by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
A Stakeholders Engagement Meeting was recently held in Jos – to brainstorm on the stance of Plateau People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the midst of “cross-border” decamping of party members.
During the event, one of the participants, Kefiano Kefas Ropshak, disclosed that “PDP does not have any internal issues; everybody knows that. The issue we are talking about is the national PDP crisis, which we all know is being orchestrated by some individuals who have already been expelled from the party. There is no incumbent involved in that matter.
Kefiano Ropshak made the assertion in an interview with Journalist recently at the PDP Secretariat in Jos, when he also noted that, “The stakeholders engagement meeting is very strategic; it is meant to boost morale.”
According to him, “Everybody on the Plateau knows about the wave of defections to the APC, following the governor’s defection. But we must all agree that about 90 to 95 percent of those defecting are appointees and political office holders, and that is normal in politics.
“However, as you can see from the turnout at this meeting, the People’s Democratic Party, as far as Plateau State is concerned, remains stable and intact. From the contributions of party leaders and members, you can hear it clearly: PDP is Plateau, and Plateau is PDP – and that is the truth,” he noted.
“Now, some of you know that I once had an association with the APC in the past – not as a card-carrying member, but as part of the Plateau Project at the time. When that project was concluded, the results were overwhelming. The people reclaimed their mandate, and afterward, they again returned the mandate to the People’s Democratic Party,” he said.
He further explained that, “That shows clearly that politics on the Plateau is about the people. You can never take that away from them.”
Ropshak explained that, “The people of Plateau are very resolute. In the last election, they defeated an incumbent government. So, we are confident about the weeks ahead, and we know that at the end of the day, Plateau will remain PDP, and PDP will carry the day.
“As far as the party is concerned, PDP remains resolute. PDP is one, and PDP will continue to be one. We are not scared, we are not threatened, and we are not carried away by the number of defections.
“Defection is normal in every political setting. As you heard in the meeting, many people are leaving for personal reasons – for their pockets and their stomachs,” he stressed.
“We are also confident that the APC itself will face serious challenges during its primaries, and many of those, who have left, will return. So, we are stable, and that is our position as far as PDP on the Plateau is concerned,” he said.
Kefiano Ropshak also observed that, “Before now, there have been speculations that I may be contesting for a position on the PDP platform. You also mentioned that many defections, including that of the governor, are being linked to fear of losing seats and personal ambition. You asked whether I am comfortable and not scared to remain on this platform.
“Let me answer that directly. Anyone, who has been following me, knows that I am contesting for the Plateau Central senatorial seat on the PDP platform, and I remain committed to that ambition,” he stated.
“On the issue of defection because of fear or party instability, I completely disagree. I believe there are deeper reasons that many of us are not aware of, and that is the truth.
“As far as I am concerned, this issue will be resolved. And even, if it is not, commonsense should prevail – just like what Governor Adeleke did in Osun State – by sitting down and engaging stakeholders.”
According to Ropshak, “For someone like me, after supporting people who won elections under the PDP but had their mandates stolen in court, to now return to the same party that took those mandates – that would be unacceptable to me. That is the truth.
“Even the Press does not have full information on why the governor defected. There are rumours that results may be written and announced, but I find that difficult to accept in a democratic setting. In politics, you only regret what you fail to defend,” he explained.
He added that, that is why some of them were strongly urging the governor to remain in the party, saying, “Once the people are with you, it becomes very difficult for anyone to write results against you. Plateau State has one of the most educated electorates in Nigeria. People here know what they want.
“When you look at what happened in the last election that brought in the governor – we all know the attempts that were made to steal the mandate. People slept at collation centres just to protect their votes. That same spirit will prevail again.”
He buttressed that, “Whether anyone likes it or not, Plateau remains PDP, and PDP remains Plateau. I say this without any doubt. For me, remaining in the PDP is a matter of integrity.
“Many of you journalists know that during the last election, I contested for governorship. There was propaganda that I was sponsored by the former APC governor to destabilise the party. That is exactly why I will be the last person to leave the PDP – to prove a point,” he said.
“I believe in myself, I believe in the people of Plateau State, and I remain a committed PDP member. I was never sponsored by anyone. Today, those who accused me are the same people defecting to the APC. That alone proves those allegations wrong.
“Let me say this clearly: if I am the last person left in the PDP, I will remain. Many people will leave and come back. We will hold on until they discover the difference between where they have gone and where we are. They will return and meet us here,” he assured.
He promised to stand by the party, support it financially and otherwise, and they are resolute. They are not going anywhere.
Kefiano Ropshak also disclosed that, “As many of you know, I am a businessman. I am one of those who should be afraid and rush to the APC because my business interests are at stake. But I choose integrity over convenience. I choose the people over political survival,” and assured that, “I remain a member of the People’s Democratic Party, and I will remain here. Even, if I am the last man standing, I will stand.”