Ayodele Olalere
The rank of the PDP Governors’ Forum is currently polarized over the continued stay of Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman of the party.
Damagum became the chairman of the party after the sack of Senator Iyorchia Ayu. His emergence was facilitated by the former governor of Rivers State and now Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, who have been at loggerheads with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
There have been calls within the party for the removal of Damagum as the chairman. His closeness to Wike has been fingered as one of the reasons the former governor is having a stronghold on the party’s structure in the state.
It was Damagum that conducted the recently held party’s congress in the state. Though there were calls by Governor Fubara and his supporters for the National Working Committee not to recognise the congress, however the committee gave its approval which further cemented Wike’s stronghold on the party.
It is also recalled that the PDP Governors’ Forum, had in a meeting held in Rivers State gave its support to Governor Fubara and promised to ensure he takes the leadership role of the party as stated by the party’s constitution.
The position of the governors did not go well with Wike who threatened to ‘put fire’ in the state of the governors.
Reacting to Wike’s response, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has dared Wike, saying the state has enough water to quench the fire.
The governor reacted when a delegation of the National Working Committee paid him a visit and promised to abide by the decision of the governors concerning the crisis rocking the party in Rivers State.
However, in a twist of turn, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde threw his weight behind Damagum to continue as the chairman of the party.
Makinde, who is a close friend of Wike made his position known when Damagum paid him a visit in Ibadan., promising that he would support the acting chairman to succeed.
Reacting to the division which has engulfed the Forum, a member of the PDP National Working Committee, said contrary to their earlier position at the Rivers State meeting, four PDP governors are now backing Damagum.
According to him, the four governors are Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State; and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State.
Two of the governors; Enugu and Zamfara state governors, Peter Mbah and Dauda Lawal are reportedly neutral, while the remaining seven are pushing for the removal of Damagum.
The seven are Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri; Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno.
“Oyo State Governor Makinde leads three other governors who are friends of Wike, and they are backing Damagum to continue in his acting role.”
Osun State governor , Ademola Adeleke, had in a statement stated that he will.not be strayed by sentiment but upholds the party’s constitution in deciding who runs the affairs of the party.