A former governorship aspirant in Edo State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), High Chief Jacob Idinye has decried comments made by a political activist Aisha Yesufu, adding that the party will continue to remain a firm and united party in the country, while also noting that PDP was already advancing strategies to regain power in 2027.
The Etsako born politician made the remarks at the local wing of Lagos airport when accosted by newsmen on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
Recall Yesufu had described the PDP as a threat to opposition. She said the party, which ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2015, was destroyed in 2014 because it became prideful and disconnected from Nigerians.
Yesufu said this in an X post on Saturday evening, November 23, 2024. Her post followed a comment by a member of the House of Representatives, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere that Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike wants to destroy the PDP. Yesufu said, “The same PDP we were attacked for is the PDP you now know is destroyed?!”
Idinye in his swift reaction said Yesufu should concentrate on how to salvage her own political Party, (Labour Party) from drowning, according to him, “Aisha Yesufu, a self acclaimed political activist should look inwards and offer advise to her own party which has long been enmeshed in leadership crisis and scandals, with different factions laying claims to legitimacy and control. Same party is also known with numerous litigations which have diminished its credibility, membership and strength in a most reprehensible manner.
“Yesufu and her ilk should know that the PDP will continue to remain a firm and united party in the country, it is not just a formidable opposition with outstanding ideals, policies and programmes; the party is already advancing strategies to regain power in 2027 having endeared itself to Nigerians as a better alternative to the All Progressives Congress.
“As we speak, Julius Abure is saying he is the National Chairman of Labour Party, on the other side, former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, was also appointed as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of LP. Usman, who defected to the LP during the 2023 general elections, just last year now heads a caretaker committee comprising 29 members.
“Aisha Yesufu has exposed herself as an hypocrite, she didn’t see anything wrong in what is happening in her own party but derived pleasure about making incendiary comments about PDP. How can you say to your neighbor, let me take the speck out of your eye, while the log is in your own eye and even more conspicuous? She should first take the log out of her own eye, and then she will see clearly to take the speck out of her neighbor’s eye.
“Most recently, Nigerians are alarmed by claims by Ms. Oluchi Opara that the National Chairman diverted about N3.5 billion of funds received from the sale of nomination forms by the Labour Party and donations for the prosecution of the 2023 political campaigns. Mr. Julius Abure has dismissed these allegations as baseless and gone ahead to suspend Ms. Opara for six months.
“Viral reports and pictures of the National Chairman of the Labour Party being hauled to the ground like a common criminal and tossed into a security vehicle has added insults to the public opprobrium that the leadership of the Labour Party had been subjected to in recent times.
“There are also pending cases of fraud, forgery and misrepresentation against the National Chairman of the Labour Party in various courts and police stations in Nigeria. This is a sour misadventure in political mischief, mismanagement and misdemeanour. Aisha Yesufu should speak to these embarrassing issues in her party and please leave PDP alone,” Idinye said
