keep Damagum in office till after election have been planted by impostors in the party.
He said, “Today our nation is facing different challenges both economic, political. But there’s something that’s missing in all these problems and that’s a vibrant and responsive and responsible opposition. Today we have a political party People Democratic Party, PDP that’s supposed to lead the opposition, but what do you have but we have political charlatans hijacking the heartbeat of the opposition party. And turning it to an errand platform for the ruling party.
“Some of you called me yesterday when the meeting the Governors had in Jos and said it’s all over for PDP. It’s very shameful that a party that was founded in 1998 by the great efforts of our founding fathers. The likes of Alex Ekwueme, Jerry Gana, Atiku Abubakar, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and so many others came together and ended 16 years of military rule. That political party is what these guys are playing akara with. It’s what imposters called Umar Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu are now messing up with and forgetting the sacred expectation of Nigerian people. A vibrant opposition.
“Today I want to inform the whole Nigeria that they have perfected a plan to ensure that the NEC meeting to choose a chairman from North Central where the position is originally supposed to come from us not possible. They want Umar Damagum, an imposter of the highest order, to continue to parade as the National Chairman and stay in office till 2027 so they can foist on us a weakling that will be presidential candidate. We have impostors among us, who has no honour and decency. They have decided to see the political party. The ruling party will be laughing at them now that they want to sabotage their own party.
“First they said there was Sallah holiday and they shifted it, since last year they kept on shifting the NEC meeting. Till now no NEC meeting they keep on giving different excuses. The national leaders of PDP are frolicking with APC leaders, going to London having meetings with APC leadership. If the founding fathers of this party are still alive and are seeing what I’m seeing they will be crying. I will mention the names of these PDP governors frolicking with APC. They think that by being a weakling some them will be allowed to control their state.
“You have a national chairman and secretary who in 24hrs is in Nyesom Wike bedroom, a minister in APC government. At a time when Nigeria is facing serious crisis. Our opposition is now in the bed of the ruling party. And some of our governors will go to Jos because they are part of this political fraud. They consider the feelings of party members who has expectations. I must commend some of our governors who have remained loyal to the party.”
The opposition lawmakers however say that, the plan won’t work as structures is being put in place to ensure that it doesn’t happen.
Ugochinyere said, the alleged plot by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike to seize Rivers State allocation, impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara will fail saying that the Governor will complete his tenure and reelected.
The lawmaker said, “If you want to join APC join APC. But these clowns are running around just to destroy our party. What did we do to them. Should we bury our courts because of Wike?? You campaigned and Atiku defeated you, and you’ve vowed to destroy the party. Ikpeazu lost in Senate, Ortom lost, Ugwuanyi lost but today they are so proud to destroy what our founding fathers did.
“Today anybody that doesn’t agree with him he’s fighting him. There will be an end to this nonsense. Rivers state is an integral part of party and Wike is aiming for the resources of rivers. We won’t let it happen. He has fought with everyone. I advise President Bola Tinubu to be very careful dealing with him. Because when things go wrong between you two, he will tell us your story.
“You supported someone to be governor, you produced all the commissioners, all house of assembly members, local government chairmen. The governor didn’t have any input. He produced the party structure. Was there any issue? It’s only a man who’s at war with his inner self that can have problem with Siminalayi Fubara.
“But Wike still quarreled with him and wants to impeach him. You were there when the 27 lawmakers joined APC. Your seat has become vacant. Now you’re running around trying to bastardize the judiciary. Are we going to change our law because of Wike??? Now he wants to seize the allocation of Rivers so that workers won’t be paid salary and everything will collapse in Rivers.
“Everyday he’s running from one court to another to get injunction. His attempt will fail!!! Any attempt to seize Rivers allocation is an invitation to anarchy!!! The statutory allocation is the symbol of federation and constitutional governance,” he noted.
