Politics
No Second Class Ethnic Groups In Rivers State – Walson Jack
One of the leading aspir
ants for the governorship of Rivers State under the platform of the PDP is Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack. Like his other colleagues, he and his supporters boycotted the Ward Congresses of November 1, 2014 across Rivers State for lack of transparency in the processes. In this interview, he shares his opinion on key political issues affecting the PDP in Rivers State.
PDP in Rivers seems to have lost its unity and oneness because of the choice of a flag bearer. What solution is in sight?
PDP has not lost its unity and oneness. Jostling for elective offices is part of the democratic culture. The insistence on rights by members of a political party is normal democratic practice. What is in issue here is the hijack of a political party by an interest group and the subversion of the internal democratic process provided for in the Constitution of the Party.
Events in Rivers State PDP remind us of the caution by George Washington who said political parties, “are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”
The first solution is the establishment of a caretaker committee that would ensure internal democracy and provide a level playing field for all aspirants. The second solution is the zoning of elective offices in the State as provided for in the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Zoning is clearly leading to division in the PDP fold. Can there be no understanding outside zoning?
The PDP and indeed, all political parties have practised zoning and rotation in all States and for all elective offices since the return to democracy in 1999, in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and those of the various political parties. The issue is the denial and the subversion of the entrenched principle of zoning and rotation of political offices. So there can be no solution outside zoning and rotation and the enforcement of internal democracy in accordance with the constitution of the PDP.
About 16 of you, mostly from the riverine are against the party fielding an uplander, especially an Ikwerre man. The argument tends to run against the tenets of democracy. Is there any evidence to support that Rivers people or PDP agreed to discountenance democratic dictates for a rather gentlemanly agreement?
I have been a student, teacher and practitioner of democracy since 1996, trained by the government of the United States of America. Zoning, rotation and affirmative action are all part of the mechanism of social justice entrenched in the operations of a democratic society. The point being made here is that zoning is acceptable as the moral content of democracy, which emphasises the need for equity. This then means that one ethnic group or one interest group should not dominate the others.
So zoning and rotation are not a gentleman’s agreement. They are clearly provided for in both the Nigerian Constitution and the PDP Constitution. The leaders of likeminded political associations in Nigeria who founded the Peoples’ Democratic Party on 28th July 1998 resolved, among others, to conform to the principles of power shift and power sharing by rotating key political offices amongst the diverse peoples of the country. This resolve is captured in both the preamble and Section 7(2) (g) & (h) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wherein the Party commits to promoting national and the peaceful co-existence of the diverse communities of the country. The party also strives to promote an egalitarian society founded on freedom, equality and justice.
In order to attain these aims and objectives, the PDP gives itself a Constitutional obligation in S. 7 (3) (c) of its Constitution to adhere to the policy of the ROTATION AND ZONING OF PARTY AND PUBLIC ELECTIVE OFFICES in pursuance of the principle of equity, justice and fairness.
The PDP Constitutional obligation is in furtherance of the fundamental objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which states that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice. The Nigerian Constitution declares in Section 14(4) that ‘the composition of a State …or any of the agencies of such government … shall be carried out in such manner as to recognize in the conduct of the affairs of the Government … the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the peoples ….’
This fundamental position of the Peoples Democratic Party cannot be wished away, abrogated, suspended, or cancelled by any official or organ of the party except through an amendment to the Constitution of the Party. Only the National Convention has the powers to amend the Party’s Constitution. Incidentally, that power cannot be delegated. A State Executive Committee of the PDP has no power to take actions, or make statements contrary to the express provisions of the Party’s Constitution, especially one that requires a Constitutional amendment.
In the last 15 years, since the PDP won and formed the government in Rivers State, there has been absolute respect for the principles of rotation and zoning between ethnic groups, senatorial districts and the upland/riverine dichotomy. The election of Governors and their deputies have largely reflected an upland/riverine balance, and diversity in Senatorial districts and ethnic origin. Even the appointment to the offices of Speaker of the House of Assembly and other House Officers, Secretary to Government, and Head of Civil Service of the State have been a combination of merit, qualification, competence and an appreciation of the ethnic divide in the State.
