The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said
on Thursday that the ages of its
National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur and
the Chairman of the Board of Trustees,
Tony Anenih do not negatively impact
on the party's progress, but that the
two men have contributed immensely
to the development, peace and progress
of Nigeria.
The ruling party stated this in a statement
by the office of its National Chairman and
signed by his media aide, Oliver Okpala, in
reaction to a recent remark by E.O
Chukwuma, an Anglican Bishop of Enugu,
who described Messrs Tukur and Anenih
as too old to be in politics.
The clergyman also asked them to quit
politics in order to pave way for the young
people.
Both Messrs Tukur and Anenih are over 70
years.
The party, which specifically defended Mr
Tukur's position, said God had used the
national chairman to bless Nigeria
abundantly, adding that he was not in
politics to make money but to serve the
people.
"God uses all persons both young and old
to bless His people. It is therefore beyond
dispute that God has blessed our Nation
abundantly through the good work and
activities of Alhaji Dr Bamanga Tukur, the
National Chairman of PDP. He should
know that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is not in
politics to make money," the party said.
The party asked the clergyman to realize
that Mr. Tukur had over the years made
his name and contributed to the stability
and peace the country enjoys today
having served it in different capacities.
It added that the national chairman had
decided to use his wealth of experience
and knowledge to move Nigeria forward
and to impact on the wisdom of her senior
citizens, stressing that there was no
country in the world that dispenses with
such experiences.
It said, "He should realize that Dr.
Bamanga Tukur has over the years made
his name and contributed to the stability
and peace we enjoy today in Nigeria
having served Nigeria in different
outstanding capacities.
"He is in politics as a patriot, nationalist
and elder statesman who have decided to
use his wealth of experience and
knowledge to move this Country forward
and to impact wisdom and knowledge to
the younger generation.
"There is no country in the world which
dispenses with the experience, knowledge
and wisdom of her Senior Citizens. On the
contrary the Elder Statesmen are
respected, revered, honoured and
appreciated.
"Nelson Mandela is a case in point as he
has been honoured and respected at
home and abroad even as a nonagenarian.
Nobody has written him off as a dead
wood simply because he is old and sick."
The PDP berated Mr Chukwuma over his
comments, saying they were not only
careless but also suggested ignorance,
hatred and absolute lack of knowledge of
the rudiments of politics.
"It therefore behoves on us to correct this
wrong impression especially coming from
an Anglican Communion Bishop whose
statements bother on falsity implicit on
careless utterances portraying him as a
politician in the cassock of a Reverend,"
the ruling party stressed.
"Clearly, these comments attributed to the
Bishop are absolute hogwash and
absolute nonsense by referring to the two
elder statesmen who have contributed
immensely to the development, peace and
progress of this country as too old to be
in politics.
"The bishop has revealed by his
utterances against the two elder statesmen
an innate hatred for them yet, the Bible
which ought to be the fulcrum and pivot
of Bishop Chukwuma's religion as a man
of God abhors and condemn hatred. The
Bible even teaches us further that one
should love his neighbour like himself."
"It is therefore amazing and bizarre that a
man of God like Bishop Chukwuma who
recently met and danced off his 24 years
episcopacy should cash off his cassock to
descend into the political fray. Respect for
elders is part of our African heritage and
tradition. Therefore, a supposed man of
God who has no respect for elders is not
worth his calling and shouldn't have made
those unguided statements.
"It is not a crime to be old because in the
Bible, God used old people such as
Abraham, Sarah and David to manifest His
goodness and greatness. At 50 years,
Bishop Chukwuma himself is not exactly a
spring chicken. His utterances therefore
are a clear manifestation of a man who
does not practice or abide by what he
preaches."
The party appealed to the authorities of
Anglican Church to call Mr. Chukwuma to
order, saying, "We finally entreat the
Primate and metropolitan of the Anglican
Communion in Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Nicholas
Okoh to order and restrain Bishop
Chukwuma from further tarnishing the
image of the Anglican Communion and her
priests in Nigeria."
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