nPDP governors defection to APC, a sad development – Tony Anenih
Chief Tony Anenih
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, has described the defection of five governors of the party to the opposition All Progressives Congress as a sad development.
He, however, urged party loyalists across the nation not to panic over the governors’ decision.
Anenih said this while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja, on Thursday.
The BoT chairman said he took solace in
the fact that the party leadership including President Goodluck
Jonathan, former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida,
former National Chairmen, Senators Barnabas Gemade and Ahmadu Ali and
himself “invested enough energy, commitment, maturity and sincerity in
the collective effort at reconciliation.”
He said, “Indeed, I had expected the
governors to stay on in the party which offered them a unique
opportunity to serve their people.
“Surprisingly, they decided to abandon
their home and platform to take up tenancy in an opposition party
even
when it was apparent that the effort of Mr. President for genuine
reconciliation was enough for them to see good reason to show restraint
and understanding.
“However, as adults, the final decision was and remains theirs.”
Anenih urged members of the party not
to be disturbed by the departure of the governors, but to continue to
mobilise grassroots support for the party and the President’s
transformation agenda.
He noted that the party was big and strong enough to rebound, as it had always done, in the face of such challenges.
He urged them to “rest assured” that, on
its part, the party at the national level, would strive relentlessly
to continue to provide focused leadership as well as “keep your hopes
and aspirations alive especially at this time and in the months leading
to the crucial 2015 general elections.”
The BoT chairman also waxed
philosophical that “What looks like a setback, in politics, can turn
out to be a blessing in disguise.”
