MODU SHERIFF IN THE EYES OF
THE STORM…
Dayo Onibiyo
North Central Coordinator- PDP Ambassadors
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), undoubtedly the most cohesive and diminutive party in Africa, coming back from a three fractioned splits IN LESS THAN TEN MONTHS to one united family, while the last of the renegades of the ruling APC, fifteen (15) months into its ruling status have not being able to put in place just a Board of Trustee, HOW MUCH CLEAR THE AIR ON WHO ITS LEADER IS!
Modu Sheriff’s resistance to quitting the office of the National Chairman of the PDP prior to the first aborted National Convention in Port-Harcourt heralded the coming of the group led by Mantu Ibrahim, former Deputy Senate President and the lord at AIT, Raymond Dokpesi with more of the former Ministers falling into line, while the Governors were believed to have produced Markafi in consultation with the Concerned PDP Stakeholders as led still by Mantu, thus leading to the Markafi – Modu debacle.
At that juncture, some self-acclaimed “owners” of the PDP sees themselves in the picture of Markafi and said to itself, there is no faction in the PDP, while some, sees it as PDP vs Modu, and others like me see it as Markafi Group versus Modu Group, which eventually, was the scenario that played out until real balance was struck to bring PDP to one, that we now savour and are proud off.
Modu Sheriff as a character is what I seek to see in the unfolded events, as he wrestled the truth to reality in the PDP to set the tone for a great recovery of the party in Nigeria and to enthrone PDP back to the leadership of the most solid party in Africa with best internal mechanism. This I had set from an observer position in my interview with the Tribune Newspaper published on the 16th day of March, 2016, captioned WHY PDP NEEDS MODU SHERIFF AS CHAIRMAN.
While the Governors actively in majority struggles the steering for the soul of the party, Senator Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff stood the edge of the party, by its wheels and dictates the direction of movement, not deterred by the mass-movement mobilized by the Governors, which Modu believed is the unfortunate abuse of party members freedom as supressed by the Governors using State fiat and resources. Modu Sheriff believes that, that movement is not real and not the actual representation of the situation of the party members, whom if given the real-time field situation, will opt freely for his continued leadership.
In the course of the struggle, I did not see Modu Sheriff exchanging words with anyone, even the Fani Kayodes and others, who took a swipe at him or threw jabs while the fierce battle lasted. His collection, body language, calmness and exuded confidence, most times, takes me undoubtedly to a deep reflection as to why he is so unperturbed.
The Courts also became key players in the matter as they dished out various judgements according to their own understanding, perception and time interpretation of the occurrence of the events, and what they called facts before them, the Justices! One thing stood very clear all the way, that Modu Sherrif had a good team keeping track of timing of events of the PDP inside and outside his own camp, the Court matters, got so confusing that, the Governors case was suddenly instituted in Port-Harcourt, exposing the fact that, there is an attempt to remotely control the life of PDP from Cross Rivers, as if this is the catalyst needed by SARS, he launched the final onslaught on the team.
Another striking feature of the Modu Sherrif leadership, was that, despite the glaring mutilation of the PDP Constitution when it formed the Caretaker Committee, he refused to expose the PDP by sueing it on that strength, believing, it can be counter-productive and could lead the party to nakedness. Clearly, the Constitution has stated and still states that, any amendment to the Constitution, should be kick started via a Notice issued by the party through its National Secretary to all the Chapters, at least, three months before the Convention, this was not done before the first aborted National Convention, and by extension, illegal, so thinking ahead, Modu’s fight was never a willing one to kill the fowl that lays the eggs, he had instead, consistently fought leaving room for reconciliation.
At several points in the struggle of maturity exhibited by the party which did not see, any of the groups ridiculing its leaders as in the case of the APC which will at will either throw tantrums or do a public protest against Tinubu or mess the Court premises up by asking for the head of the APC member who is the Senate President or their suspected leader fuelling the trial from asunder.
When Modu Sherrif pulled the hat trick, using a master stroke, by announcing his willingness to quit as the National Chairman, but gave conditions for doing so, his popularity soared through and deep into the west, as that sent a strong signal of a man who wanted peace and desired it simultaneously, leaving people to doubt the sincerity of the other camp, who is not shifting grounds. More members of the PDP found out immediately, that, his readiness to exit the office, sets the platform for resolution of the protracted crisis, which unfortunately then, was not grabbed by the other group, until they got sunk at the water fronts in the Liberation Stadium in Port-Harcourt, when it became clear, that executive rascality was not going to bury the truth and sway things there way as usual.
The former President of the Country, GEJ GCFR had said it openly at a point that, the Governors or and Markafi group should resolve with Modu, the President insisted that none of the two groups could go it alone and sued for peace, as PDP must move forward, notwithstanding the way some PDP members looked at Chief Olusegun Aremu Mathew Okikiola Obasanjo GCFR for tearing into pieces his PDP membership Card, he added his voice on Modu’s visit to him by saying that NIGERIA NEED A STRONG OPPOSITION PARTY, WHICH THE PDP IS NOT OFFERING AND THAT THE APC IS NIETHER A STRONG RULING PARTY, Modu in his usual manner, shocked many and took them by surprise though the sudden visit to the Ebora of Owu at Ota.
At all bends the noise against Modu Sherif that, he is being sponsored by the APC to scuttle the PDP recovery process and ultimately kill the party; became sour, having got tired of singing such unceremonious song, they alleged that he is a boko haram member or sponsor. In the speed of light, It became so clear, that, a good and intelligent listener will find an instant fault and disjoints in such a weakling’s submission, as Modu practically walked out of the APC not that he was kicked out of the APC; besides, is it money that the APC has given to Modu or position? As you are not likely to count any man richer than him in the APC put together, or is it the low-thinking say that, he is Buhari’s in-law, and I asked, so, if the PDP or any party gives Modu its Presidential ticket, Modu will now say “NO o, I CANT CONTEST AGAINST BUHARI BECAUSE HE IS MY INLAW OR WHAT
Well, if two people are locked in a fight and one agrees to step don and calls for the other to, do the same, based on his emergence, and instead request a neutral person is enthroned, in conflict management, the milestone tempo set is just unequalled and the required pinnacle to attain peace.
Glad am sure is any PDP member that, the party is on its way to be ONE AGAIN as we saw the Secretary of the two groups addressed a Press Conference on what I called a matured Cease Fire, to the shame of the back-stage drummers.
The laying to rest of the unpopular statement of the PDP belongs to us by some individual or a cabal that milked the party and nation dry and eventually misled the Presidency recording PDP’s first and last defeat, was laid to rest by Modu Sheriff, a tactician, business Modu, dogged fighter, who threw in his resources and time, showing he was not just a Senator in error or a two Governor of Borno State by accident.
With this development, the PDP can be rest assured that the party at the end of the day, will be back in the hands of the PEOPLE!