The
Peoples Democratic Party has begun desperate moves to prevent governors elected
on its platform as well as its members from carrying out their threat to defect
to the newly formed All Progressives Congress.
Peoples Democratic Party has begun desperate moves to prevent governors elected
on its platform as well as its members from carrying out their threat to defect
to the newly formed All Progressives Congress.
This follows indications that no fewer than 12 PDP governors as
well as many of the party’s members in the national and state assemblies and
its 36 state chapters were being wooed by APC chieftains.
well as many of the party’s members in the national and state assemblies and
its 36 state chapters were being wooed by APC chieftains.
Some of the governors had told PDP leaders last week that they
would leave the fold in protest at the disdain which President Goodluck
Jonathan and the party leadership had shown for them.
would leave the fold in protest at the disdain which President Goodluck
Jonathan and the party leadership had shown for them.
Saturday PUNCH learnt
that the PDP had moved to stop a mass defection by embarking on a sudden
reconciliation drive, to stop estranged members from defecting to the APC.
that the PDP had moved to stop a mass defection by embarking on a sudden
reconciliation drive, to stop estranged members from defecting to the APC.
The three major political parties that merged to form the APC
are the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress
for Progressive Change.
are the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress
for Progressive Change.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, of the All Progressives
Grand Alliance, is also involved in APC.
Grand Alliance, is also involved in APC.
The panic within the ruling party was responsible for the
hurried formation of the PDP Governors Forum, which came few days after the
opposition governors announced the formation of the Progressive Governors
Forum.
hurried formation of the PDP Governors Forum, which came few days after the
opposition governors announced the formation of the Progressive Governors
Forum.
Findings by our correspondent showed that the leadership of the
party was not comfortable with the coming together of the opposition parties.
party was not comfortable with the coming together of the opposition parties.
The National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, lent
credence to this state of panic in a telephone interview with our correspondent
on Thursday morning, when he said the opposition should not expect his party to
sleep when it (opposition) was busy strategising.
credence to this state of panic in a telephone interview with our correspondent
on Thursday morning, when he said the opposition should not expect his party to
sleep when it (opposition) was busy strategising.
“So, you expect our party to go to sleep when others are
planning ahead? That is not possible,” he said.
planning ahead? That is not possible,” he said.
It was on this basis that governors elected on the platform of
the party met with leaders of the party from South-West PDP in Abuja on
Thursday evening, asking them to sheath their swords and come together in the
interest of the party.
the party met with leaders of the party from South-West PDP in Abuja on
Thursday evening, asking them to sheath their swords and come together in the
interest of the party.
Four of the governors spoke the minds of their colleagues at a
meeting they had with the party leaders at the Katsina Governor’s Lodge in
Asokoro, Abuja.
meeting they had with the party leaders at the Katsina Governor’s Lodge in
Asokoro, Abuja.
The governors are Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Gabriel Suswan
(Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi).
(Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi).
These governors are members of the PDPGF Reconciliatory
Committee put together to resolve the crises rocking the party in the
South-West. The other member of the committee, Governor Murtala Nyako of
Adamawa State, did not attend the meeting.
Committee put together to resolve the crises rocking the party in the
South-West. The other member of the committee, Governor Murtala Nyako of
Adamawa State, did not attend the meeting.
He was said to be in President’s Goodluck Jonathan’s entourage
to Borno and Yobe states.
to Borno and Yobe states.
Shema, who is the chairman of the committee, said, “We are to
reconcile all the factions. I want you to come to the table with open hands.
God has blessed this party by putting it at the helm of affairs of the country
since 1999.
reconcile all the factions. I want you to come to the table with open hands.
God has blessed this party by putting it at the helm of affairs of the country
since 1999.
“We need to work together and resolve the crises and that is why
we are here.”
we are here.”
Elechi said, “We won’t impose our decision on you. We will allow
you to take decisions in the interest of the party. Just let peace reign in the
party in the zone.”
you to take decisions in the interest of the party. Just let peace reign in the
party in the zone.”
Also speaking, Suswam said, “We will listen to you state by
state. Then take the zone together. We will want you to be sincere with us.”
state. Then take the zone together. We will want you to be sincere with us.”
