The attention of the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro PhD, has been drawn to a statement issued by one Oladimeji Fabiyi said to be a “…chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar” in which he referred to Senator Moro’s comment on the outcome of the 2023 presidential election as ”shameless and misleading”.
Fabiyi described Senator Moro’s assertion that fielding Atiku as presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election was the reason the PDP lost the election as “…a display of shamelessness and arrogant misrepresentation of facts.”
There would have been no need responding to Fabiyi’s tirade since he’s only defending his interest, but the rebuttal is necessary for the sake of the unsuspecting populace that may be misled by the statement.
For the records, Senator Moro only stated the obvious, which most Nigerians already know and have been talking about since 2023. Majority of Nigerians believe it was against equity, fairness and justice for PDP to field a Northern candidate after a Northern President Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
Several factors, including the emergence of G-5 governors, which partly led to the defeat of the party at the polls, were because of the choice of a Northern candidate. So one wonders how Senator Moro lied or misled the public to be accused of ‘dishonesty’ by Fabiyi?
Fabiyi, in his misguided utterance, alleged that Senator Moro is pushing out the fallacious narrative ‘…in order to satisfy his paymaster’. This is not only laughable but ridiculous. Senator Moro’s only ‘paymaster’ are the good people of Benue South Senatorial District and Nigerians at large that he has been representing in the senate. They are those who elected him and paying him, and not any individual.
As a man who stands for the truth at all times, a former lecturer, former council chairman, former board chairman, former minister, a serving senator and minority leader of the senate, Senator Moro has gotten to a level to be able to call a spade a spade, not minding whose ox is gored. He was everywhere campaigning for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2023, even at the risk of losing his own election. He did that because of his unflinching commitment and loyalty to the party and the respect he has for Alh. Atiku Abubakar, but that does not erase the obvious fact that Atiku’s choice and that of the vice presidential candidate, Okowa, cost the party the election.
If Fabiyi refuses to see those reasons and is rather taking on Senator Moro instead of joining hands to correct the wrongs of the past, then it’s unfortunate.
Senator Moro, a founding member of the PDP and a consistent party man has kept faith with the party since inception and has never defected or betrayed the party in any election before. So Fabiyi coming from a camp that cannot boast of such loyalty and commitment has no credibility to accuse the senator of any wrongdoing.
It is inconceivable how, in a diverse country like Nigeria a presidential candidate and party chairman can come from the same region. Yet the likes of Fabiyi did not see good reason to advise their principal of the imperative need to adjust strategy appropriately.
For Fabiyi having been a minister was a ticket to richness. But Senator Moro is not rich yet does not succumb to crumbs from any master’s table.
Against all odds, Senator Moro didn’t pander to the antics of the G5 formed in the aftermath of the irregular primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party informed by the inordinate ambitions of a select individuals in 2023. That decision cost Senator Moro the friendship of childhood friends. Yet the senator’s campaign vehicles adorned the pictures of HE Atiku Abubakar and he campaigned for the ticket as if his life depended on the election.
It’s therefore uncharitable to accuse the senator of betrayal when it is obvious that it was the misdirection of the presidential campaign by the likes of Fabiyi that derailed the fortune of the party at the polls. And when it matters most to pick up the pieces, the Fabiyis advised HE, Atiku Abubakar to abandon the party. And now that the party is bouncing, back they’re loosing sleep.
Senator Moro, Wike and the ilk are not PDP biggest mistakes and error, as alleged by Fabiyi. Nigerians know the party’s biggest mistakes and error, and that’s what they are correcting today. Now that peace and tranquility have returned to the party, because of the events of the last few weeks, it’s hopeful that the party will return to its winning ways and Fabiyi is enjoined to join the train, if he has no confidence in his new party before it’s too late.
Senator Moro aligns completely with the decision of the party to zone its presidential candidate to the south in 2027 so as not to repeat the mistake of 2023. Fabiyi should accept that decision in good faith as there’s nothing he and his paymasters can do about it. And if they see that as an endorsement of President Tinubu, it’s their opinion, which they are entitled to.
Emmanuel Eche’Ofun John,
Media Adviser to the Senate Minority Leader