PDP Governors Mock ADC Defectors, Call Party A ‘One-Chance Vehicle’
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has mocked members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who left for the party, saying they are now realising they boarded a “one-chance vehicle.”
In a statement issued by its director-general, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, the forum accused ADC defectors of resorting to “irresponsible verbal attacks” out of frustration. It likened them to the prodigal son, stressing that the PDP remains open to repentant members who show genuine remorse.
The reaction followed backlash from the ADC and some Zamfara residents, who faulted the PDP governors’ dinner and gathering in Gusau, describing it as insensitive in the face of the state’s worsening insecurity.
ADC national publicity secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, had called the Gusau event “an insensitive jamboree,” accusing the governors of ignoring citizens grieving recent bandit attacks.
But the PDP governors dismissed the criticism.
“Ordinarily, we would not grant them the rare privilege of joining issues, but it is our sense of responsibility to correct the erroneous impression being forced down the sensibilities of the innocent Nigerian public that necessitates this response.
“Playing politics and trying to gain political capital with human lives isn’t our stock in trade, as is characteristic of the ADC. The Zamfara meeting was scheduled and not a spur-of-the-moment thing. ADC should have done better by empathising through a visit to the affected states than playing to the gallery,” the forum said.
The governors explained that the Gusau meeting deliberated extensively on the state of the nation, security, and other national concerns, before issuing a communiqué.
“The Forum, particularly commends initiatives by the government of Zamfara State in significantly curbing insecurity within the state; but condemns the continued monstrous killings in Katsina, Plateau, Niger and Benue States and other parts of the country and calls on the federal government to be more responsive to the lives and properties of the citizenry,” Agbo stated.
According to the PDP Governors’ Forum, the ADC’s exit has brought peace and stability to the PDP.
“Since their exit, the PDP has become much more formidable and focused, with clear determination to have our eyes on the ball.
“The ADC before now, with their inordinate sense of entitlement, constituted a huge clog to the wheel of national unity and harmony. That the ADC couldn’t see the centrality of security in our deliberations isn’t surprising, as the prodigal son wasn’t known to have any pity on his father’s fortune,” the statement added.
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