How PDP can rise again – Pioneer women leader

The pioneer women leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Iyom Josephine Anenih, says the party will rise again if its leaders bury ego, restore discipline, rebuild trust and recommit to service. In a statement, she said as the PDP held its national convention in Ibadan, on Saturday, she has faith in its possibilities, adding […]

The pioneer women leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Iyom Josephine Anenih, says the party will rise again if its leaders bury ego, restore discipline, rebuild trust and recommit to service.

In a statement, she said as the PDP held its national convention in Ibadan, on Saturday, she has faith in its possibilities, adding that millions of Nigerians still look to it for leadership, stability and a credible alternative.

She, however, warned that “if we fail to confront our shortcomings, the PDP will become a relic of history, a cautionary tale of how complacency and pride destroyed what was once Africa’s largest political party.”

She urged all delegates and leaders of the party to make the convention a turning point that would mark a transition in leadership and a renewal of purpose.

The statement partly reads: “This moment demands honesty. In recent years the PDP has been weakened not only by external forces but by failures within. Our National Working Committee, our Board of Trustees, our governors, and other senior leaders allowed factionalism, ego, indiscipline, and internal sabotage to undermine the party. At a time when Nigerians needed a strong opposition to hold government to account and to present a clear and credible alternative, we did not rise to our responsibility. We must accept this truth because only truth can rebuild trust.

“Yet even as leaders faltered, our members did not. The real strength of the PDP has always been found in the ordinary men and women across this country who remained loyal despite the turmoil at the top. They endured frustration and disappointment yet refused to abandon the party. They are the reason the PDP still stands. This convention owes its purpose to them.

“Electing a new National Executive Committee will not by itself resolve the deep fractures, suspicion, and structural weaknesses that brought us here. The challenges before us require humility, courage, and a willingness to place the party and the nation above personal ambition.

“To all contending factions and tendencies I make a sincere appeal. Sheath your swords.
No battle against fellow party members strengthens the PDP. No faction can lead a divided party to victory. This Convention must be the place where old quarrels end and where all sides recommit to the collective vision that built this party twenty seven years ago. But unity without discipline is fragile.

“One of our most serious failures has been the refusal to enforce the rules of the party. For too long impunity has gone unpunished and misconduct has had no consequences. A political party cannot survive if its constitution is treated as optional. Renewal requires accountability. Those who undermine the party must face penalties and those who uphold its values must be supported and encouraged.

“The PDP’s duty is not only to itself. It is to Nigeria. A country facing hardship, insecurity, and rising despair cannot afford a weak or confused opposition. The PDP must once again become the party that offers hope, clarity, and responsible leadership. Nigeria deserves nothing less.”