Despite the attempts by some persons from one ethnic group to marginalise other ethnic groups, the political cohesion in the State continues to hold. Many years after the collapse of apartheid, the lesson of history is that no persons or ethnic groups were either born to be second class citizen, or hewers of wood and drawers of water. It has never been, and would never be in the Rivers State of our Commonwealth.
With the 16 of you against Nyesom Wike, PDP is not sure of success if they field Wike. Have you considered this consequence?
We cannot at this time predict how voters will react. Our interest here is to ensure that the flag-bearer of the Party emerges through the Constitutional process.
If you do not get your demand, what will you do next?
I have no escape plan. We know that our demand is right and we have confidence in the national leadership of the Party to do what is right. Our confidence comes from the fact that what we are asking for is a constitutional right, which and has been implemented in Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Adamawa States, amongst others.
Is there any atom of truth in the insinuation that some of you, the aspirants, are planted in PDP to destabilize it and cause it to lose to the APC?
First, I would speak for myself. I am a member of the PDP. I am not a member of the APC or any other Party. I was not planted in the PDP by APC or any other political party. As a matter of fact, I have associated with the PDP right from its inception.
I have never been a traitor in my life. Only moles know what moles look like.
Consultations for my Governorship bid commenced in January 2013, when there was no APC. So I could not have been a mole of a Party that was not in existence.
In any case, we should not lose sight of the fact that most of those who accuse others of being moles are themselves members of the ACN who left for the PDP just before the merger of the legacy Parties that formed it. So many of us believe that there is a grand plot to destroy the PDP by these men, who, themselves, are the very first to accuse others of being moles when issues of Party administration are brought to the fore.
Most of you have also been accused of doing nothing to help the party against its former leader but now want to be governors after Wike had single handedly bailed it from troubled waters. How true is this and why were you rather asleep when you should have worked?
The PDP was not in shackles so nobody can claim to have bailed it out of any troubled waters. To the extent that Wike, Obuah and Walter were in-charge when Governor Amaechi pulled out to join the APC, the PDP was not liberated from any person or group. The PDP was hijacked for a personal governorship ambition. Someone stirred-up the trouble and turned round to appear to be solving it and now demands the office of Governor as compensation for ‘liberating’ the PDP.
Despite the policy of exclusion of non GDI members from the State PDP, I have personally been involved in the retention and recruitment of new members for the PDP through these trying times. In the early days of the defections of PDP members to the APC, there is evidence that I made concerted appeals to defecting members to return to the PDP. That appeal contributed immensely to the avalanche of the return of defecting members to the PDP.
I have also contributed to building cohesion within the party. It is rather unfortunate that today support is defined only in terms of monetary contributions; that is the problem of materialism in society.
Your party hierarchy seems not to be paying heed to your prayers. What is happening here?
It is not true that the national leadership has ignored our complaints and concerns. The Party hierarchy is paying heed to our prayers. The establishment of the National Integration Committee for the South-South is an acknowledgment that our complaints are being addressed. Like the democrats we are, we have submitted our complaints through memoranda. We travelled all the way to Abuja to appear before the Committee. We are awaiting the outcome of the reconciliatory process.
It does not seem Wike is going to drop his ambition. Why can’t you all run against him or work in unison to ensure your own choice of candidate emerges?
Everyone has a right to have an ambition; whether to drop or pursue that ambition is a personal decision. But every ambition must be pursued within the confines of the provisions of the PDP Constitution.
It is not a case of our running againt any particular individual. It is about complying with the provisions of the Constitution of our Party and providing a level playing field for all. The aspirants are already united in fighting against injustice. However, when it comes to contesting the election, the aspirants will run based on their own vision and mission.
What’s your reaction to Saturday’s Ward congresses, which 16 of you reportedly boycotted?
