Transfer of structure without considering old PDP members unconstitutional —Gov aspirant

One of the governorship aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Dr Terulum Nyitse, speaks with JOHNSON BABAJIDE on the handover of the PDP structure to Governor Samuel Ortom. Excerpts:

On Monday, the party elders handed over the party leadership to the governor. What is your reaction to this as a governorship aspirant?

There is no doubt that elders of the PDP have a role to play in the party and I think that it is the construction that guides political parties such as PDP. I believe that whatever they are going to do should well not be outside of the party constitution. But I don’t know what the party constitution says concerning those joining the party, so that those who are there before now should not suffer unduly because new people have joined the party. That would be against the natural justice. It is unconstitutional for people who have been with the party, nurturing it, will suffer unduly because of those people that have just come. That can lead to apathy, because these old members worked and nurtured the party.

Though I am not against what the elders have done, it would serve the party. So, if what they have done is for the interest of the party, so be it. But I believe that there must be an element of consideration for the members that have sacrificed to uphold the survival of the party. That is very important. But whoever thinks that it is not important, then there is a mistake somewhere. If they think it is not an issue, then there is a problem. Though, I don’t know the terms of reference to harmonise, I am wary because I don’t want to say much about what I don’t have the details.

Are you taking this position because that development will affect your chances as governorship aspirants?

It is not the position that we are looking for, it is just what the people of Benue are saying. The clamour for positions is not for the office but for me to contribute my quota, having been exposed to so many things in life. I am seeking to also contribute my quota, having been exposed to various things in government and outside government, so that I can also play a role in the system. So, if God says I should be governor, fine but He says no, there is no problem. But what I am saying in essence is that let what will enhance the party be done and that should be paramount to everybody including the elders, because whatever you do that will not enhance the growth of the party is a problem.

•  Ortom returns PDP governorship form

What do you have to say on the plan of the governor to purchase forms for all the ad-hoc delegates?

Purchasing forms for delegate is not democratic, because assuming I am a delegate, will they give me the form? A lot of things are happening that if you want to comment on them, it will like you are undermining people. What I am trying to say is that everyone has worked for the party. Though there is nothing that suggests that it is a crime to join the party at any time, what the leaders of the party must do should not be to disenfranchise or undermine people who have interest such as the aspirants. This is being done at the point we are having an election. If the governor had been in PDP, nobody would bother himself to go and pick forms and they are doing this thing without taking into consideration of the other aspirants and that is going to be problematic, because the governor had been given a head start already.

Are you saying that all this while the elders of the party did not meet with the other aspirants?

We visited some of them individually to talk to them on our fears; they didn’t call us. It was the aspirants that felt that our interest was being jeopardized that decided to meet them and tell them what was happening. But we didn’t hear from them, I don’t know whether they met with others, but nobody talked to me.

With the development, what are you going to do to win the primary election?

I have been talking to the delegates ever since. My purchase of the nomination form shows that I have validated my interest to run for the governorship of Benue State. I am not just starting; it is just a continuation of what I have been doing to see if I can get the position God’s willing. Like the governor used to say, it is God that gives power but people should not undermine others to achieve God’s desire.

What will you do if the party elders or the governor invite you to harmonise interest?

To harmonise which interest, the interest that I have bought a form or what? There is no interest to harmonise here; I don’t know whether the elders have met with others but with what they have done, I am not challenging them but only looking at the other side of what they have done. I am saying that if you do things like this, you are going to confront this and they all know that certain things are being done.

What are the things you will do differently if you get the mandate of the people?

I will bring my style to bear in government based on my experience and what is on the ground. Security and welfare are paramount; any other thing will follow. You know that Benue people are suffering. The main purpose of government is to protect the citizens; that is why security and welfare are more paramount, because if you are able to tackle these, it will boost the economy, the IGR and GDP and the state will improve. You cannot grow economy in the midst of insecurity. In Benue, because of the insecurity in the past two years, no farming activities are going on. No one can access the farmlands and if care is not taken in the next two years, there will be famine.

After this, you talk of infrastructural projects. In the last three years, the state has been stagnant; no area of life has been attended to. So I am coming on the basis to right the wrongs. I will focus on security, build infrastructure in the state and also implement policies that will develop the state. Already, I have a blueprint that is put together by experts, which would be used to develop the state. All the developmental projects like roads, education, health and others will be given adequate attention