•To hold NEC meeting Thursday to consider Mu’azu, Babayo, others
as interim chairman
as interim chairman
The crises in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came to a head
Monday when the committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the
spiralling crises in the party demanded the immediate resignation of the
party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members led by the party’s National
Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
Monday when the committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to resolve the
spiralling crises in the party demanded the immediate resignation of the
party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members led by the party’s National
Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
THISDAY
sources at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the decision was taken to “save
the party from imminent collapse”.
sources at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the decision was taken to “save
the party from imminent collapse”.
The directive to Tukur and other NWC members to step down came
on the heels of the decision to lift the suspension slammed on the Sokoto State
Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, by the PDP for insubordination.
THISDAY had exclusively reported last week that the president had set up a
committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to resolve the crises in the party.
on the heels of the decision to lift the suspension slammed on the Sokoto State
Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, by the PDP for insubordination.
THISDAY had exclusively reported last week that the president had set up a
committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, to resolve the crises in the party.
Other members of the committee included the Chief of Staff to
the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, the President’s Special Adviser on
Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom),
Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Isa
Yuguda (Bauchi) and Theodore Orji (Abia).
All members of the committee were present at their inaugural meeting last
Saturday night except Suswam.
the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, the President’s Special Adviser on
Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, Governors Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom),
Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Isa
Yuguda (Bauchi) and Theodore Orji (Abia).
All members of the committee were present at their inaugural meeting last
Saturday night except Suswam.
Part of
the recommendations that were to be made by the committee, THISDAY had learnt,
was for the resignation of the four NWC members whose election had been
recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
the recommendations that were to be made by the committee, THISDAY had learnt,
was for the resignation of the four NWC members whose election had been
recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Although
other members of the NWC may be considered collateral damage, the real target,
THISDAY learnt, was Tukur, who had been blamed by several governors and other
party chieftains for most of the crises in the party.
other members of the NWC may be considered collateral damage, the real target,
THISDAY learnt, was Tukur, who had been blamed by several governors and other
party chieftains for most of the crises in the party.
The
presidential directive was said to have been conveyed to Tukur at a meeting at
the Legacy House, Abuja, attended by Anyim and four PDP governors.
presidential directive was said to have been conveyed to Tukur at a meeting at
the Legacy House, Abuja, attended by Anyim and four PDP governors.
According
to party sources, “The president directed that the entire NWC members should
resign and that the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting be
convened immediately.
to party sources, “The president directed that the entire NWC members should
resign and that the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting be
convened immediately.
“The
directive was as a result of the seemingly rudderless leadership headed by Alhaji
Tukur, which had been taking unilateral actions, including the suspension of
its top members.
directive was as a result of the seemingly rudderless leadership headed by Alhaji
Tukur, which had been taking unilateral actions, including the suspension of
its top members.
“The president is unhappy with the inability of Tukur to contain
the growing level of indiscipline and discontent among members of the party.
“Also, the presidency is worried about the number of court cases pending in the
various courts, even against the NWC members.
the growing level of indiscipline and discontent among members of the party.
“Also, the presidency is worried about the number of court cases pending in the
various courts, even against the NWC members.
“The president has told them that if nothing urgent is done to
save the party, it will get to an embarrassing point which is why he directed
the resignation of the NWC members to stave off future embarrassment.
“The president believes that once the NWC is out of place and a mid-term
convention holds to elect a new set of executives, the trouble and legal works
will fizzle out.”
save the party, it will get to an embarrassing point which is why he directed
the resignation of the NWC members to stave off future embarrassment.
“The president believes that once the NWC is out of place and a mid-term
convention holds to elect a new set of executives, the trouble and legal works
will fizzle out.”
However,
before the presidential directive had reached Tukur Monday, the party’s
national chairman had earlier in the day announced the lifting of the
suspension slammed on Wamakko by the party.
before the presidential directive had reached Tukur Monday, the party’s
national chairman had earlier in the day announced the lifting of the
suspension slammed on Wamakko by the party.
But he
was silent on Wamakko’s Rivers State counterpart, Chibuike Amaechi, who was also
suspended by the party for anti-party activities about a month ago.
was silent on Wamakko’s Rivers State counterpart, Chibuike Amaechi, who was also
suspended by the party for anti-party activities about a month ago.
