The embattled Chairman of the Plateau State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Damishi Sango today resigned and handed over to the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Amos Gombi.

His made this known at a Press Conference at the PDP State Secretariat in Jos, Plateau State.

Below is the Press Statement:

FAREWELL PRESS CONFERENCE BY HON. DAMISHI TONSON SANGO, CHAIRMAN PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY PDP PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER, HELD THURSDAY DECEMBER 5TH, 2019 AT THE PARTY SECRETARIAT N0. 20/22 YAKUBU GOWON WAY, 1054

Protocol,

Gentlemen of the media, great party men and Women, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you are aware that since April this year, the state chapter of our great party, the People Democratic Party (PDP) has been rocked by a tsunami-like crisis that has threatened its very existence as one united political party. This followed my purported suspension along with my deputy, respectively, by some members of the executive committee on trumped up allegations of mismanaging fund meant for the party’s logistics arrangements in the 201 presidential election in the State.

Following the unfortunate incident, determined to resolve the crisis and get the chapter moving again, the national leadership of the Party, led by Prince Uche Secondus, set three-man committee, under the chairmanship of Senator David Mark, to look into the said allegations and advise accordingly.

After a painstaking exercise by both the David Mark led committee and the National Working Committee (NWC), an interactive session with stakeholders of the party arrived at the following resolutions:

The Senator Mark Committee did not find me guilty of any financial impropriety, and so I was exonerated of all allegations against me.

Pursuant to my being exonerated, the group of 16 executive committee members should write to NWC withdrawing these allegations.

Upon the withdrawal of the allegations and in consideration of the fact that there is bad blood between me and some of the executive committee members, particularly the group of 16, I should step aside to pave way for peace to reign in the party.

Gentlemen of the media, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this explains why we are here this afternoon. The group of 16 has written NWC withdrawing their petition and the NWC has formally written me a letter clearing me of all the allegations, the sequence of events is now complete. I am now formally stepping aside as State Party Chairman.

It is important to note that I had to insist on a transparent and detailed investigation in order to clear my reputation which I have built over the years. I have served this country in several capacities including being a cabinet minister and l have never been found wanting in the discharge of my duties. This letter of clearance is therefore a big relief to me, my family and well wishers, who know me very well and can attest to my integrity.

However, before I do this, I seek your indulgence to make a few remarks.

First of all, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the PDP family in the State for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity. I do not take my three-year seven months sojourn at the helm of affairs of this great Party in the State for granted.

Secondly, I would like to place on record my gratitude to the national leadership of the Party for the cooperation I received in my official capacity as State Chairman, for standing by me at my most difficult moments, and for the amicable resolution of the crisis that tended to destroy all that we had labored to put in place in the last three years.

You will recall that the present leadership of the Party in the State came on board at a time when the Party’s standing was at an all-time low, having lost the governorship of the State to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

We, thus, had the onerous task of breathing life back into the Party. We did the following, amongst so many other things: As a first step, while interactions continued informally, we set up a reconciliation committee to assuage aggrieved members, bring back those that left before and after the 2015 general elections, bring back estranged relationships, and recommend steps that would help us move forward once again. While I will appreciate those that worked tirelessly on the committee later, as I bring this conference to a close, I wish to specially recognize the highly invaluable role played by the Late Barrister Miskom Puepet in this regard.

Conscious of some of the reasons why the APC took power from us in the State, we canvassed and adopted the zoning of the position of governor, deputy governor and speaker for the purpose of the 2019 general elections only, for the first time in the history of the party in the State. It is my hope that we deepen this understanding as we put our house in order and prepare for subsequent elections; and

We came up with a framework that saw us conduct one of the most transparent gubernatorial primary elections in our twenty-one years of practicing democracy in the State.

Gentlemen of the media, Party faithful, ladies and gentlemen, I cannot leave the stage without drawing our attention to some developments that have remained pervasive in the last twenty years in the life of our great Party in the State.

Although Plateau State is the birth place of our great Party, its leadership, especially the tenure of the Chairman, has always been dictated by the whims and caprices of some forces. It is on record, and I stand to be corrected, that apart from Chief Raymond Dabo who completed the tenure of Dr. Haruna Dabin, no other was allowed to serve out his term. The self-serving individuals have over the years, through their activities, hindered the optimal functioning of the state leadership, consequently leaving in its trail mistrust among the ranks, and ending up with a fractionalized and factionalized team My stepping aside this afternoon is a product of the activities of such forces that usually feel that the leadership of the Party is there to do their bidding, even at the expense of majority considerations.

It is my earnest prayer that my exit today shall cause us to resolve that never again shall we allow narrow-focused personal or group interests to determine the tenure of elected leaders of our Party. We cannot afford to have such forced exits (albeit through trumped up allegations, like in my own case) to continue as a common feature of our journey.

Let me use this opportunity to specifically appeal to those of you who may wish to contest certain positions/ offices in the future. I have noticed over the years that there is always a tendency of creating confusion within the party or outright defection when things do not go our way even when primary elections are judged free, fair and transparent. Let us resolve to always join hands with the winners in the greater interest of the party

As I draw this conference to a close, I would like to, on behalf of my colleagues, extend our depth of gratitude to the following individuals and groups for their support and contributions of all forms to making the Party in the State to remain vibrant in spite of being in the opposition: Senator (General) Jeremiah Useni, our candidate and leader of the Party, for allowing us lean on his broad shoulders; he has, amongst other things, including the welfare of our support staff, ensured that we continue to operate from No. 20/22, Yakubu Gowon Way, Plateau State. He has also remained resolute in the defense of democracy by encouraging our team of lawyers to continue the search for the stolen mandate given him by the Plateau electorate; He is Baba Mai Tuwo indeed.

All party stakeholders at all levels who have supported us against all odds; particularly our Local Government Party Chairmen and Elders of the Party.

Our ever vibrant youths, for always being there in promoting the cause of the Party;

Our women, our mothers, for being by our side steadily;

Our faithful and loyal supporters who have made us to remain strong, even in opposition;

Our friends and well-wishers, especially the media who have not only stood by us as an opposition party, but overlooked our shortcomings;

The security agencies who have not only provided the needed atmosphere for us to operate, but have exercised patience with us under very difficult times; and finally, not by any means the least,

The legal team assembled to handle the cases involving our candidates at all levels, for working tirelessly, with abiding faith, even in the face of outright judicial manipulation.

As I bow out today, I wish to make a solemn declaration: That as a founding member of this great Party and a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will continue to avail the Party of my services at all levels and at all times. My doors shall remain wide open to all of you.

In conclusion, I call on you all to stand with our candidate and leader, and the Party as we go the last step to the Supreme Court in search of the mandate freely given to us by the good people of Plateau State. I also urge you all to give your overwhelming support to the acting chairman, Hon. Amos Gombi who has been one of our dedicated party faithful.

Finally, I appeal to us all to forgive one another, let go of sad chapters of the past, leave yesterday behind, and forge a partnership based on the ideals of this great Party. Let me conclude in the words of Louis Smedes “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you” and George Herbert puts it even more succinctly ”He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven, for everyone has the need to be forgiven” Indeed I have forgiven all and would now move on.

Long Live the Peoples Democratic Party! Long Live Ptateau State“ Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

HON. DAMISHI TONSON SANGO
5TH DECEMBER, 2019

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Embattled Plateau State PDP Chairman, Hon. D. T. Sango Finally Resigns