Members of the Zamfara State All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed joy over the persistent crisis in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Gusau, the State capital, the State APC publicity secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau described the State PDP as a toothless bulldog, saying the party can only bark but not bite.
“I sincerely pity the former APC members who hurriedly defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They were ignorant of the fact that the State PDP has never been a serious political party in the State” he lamented.
“It is on record that PDP has never formed any State government in the State since the creation of Zamfara State in 1996, check the records and the political history of Zamfara politics” he lamented.
Comrade Gusau noted that the internal crisis rocking the party did not start today but has always been there since 1999 when Nigerians unanimously enthroned democracy to the system.
“In 1999, the PDP was supposed to be the ruling party but in the State considering its strengths but the same internal crisis over who became the flag bearer of the party in the State denied the party the chances of forming government in the State”
“That crisis has continued to follow the party because there is no internal cohesion in the party. So we, the APC leaders in the State do not lose any sleep because PDP is not a party to be afraid of”
Comrade Yusuf Gusau noted that even the former APC members who defected to the PDP are now regretting their actions as they have discovered that the party has no focus and direction.
“Though the APC has respect for PDP at the national level and some other PDP states in the country, there’s nothing to write home about in the Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“The leaders of the party in the state have always been sabotaging the party and shortchanging their members for self-aggrandisement and the system has been rubbishing the party in the state ”
“Time will not permit me to highlight some of the lapses in PDP but that will be for another time. Let me tell you, the sharp practices within the party remain intact and are the teething problems of the members”
According to the State APC publicity scribe, the present crisis rocking the party will not even give it the strength to challenge APC in the 2023 general elections in the state, saying the APC will emerge victorious.
“Zamfara State is still operating on a one-party system because PDP has always been shrouded with a constant internal crisis”
Comrade Gusau said in 1999, PDP elected Ambassador M Z Anna to be the governorship candidate of the party but the former Governor of old Sokoto State and a former minister, Abdulkarim Yahaya kicked against the primary election.
“When Yahaya could not succeed, he mobilized his supporters to vote against PDP. He even went to Zamfara State Radio to warn his supporters not to vote for PDP at all levels”
“Even with that high degree of sabotage, the PDP managed to capture seven out of the 14 local government areas of the state. The first executive Governor of the State, Ahmed Sani Yarima defeated Ambassador M Z Anka with only numerical strength”
“So the political dynasty of the Peoples Democratic party in the State has been demolished since 1999 and the current political crisis ravaging the party now may not be unconnected to the seeds the former leaders had cultivated”
“And the ghost of their past actions must continue to haunt the party because the present leadership of the party has no focus and direction to address the problems”
He said recently, the party announced that the State chairman of the party, Colonel Bala Mande had been suspended for certain reasons and the same party came back in a press conference to deny the statement.
“Again, the State secretary of the party, Farouq Ahmad is currently on suspension from his own Sabon Garin ward. So how can anybody take such a party as a serious political party for God’s sake? Continue Reading