The congresses were a sham. They did not hold in many Wards. The process was rigged. Cronies were appointed to officiate. First, we called for postponement and now we are calling for the cancellation of the Ward congresses in Rivers State. Our reasons being that the PDP in the State has been hijacked by an ethnic based organisation; the Administration of the PDP has been to the exclusion of certain members who are not members of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI); Non-registration of new Party members and revalidation of membership of old members who are opposed to the interests of a group in the State PDP; Illegal and unconstitutional removal of Ward, Local Government and State Party officers elected at the congress of 2012; the issue of zoning and rotation of elective offices; Refusal of the State Chapter of the Party to issue Delegates Nomination Forms to members other than those of the GDI; Refusal to receive / collect Nomination Forms obtained from the national Secretariat by some aspirants; and Chairman and Members of Congress Panel being loyalists, personal staff and associates of Nyesom Wike, while as Minister of State for Education.
Don’t you see the boycott as a likely end to your aspiration?
I have said that the Ward congresses were a sham. My aspiration cannot die because of an act of illegality. Nigerian political history is replete with illegal congresses that have been set aside or cancelled and proper ones conducted in which the true winners emerged.
Nimi Walson-Jack
Operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Society Network, the group described the ruling delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu as unfair and contrary to the spirit of democracy, urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people in its final determination of the matter.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday, October 30, sacked Gummi for defecting from the PDP, which sponsored his election, to the APC.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu held that it was morally wrong for a politician to transfer votes from one political party to another, stating that “political prostitution must not be rewarded.”
He declared that voters elect candidates based on the manifestos and ideals of their political parties. Therefore, it was both legally and morally unacceptable for an elected official to abandon that platform without relinquishing the mandate.
The court also restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from recognising Hon. Gummi as a member of the House, and ordered him to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment.
Justice Egwuatu further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, who argued that Hon. Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as there was no division within the PDP to justify his action.
But convener of the coalition, Lukman Muhammad, who addressed journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, said Hon. Gummi’s defection was a direct result of the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which, according to him, crippled the lawmaker’s ability to effectively represent his constituents.
He said: “We believe the court’s decision was unjust and failed to consider the circumstances surrounding Hon. Gummi’s defection. Gummi’s decision to join the APC was necessitated by the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which hindered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
“We affirm that Hon. Gummi’s right to choose his political affiliation is protected by the Constitution and should be respected. We stand for democracy and the rule of law, while also urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people and the greater good”.
He urged Justice Egwuatu to review the judgment, stressing that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent that undermines the principle of fair representation and the rights of elected officials.
The coalition further noted that the judgment has broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic process, as it raises questions about the extent to which lawmakers can exercise their constitutional freedom of association without fear of losing their mandate.
The parties stated that the APC was on the verge of collapse following the recent wave of defections from opposition parties into its ranks.
In separate interviews with The Tide source, spokespersons for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) —Debo Ologunagba, Oladipo Johnson, and Mark Adebayo – respectively, said an implosion was imminent in the APC.
But the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated that recent defections to the party were voluntary and inspired by the ruling party’s achievements, not through coercion. He added that the APC was well-structured, capable of managing its internal affairs effectively, and therefore would not experience any internal crisis.
In recent months, the ruling APC has continued to receive several high-profile politicians from opposition parties, particularly the PDP. Among those who have joined the APC are Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Most recently, members of the Enugu State Executive Council defected to the APC, a move followed by Governor Peter Mbah’s official declaration for the ruling party on October 14 in Enugu.
On October 15, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, announced his resignation from the PDP. Although he has yet to join another party, speculation is rife that he is on his way to the APC.
Similarly, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, confirmed last Wednesday that he would be joining the APC.
Numerous other politicians, including several lawmakers, have also abandoned their parties to align with the ruling APC.
In his reaction, Hon. Ologunagba predicted an imminent crisis within the APC, expressing confidence that those who defected would eventually return to the PDP.
He stated, “This is the major political party (PDP), and it is the only democratic party in the country. It has structures cutting across all the local governments, all the wards, and of course all the states. In every home, there are members of the PDP, and that is why the APC are jittery, and that is why they are coercing our members, using state resources and state agencies to force members of opposition parties to join the ruling party.
“But in all this, we are sure and confident that very soon, the APC will implode because it is a multipurpose political vehicle that is not going to last. It is going to implode.
