In this interview with LEKE BAIYEWU,former Minister of Transport and member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, talks about the controversy over the selection of former Governor of Borno State, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, as the National Chairman of the PDP
Controversy is trailing the selection of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff as the National Chairman of your party. Why is it so difficult to choose a leader?
That is part of democracy; democracy is about ‘you rub, my back, I rub yours.’ It was said that we were going to pick the chairman from the North-East geo-political zone and since Ali Modu Sheriff became chairman, that means he is qualified to contest for the office like other contestants. All the caucuses met but the ones recognised by the constitution of the party are the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, then, the PDP Governors’ Forum. When they met, the BoT rejected Sheriff, the governors approved him, the National Assembly caucus approved him and the man won the election and he is now the chairman of the party.
But how could he have emerged chairman of the party without the approval of the majority of the constitutionally recognised caucuses?
The NEC, the PDPGF and the National Assembly caucuses approved him. But, again, we can also talk about which bodies are recognised by the constitution of our party. The BoT is purely advisory; we don’t take votes in the board, we are to meet to advise the party and its organs on how to get solution to problems. He won the NEC and the Governors’ Forum and he became the chairman. Apparently, the BoT rejected but the board would come to terms with the fact that he is the chairman of the party and we will do everything within our power to ensure that we give proper advice on how to move the party forward.
As a member of the PDP BoT, what roles did you play in the selection process?
I was part of the members of the board that met and decided that we would advise that Sheriff was not fit (for the office) but, interestingly, the Governors’ Forum supported him, the National Assembly caucus supported him. When they went for the NEC meeting, they won. In the NEC, the majority votes take effect.
What were the reasons gave the BoT gave for rejecting Sheriff’s nomination?
It was just a question of ensuring that the PDP was safe from image problem. We know the PDP has image problem now, especially with all the –gates they are talking about. Apart from that, we wanted to state that the PDP should have been able to manage the situation it had found itself in a way that would redeem its credibility and make it viable for re-election in 2019.
If the PDP BoT has such a strong argument, why then did members of the board reportedly change their position on Sheriff?
The BoT is affirming that (its earlier position); the BoT is not changing its mind. The BoT has not changed its mind in the sense that it has not stopped giving advice to others who want the advice. What is important is the future of the party and the fact that we want to make ourselves a very viable and effective opposition to the All Progressives Congress so that our people can begin to draw very useful conclusions on how we an about issues. As I told you, we have image problem but the problem will be solved with time; that is what the BoT is saying; that if the PDP is able to solve its image problem and be able to cement itself with the people of Nigeria, then, we can confidently go to them in 2019 and ask them to vote for us.
As the BoT rejected Sheriff, which aspirant was the board considering for PDP chairmanship?
We were not considering any particular person. The BoT was satisfied with the fact that the North-East, which was the zone where Mu’azu came from before he vacated (resigned) the seat of chairman, should produce the chairman. And then, the North-East nominated people for the position. What is interesting about Sheriff is that he was not one of the five nominees meant to vie for the post. The governors and some people felt he should be (chairman) and they nominated him. Today, he is the chairman.
Don’t you think the alleged back-door nomination of Sheriff will further worsen the intra-party crisis the PDP has been battling with?
No. We are going to resolve all issues. Like I said, what is important to the BoT is the fact that the PDP must sustain its political posture of being able to win elections. We want to win elections. Most of the elections held since the last general elections (in 2015) have been won by the PDP. It is very significant. And if we can put our home in order; if we can maintain stability and peace, then, the PDP will remain a credible political force in Nigeria and the people will give it the opportunity to return to power.
It was reported that one of the reasons Sheriff was chosen as PDP chairman was for him to spend his wealth on the party. Is funding part of the party’s challenges?
I can assure you that the BoT never took into consideration whether somebody was rich or not. Yes, wealth is important for anybody who wants to play politics but it is not the ultimate thing; you have to consider many other things. I mentioned image problem and credibility. I also spoke about attachment to the people because they have the power. Money or no money is not significant at all. If he has money, he cannot claim that he bribed BoT members. That is important. We were mindful of the image of the party; we were mindful of that fact that we wanted our party to return to power in 2019.
How does the PDP plan to redeem its image if its chairman having a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and is being accused of having links with Boko Haram?
I want to say this and I will say it with all seriousness and utmost respect for Nigerians and the democracy we are operating: We are not concerned about somebody having a case with the EFCC. Why is it now that the EFCC is coming out to say Sheriff is having a case with them? We must stop regimentation of politics. It appears that the EFCC is regimenting politics such that when somebody comes out and they (APC) feel that he or she should be brought down, the commission will come out to say he or she is having a case with it. As far as we are concerned, we feel that the image credibility of the party is very important at this time and that is what we have been using in the BoT to assess the coming of Sheriff to the party.
In any case, Sheriff has only three months to work and return the party to where he found it. Three months! By May, Sheriff must vacate office. If by May he doesn’t vacate office, a new show would have been created and then we will know that the PDP has a problem that must be confronted.
Are you aware that there is a plan for Sheriff to remain the chairman of PDP for more than three months, perhaps till 2019, which allegedly made the ex-governor to boast that he would help sack President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC from government and reinstate your party in the next election?
I want to assure you that the majority of the organs of the party have opted that he remains in office for only three months and leave the place. He should forget about returning the party to power in 2019. It is for the party and its constitution to decide that. If he is a party man, he should stay in the party after leaving office to support whatever decision the party will take. He cannot tell us what to do, he can’t. He knows that he cannot tell us that.
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