He also
announced that the party would hold its National Executive Committee (NEC)
meeting on Thursday, June 20, 2013 by 12 noon. The last NEC meeting of the PDP
was held a year ago in July.
announced that the party would hold its National Executive Committee (NEC)
meeting on Thursday, June 20, 2013 by 12 noon. The last NEC meeting of the PDP
was held a year ago in July.
THISDAY
had also exclusively reported yesterday that the Anyim-led committee was
scheduled to meet with the NWC yesterday, during which a recommendation for
Wamakko’s recall from suspension was going to be made.
had also exclusively reported yesterday that the Anyim-led committee was
scheduled to meet with the NWC yesterday, during which a recommendation for
Wamakko’s recall from suspension was going to be made.
The
Anyim-led committee, which met during the weekend, had resolved to push for
Wamakko’s immediate recall, as his suspension was considered a costly mistake
on the part of the party.
Anyim-led committee, which met during the weekend, had resolved to push for
Wamakko’s immediate recall, as his suspension was considered a costly mistake
on the part of the party.
However,
providing clarification on the decision not to rescind the suspension of
Amaechi, Akpabio told journalists yesterday shortly after the decision on
Wamakko was taken that the party could not have lifted Amaechi’s suspension
because he was already in court.
providing clarification on the decision not to rescind the suspension of
Amaechi, Akpabio told journalists yesterday shortly after the decision on
Wamakko was taken that the party could not have lifted Amaechi’s suspension
because he was already in court.
“The matter is in court and doing anything on it would be
prejudicial. He is in court,” Akpabio explained.
Wamakko was suspended by the NWC on June 5 for allegedly disrespecting Tukur.
prejudicial. He is in court,” Akpabio explained.
Wamakko was suspended by the NWC on June 5 for allegedly disrespecting Tukur.
Following
his suspension, the PDP crises had taken a turn for the worse, especially
coming on the heels of Amaechi’s suspension.
his suspension, the PDP crises had taken a turn for the worse, especially
coming on the heels of Amaechi’s suspension.
Addressing
reporters after a two-hour meeting the NWC members held with the presidential
committee, Tukur said: “NWC has rescinded the suspension of the Sokoto State
governor on the appeal of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
reporters after a two-hour meeting the NWC members held with the presidential
committee, Tukur said: “NWC has rescinded the suspension of the Sokoto State
governor on the appeal of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
“Secondly,
the national chairman is inviting PDP statutory members to the meeting of
National Executive Committee holding on Thursday, 20 at 12 noon.”
the national chairman is inviting PDP statutory members to the meeting of
National Executive Committee holding on Thursday, 20 at 12 noon.”
Speaking
further on Wamakko’s suspension, Tukur added: “I hope this issue will never
come again. It is a great party and we believe in our nation. We need a party
as a platform to stand on, but it must be based on unity, discipline and
commitment.
further on Wamakko’s suspension, Tukur added: “I hope this issue will never
come again. It is a great party and we believe in our nation. We need a party
as a platform to stand on, but it must be based on unity, discipline and
commitment.
“We are
also going to have the NEC meeting, and we have the support to rescind the
suspension, which is a very important thing. We rescind the suspension of our
governor of Sokoto.
also going to have the NEC meeting, and we have the support to rescind the
suspension, which is a very important thing. We rescind the suspension of our
governor of Sokoto.
“With that, we are ready for further business because the NEC
meeting is the requirement of our own party, which is a way to get in touch
with the people to tell them of our programmes like the state of the nation and
also state of the party.
“So we are going to have our NEC meeting on Thursday the 20th of this month by
12 noon.”
Speaking shortly after Tukur had addressed the press, Akpabio said: “I want to
thank the national chairman and members of the working committee for granting
us the privilege of this meeting today.
meeting is the requirement of our own party, which is a way to get in touch
with the people to tell them of our programmes like the state of the nation and
also state of the party.
“So we are going to have our NEC meeting on Thursday the 20th of this month by
12 noon.”
Speaking shortly after Tukur had addressed the press, Akpabio said: “I want to
thank the national chairman and members of the working committee for granting
us the privilege of this meeting today.
“We came
as a select committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to discuss the state of
affairs of our great party, particularly the relationship between the working
committee and the PDP governors and I want to say that we made a very strong
appeal to the working committee on behalf of our colleague, the governor of
Sokoto State, Governor Wamakko.
as a select committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to discuss the state of
affairs of our great party, particularly the relationship between the working
committee and the PDP governors and I want to say that we made a very strong
appeal to the working committee on behalf of our colleague, the governor of
Sokoto State, Governor Wamakko.
