Dickson: PDP leaders, governors ‘messed up’ historic party
Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has accused leaders and governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of mismanaging the party and plunging it into
Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has accused leaders and governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of mismanaging the party and plunging it into crisis through poor leadership and unilateral decisions.
Dickson, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, said the prolonged crisis in the party reflected a failure of leadership by key stakeholders.
“I am very bothered about the crisis in the PDP, which has festered for so long and which frankly speaks to a lack of leadership,” he said.
He accused former party leaders and governors of taking strategic decisions without adequate consultation and later seeking rescue when such decisions backfired.
“They keep calling the shots and take leadership decisions, strategic decisions, sometimes without consulting people. And before you know what is happening, they who have taken those decisions without listening to advice are the ones to bail out,” he said.
Dickson said the party’s decline was worsened by governors who treated the PDP as personal property.
“The PDP leaders have messed up completely, and the governors have missed every opportunity to pursue and achieve a reasonable solution to save a historic brand like PDP that they are toying with. Maybe they think it’s their personal property, but the PDP is a national brand,” he said.
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He lamented that internal divisions and failure to act decisively had weakened the party, noting that governors contributed to factionalisation.
“The governors contributed to taking sides, not taking decisive actions when they should have, dividing the party according to camps and allowing whatever little ambitions they had to go into their heads,” he added.
Dickson said the decline of the PDP was particularly painful given its historical role in Nigeria’s political development.
“It’s unfortunate what has happened to PDP. What has happened to PDP? I can’t even wish for an enemy. A party formed by great democrats, a great party that they formed for all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, irrespective of religion,” he said.
He said the party’s founding leaders built it as a national platform symbolised by an umbrella for all Nigerians.
“They selected an umbrella as a symbol. Wherever you are in this country, the rain and the sun will not touch you. This umbrella will protect you,” he said.
Despite his criticisms, Dickson said he remained in the PDP out of loyalty to the party.
“I am still in PDP because I’m faithful to the platform that has given my people so much and also given me so much,” he said.
He warned that leaders who treated the party casually risked destroying a historic institution.
“Every small person who is in one office now will just carry on as if they own the party. The party that we admitted them to, gave them tickets, fought for them, supported them,” he said.
