Why we’re reviving Yar’Adua structure, by Atiku

Former Vice President Abubakar

THE need to ‘protect the common interest’ of members of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM),the political machinery of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, informed the on-going plan to revive  it, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said.

The PDM fused into the ruling PDP as its most influential component at the inception of the party in1998,going on to determine the direction of the party and who got what by way of nomination  for elective offices and appointments.

Its influence has however diminished over the years partly on account of being submerged by the PDP.

Atiku, who along with former Works Minister, Chief Tony Anenih, was the soul of the group said yesterday that it is now imperative to protect the common interest of PDM members. He spoke through his media aide, Mallam  Shehu Garba.

He debunked speculation that the rejuvenated PDM is designed to checkmate the alleged re-election plans of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

“No, that is not the reason and we are not aware of such plans by the President. As I said, the aim of the revival meetings is to re-position the political association so as to protect the common interest of members,” he said.

Garba also dismissed speculations that Atiku is not part of the new moves because he is still bearing grudge against the coordinators on the strength of their actions during the 2011 presidential primaries, when the group supported Jonathan.

“That is also not true. In fact, Atiku is in full support of the current developments and would have been at last weekend’s meeting. He was not there simply because he was away in Yola and could not make it. He was however represented by no less a personality than Alhaji Lawal Kaita, the former governor of old Kaduna State,” he said.

On whether the revival of the association will not contravene the current rule that PDP will not condone existence of caucuses, Garba said “PDM is not a caucus; it is only an interest group within PDP. It is just a situation where people with common interest decide to come together to protect their common interest.”

Several reasons have been adduced for the recent moves to revive the once powerful political association that merged with some other groups to form the PDP in 1998. While some observers claimed that it was a move by some northern leaders to checkmate Jonathan’s 2015 re-election plans, others said it was the Presidency’s men at work, in a desperate scheme to divide PDP and thereby set the stage for Jonathan’s emergence in 2015 PDP primaries.