“Our
appeal was very simple that the working committee should reconsider the
suspension, the decision suspending the governor and we said as guarantors that
we will be of good conduct and will do everything possible to continue to show
respect to our party and to ensure that a cordial relationship is maintained
between the working committee and the PDP governors.”
appeal was very simple that the working committee should reconsider the
suspension, the decision suspending the governor and we said as guarantors that
we will be of good conduct and will do everything possible to continue to show
respect to our party and to ensure that a cordial relationship is maintained
between the working committee and the PDP governors.”
Akpabio
explained that their decision to appeal on behalf of Wamakko was based on
numerous media reports, some of which, he said, were misleading and did not
reflect the true relationship that exists between the PDP governors and NWC.
explained that their decision to appeal on behalf of Wamakko was based on
numerous media reports, some of which, he said, were misleading and did not
reflect the true relationship that exists between the PDP governors and NWC.
“We are
mindful of the fact that we are governors today because the PDP gave us the
opportunity to fly its flag. Therefore, we will not do anything to undermine
the party.
mindful of the fact that we are governors today because the PDP gave us the
opportunity to fly its flag. Therefore, we will not do anything to undermine
the party.
“Our
appeal was very simple to the working committee that the working committee
should reconsider the suspension of our colleague and just like they say both
in the Koran and in the Bible: ‘When your child offends you, you chastise the
child but you call him back.’
appeal was very simple to the working committee that the working committee
should reconsider the suspension of our colleague and just like they say both
in the Koran and in the Bible: ‘When your child offends you, you chastise the
child but you call him back.’
“Yes, indeed, the suspension is a clear indication that the
party does not like indiscipline but we appealed that the decision should be rescinded
and we gave an undertaking to ensure that our colleague, the governor of Sokoto
would come with us to meet with the NWC.
“After that, whatever the issue of contention is, will be definitely resolved.
That was our appeal and that was our mission,” he said.
party does not like indiscipline but we appealed that the decision should be rescinded
and we gave an undertaking to ensure that our colleague, the governor of Sokoto
would come with us to meet with the NWC.
“After that, whatever the issue of contention is, will be definitely resolved.
That was our appeal and that was our mission,” he said.
On the
other aspect of the committee’s meeting with the NWC, Akpabio added: “The
working committee has also acceded to the request by the PDP governors that
there is a need for us to have a meeting of the National Executive Committee.
other aspect of the committee’s meeting with the NWC, Akpabio added: “The
working committee has also acceded to the request by the PDP governors that
there is a need for us to have a meeting of the National Executive Committee.
“We have not had it for quite some time. But when we meet, we
can look at the status of our party and discuss issues affecting us, and so
that we can sit down as a strong party Nigerians have confidence in.”
On the decision by the party not to rescind Amaechi’s suspension, Akpabio
maintained, “The matter is in court and it would be prejudicial to discuss any
matter in court.”
can look at the status of our party and discuss issues affecting us, and so
that we can sit down as a strong party Nigerians have confidence in.”
On the decision by the party not to rescind Amaechi’s suspension, Akpabio
maintained, “The matter is in court and it would be prejudicial to discuss any
matter in court.”
In the
meantime, THISDAY learnt that at the NEC meeting of the party on Thursday, the
party would consider the appointment of an interim national chairman who would
hold forth until the mid-term convention.
meantime, THISDAY learnt that at the NEC meeting of the party on Thursday, the
party would consider the appointment of an interim national chairman who would
hold forth until the mid-term convention.
Names
that were thrown up last night included the former governor of Bauchi State,
Adamu Mu’azu, and former national secretary of the party, Musa Babayo, among
others.
that were thrown up last night included the former governor of Bauchi State,
Adamu Mu’azu, and former national secretary of the party, Musa Babayo, among
others.
However, THISDAY gathered that Mu’azu’s chances may be slim due
to the opposition he may face from his governor and the state chapter of the
party.
Since the 2007 general election, there has been no love lost between Yuguda and
Mu’azu.
to the opposition he may face from his governor and the state chapter of the
party.
Since the 2007 general election, there has been no love lost between Yuguda and
Mu’azu.
Source: Thisday
