19th July, 2016
The Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State has announced plans to reconstitute local government caucuses of the party as part of its ongoing reform.
The State Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Hyat made this known on Tuesday in Kaura, Kaduna state.
He said that the change was in pursuant to section 31 of the party’s guidelines which specified those qualified to be nominated as caucus members and stakeholders at that level.
“Our checks have shown that people were just handpicked into such positions without resort to the party’s constitution.
“Obviously, such individuals did not meet the criteria which also affected their ability to influence PDP’s electoral fortunes and ultimately cost us so much.
“So, what we are doing is to rejig the party at the local levels to strengthen our capacity to get back to our feet and start all over again,” he said.
He said that the party’s State Executive Council had resolved to bring on board influential persons “with good track records and good names” to sell PDP’s reforms and renewed focus at the grassroots.
Hyat said that the party would carry everyone along in its quest to rebuild its house, and advised members to feel free to offer suggestions on the way forward.
The chairman also explained that the current reforms were aimed at tackling missteps that led to the poor electoral fortunes of the party in the 2015 elections.
“There were all manners of allegations bordering on utter disregard for guidelines and members’ feelings; the party was severally accused of impunity. We are out to correct such ills and avoid a repeat of the bad days,” he said.
He assured that all issues would be addressed to the satisfaction of members “especially with respect to areas not captured by the constitution.”
“In deciding on who should repesent which interest, we have realised that some areas may be left out if adequate care was not taken. So, we have tried to be as fair as possible.”
Hyat advised PDP members against remaining silent even when things are not well run in the country “just because we are not in power.”
“A political party should not be silent just because it is not in government.
“When government goes on, there must be the opposition to assess performances, which is the advantage democracy enjoys over any other form of governance.
“It is the responsibility of the opposition to enlighten the public on the desirability or otherwise of policies.
“We must generate and share ideas because it is a cross fertilisation of such ideas that determine the fate and growth of any nation.
“Again, it is good to emphasise here that it is when we all keep quiet that a dictatorship could emerge and that will ultimately rob the citizens of the gains of a budding democracy,” he said.