Mark: PDP heading for self-destruction

The PDP lost the presidential election to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) on March 28, and two weeks later it lost eight more states in the second round of vote to elect state governors.
Since then acrimonious quarrel has broken out among top party men over who were responsible for that defeat.
Mark said in a statement released by his spokesman, Paul Mumeh yesterday that he was deeply worried by worsening acrimony among senior party men.
“The PDP is already haemorrhaging. Unless we halt the bleeding and find the necessary therapy, we may be heading for the final burial of the party”, Mark said.
His statement came after the Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu, who heads the PDP Post – election assessment committee, had visited him.
“The party is already in a comatose status and we should do all we can to resuscitate it rather than this unnecessary rancor and buck passing,” he added.
He appealed to the combatants to sheathe their swords and embrace dialogue.  “My appeal is that we should not do anything further that would damage the already fragmented house.
“Everybody should come together and rebuild the party.  We have gotten enough bruises.  We need not inflict further pains on ourselves, with continuous bickering.
“Enough of this blame-game, we should return to the drawing board and need not wash our dirty linen in the public, anymore.
“I believe a useful lesson has been learnt from the PDP electoral misfortune.  As for me, it is time to put on our thinking caps and chart a new course.”
He said he believed Ekweremadu’s committee would do a good job and unearth the remote and immediate causes of the party’s misfortune as well as make recommendations that would enhance the future of the party.
He said the new status of the party “as an opposition is a challenge which we must face with all honesty, sincerity of purpose and dedication to duty”.
Senator Mark believes that Democracy and the nation would be better for it, “if we play credible opposition to ensure good governance and delivery of dividends of democracy to Nigerians.”
Governors of the party and some unnamed presidential aides are said to be angry with the NWC for leading the party to defeat in the general elections and demanded that the chairman, Adamu Muazu, and his executive members must resign.
However, the National Working Committee of the party has said that President Jonathan lost his re-election bid because his promoters ran a hate campaign.
The NWC said such negative campaign made it impossible for party leaders in the North to garner support for Mr. Jonathan in the region.
They said some members of the party, including ambitious aides and associates of President Jonathan, were responsible for his defeat
“They generated campaign funds up to N21 billion. The party was not involved in it and the party cannot account for it because we were not involved in that money.
“Whilst I am not holding any excuse for them we cannot be held accountable for issues that were generated that worked against our candidates in the North. This is clear, all Nigerians knew that,” Metuh said.
 Also, the National Chairman, Mu’azu twitted Tuesday that praise singers misled President Jonathan during the electioneering period and were responsible for the PDP’s defeat in the March 28 election.
He said the low perception of Jonathan and the PDP in the North was partly responsible for the low votes he got in the region.
“The perception of Jonathan and our party in the North was at an all time low because of the lies the people were told by politicians.
“Those who blame us for not delivering maximum votes to the President in the North seem to have forgotten that it is the people who vote.
“I have repeatedly reminded many that I, Adamu Mu’azu, have been in the PDP since 1999 as a matter of principle and strong ideology.
“Those who insinuate that I did not do my best for our great party and Mr. President during the elections are being economical with the truth.
“In the face of abuse, insult and open ridicule by our friends and brothers, we supported our leader, President Jonathan, faithfully.
“I gave my best and my all to the campaign of Mr. President and the party. We went to every state in Nigeria to campaign.”