“Many Nigerians will see through it and know that the party is not a political party that protects the interests of the citizens. So, they are going to leave the party and move to the major political party, which is the PDP. We are optimistic that before 2027, many Nigerians will join us because this is the truly democratic party and the only party that is out there to protect their interests.”
On his part, Mr Johnson of the NNPP lamented that the wave of defections posed a serious threat to the country’s democracy.
Mr Johnson said, “This is bad for democracy. For our type of democracy, it is important to have a proper and effective opposition. Already, we’ve seen a blurring of lines between the legislature and the executive; some would even say the judiciary. I hope not. I think many people are observing the trend and are unhappy. However, we need to be a bit more patient and see what happens soon.
“When the PDP was in power for 16 years, it was the party many people rushed into. Over time, it imploded, and many of those who joined it turned against it. So, I see that happening to the ruling APC. Definitely. This is because of the nature of Nigerian politicians; many are driven by personal interests. I always say that Nigeria can never truly be a one-party state. Even if only one party exists, it will become factionalised, with different interests and power blocs. Those pushing the country toward a one-party system may not have studied Nigeria’s political history carefully.”
In his remarks, CUPP’s Adebayo stated that the pattern of defections among politicians, particularly governors and lawmakers, was a deliberate strategy by the ruling party to transform the country into a one-party state.
Mr Adebayo said, “It is not accidental; it is a deliberate and strategic effort to entrench a one-party dictatorship. Whether these defections are forced or coerced, one thing is clear: it is an intentional action driven by the ruling party, particularly the President.
“This development is unhealthy for our democracy. It is shameful and stands against everything democratic principles represent. It is inimical to the growth and development of Nigeria as a democratic nation and poses a grave threat to our political stability.
“The implosion of the APC will come before or once it loses power. Most Nigerian politicians lack ideological grounding or principles; their loyalty lies only with the party in power. Political affiliation is tied to ideology and conviction, not convenience. However, the ideology of most politicians is simply the ruling party. If tomorrow the ADC, Labour Party, or SDP wins the presidency, many of these same politicians will abandon the APC overnight. They have no shame, no conviction, and no conscience. Their only motivation is proximity to power.”
In response, Mr Ibrahim of the APC maintained the APC would not face any internal crisis, asserting that it has the capacity to effectively manage its affairs, unlike the opposition.
He stated, “The fact that the opposition are not organised and they cannot organise primaries, neither can they manage their parties, does not mean we are on the same boat with them. Our party, the APC, has been conducting primaries successfully and rancor-free.
“So, the fact that they don’t know how to manage their party does not mean that is the way we run our own party. The APC does not coerce anyone to join. Those joining are doing so willingly because of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope achievements. Our party is fully prepared. It’s not going to implode; it’s not going to have any issues similar to the issues they have been having.”
Senator Ndume, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, accused both the executive and legislative arms of complacency, saying their failure to proactively engage the United States government on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria led to the development.
The senator recalled that he had earlier sponsored a motion in the Senate on “Christian genocide” in the country. The motion, he said, led to resolutions mandating the Nigerian government to engage the U.S. with verified facts and figures.
President Trump, last Friday, announced the designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged persecution of Christians.
President Trump made the announcement via a post on his Truth Social platform, which was also shared on the official White House X handle.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” President Trump wrote.
But the Nigerian government swiftly rejected the claims, insisting that President Trump’s assessment did not reflect the true situation in the country.
However, Senator Ndume accused the President Tinubu’s administration and the Senate of treating the allegation raised by US lawmaker, Riley Moore, with complacency, prior to President Trump’s declaration, and urged the federal government to take urgent steps to engage the US government with facts and figures on the activities of terrorists organisations which, he noted, were blind to faith.
“I have alerted the government, I even moved a motion. Nigeria is a sovereign state, it isn’t about what the United States can do to us, but about the misconception and the ripple effects of classifying us as a country of concern.
“We should engage the American government by presenting facts and figures. By engaging the US government, we should demand that they hear the other side of the story from the Nigerian government and the Muslim community. Muslims have been killed too. The genocide isn’t against Christians but Nigerians generally,” he said.