By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said recent comments of some of the party leaders on the Rivers State political crisis were not only unguarded but capable of disparaging critical organs of the party, inflame passions, cause division among members and bring the PDP to public disrepute for their selfish reasons.

The PDP particularly mentioned former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, saying that his comments on the crisis were made apparently with the intent to inject bad blood and drag down the party for self-seeking motives.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon.

The statement reassured that the PDP remained united and firmly on ground in Rivers State and other parts of the country despite the challenges.

Lamido in a statement via his official Facebook page on Tuesday had tackled the PDP over what he described as the party’s lack of action in the crisis plaguing the Rivers State.

He said, “do we still have the National Working Committee of the PDP? Or better still, do we have a party called PDP?”

“If we have one of the two, how come their total absence in the saga playing out in the PDP Family in Rivers? Is the docility of the leadership of the PDP so comatose to the extent that President Tinubu of APC, our sworn rival and opponent, is now the grand patriarch of the PDP?

“It is inconceivable that a political party will simply sit back and allow its fortunes to be taken over by a rapacious scavenger, the APC. What President Tinubu did in the so-called peace meeting is not brokering peace in Rivers State, but using his office to enhance the fortunes of his political party.

“Many areas are yearning for peace in the country where President Tinubu’s political expertise, sagacity, and wisdom are needed. What skills has he applied to stop the killings of citizens in Nigeria, which is his primary responsibility which he has conveniently looked away?

“Unwittingly the so-called peace accord in Rivers only planted the mines which will explode in the not-too-distant future with collateral consequences on the entire country. Asari Mujaheed Tokubo and Chief Edwin Clark alluded to this last week”

But the PDP re-assured all members, critical stakeholders and supporters of the party that its interventions particularly with regard to the political development in Rivers State were yielding desired results.

It noted that unscrupulous individuals were being recruited by the One-Party-State seeking APC administration to undermine the cohesion that exists within the PDP which will enable it to effectively perform its opposition role for the sustenance of democracy and the wellbeing of Nigerians.

“It is rather unfortunate that such inexcusable conducts, comments, utterances and betrayals are coming from individuals who have benefited immensely from the PDP but who have the record and notoriety of brazenly betraying the party in various elections and at slightest opportunity for their selfish interests.

“It is instructive to state that some of the challenges that plagued our party in the recent past and those confronting it at the moment are traceable to the comments, utterances and actions of these unpatriotic individuals which are inconsistent with the opportunity that the party gave them in the past,” the statement said.

According to Ologunagba, the minimum that Nigerians and indeed members of the PDP expect from such leaders is to show appreciation and commitment to the Party and the nation by engaging in constructive suggestions that will be in the interest of our party and Nigerians with regard to good governance and not to engage in actions that undermine the genuine efforts being made by the leadership of the party which may not be in line with their selfish political venture and expectations.

He said those leaders must understand and recognize that their actions and utterances were not only inimical to the wellbeing of Nigerians but also in gross violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP, especially Sections 57, 58 and 59 of the Constitution of the PDP.

“The NWC therefore in very strong terms cautions such leaders to be mindful of their actions, utterances and conducts which are contrary to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP.

“The NWC, in its responsibility to protect the integrity of our party from such further unwarranted aggressions, will henceforth not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary or punitive action against such individuals in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP,” he said.

Ologunagba urged members to remain united, alert and focused in resisting the antics of the APC and its agents to destabilize the PDP and impose a one-party system on the nation.