Uduaghan said, “The party is not happy with the problems facing
the party in the zone. That is why we are here. Please, allow peace to reign
and open your heats to us so that we can solve the problems.”
the party in the zone. That is why we are here. Please, allow peace to reign
and open your heats to us so that we can solve the problems.”
A member of the party from Ekiti State, Ayo Arise, had
told the committee that those in attendance were not quarrelling. He said those
who were against the group from his state were not invited to the meeting.
told the committee that those in attendance were not quarrelling. He said those
who were against the group from his state were not invited to the meeting.
But Shema said that would be taken care of later, adding that he
was aware of the existence of factions in the party’s state chapters.
was aware of the existence of factions in the party’s state chapters.
Among those at the meeting were a former governor of Ekiti
State, Mr. Segun Oni; Chief Bode Mustapha, Chief Oyewole Fasawe,
Chief Dipo Odujinrin, Dare Bejide, Akin Omole, Dele Adelakun and Dapo
Anisulowo.
State, Mr. Segun Oni; Chief Bode Mustapha, Chief Oyewole Fasawe,
Chief Dipo Odujinrin, Dare Bejide, Akin Omole, Dele Adelakun and Dapo
Anisulowo.
The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, is
expected to lead a reconciliatory team to meet with former President Olusegun
Obasanjo and a former Minister of Defence, Lt.Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.).
expected to lead a reconciliatory team to meet with former President Olusegun
Obasanjo and a former Minister of Defence, Lt.Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.).
Tukur, who confirmed the reconciliation efforts, said they were
part of his strategies to keep the party together.
part of his strategies to keep the party together.
“Reconciliation was part of my agenda for the party when I was
contesting for the chairmanship. It is time for me to show that I want our
party members to unite,” he said.
contesting for the chairmanship. It is time for me to show that I want our
party members to unite,” he said.
Meanwhile, in what appears to be a desperate move to prepare the
ground for his declaration for a second term, Jonathan is reportedly offering
to give the position of vice-president to the three northern APC governors.
ground for his declaration for a second term, Jonathan is reportedly offering
to give the position of vice-president to the three northern APC governors.
The three northern APC governors are Kashim Shettima (Borno);
Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe); and Tanko al-Makura (Nasarawa).
Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe); and Tanko al-Makura (Nasarawa).
An APC source told one of our correspondents in Abuja on
Thursday that the President was disposed to offering the slot of vice-president
to “one of us” in a power-sharing arrangement.
Thursday that the President was disposed to offering the slot of vice-president
to “one of us” in a power-sharing arrangement.
According to the source, the President was weighing the option
against a possible backlash from PDP members, who are also nursing the idea of
replacing Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
against a possible backlash from PDP members, who are also nursing the idea of
replacing Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
The source said, “I believe the President and his people are
also being careful because it is too early to lay bare all his plans when he is
yet to fully take control of his party, and make a public pronouncement as to
whether or not he is running in 2015.”
also being careful because it is too early to lay bare all his plans when he is
yet to fully take control of his party, and make a public pronouncement as to
whether or not he is running in 2015.”
Sambo was said to have run into troubled waters after he
reportedly held a secret meeting with Obasanjo in Kaduna.
reportedly held a secret meeting with Obasanjo in Kaduna.
The source said, “It is not coming to us as a surprise because
we had a similar situation during the 2011 elections.
we had a similar situation during the 2011 elections.
“What we do not know is whether this offer is just a bait to
divide us or a genuine attempt to give Nigeria a new direction. They have tried
to woo some of us to join the PDP as a pre-condition for this to happen. But
the general thinking is that why settle to play second fiddle when your chances
of getting the grand prize are higher?”
divide us or a genuine attempt to give Nigeria a new direction. They have tried
to woo some of us to join the PDP as a pre-condition for this to happen. But
the general thinking is that why settle to play second fiddle when your chances
of getting the grand prize are higher?”
CPC National Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, said he was
not surprised at the President’s alleged move.
not surprised at the President’s alleged move.
He said, “It is a huge joke.You will recall that what started
throwing spanners in their works was in 2003 when then President (Obasanjo)
wanted to change his deputy. That was when their house started to roll in
commotion; that was when commotion set into their household.
throwing spanners in their works was in 2003 when then President (Obasanjo)
wanted to change his deputy. That was when their house started to roll in
commotion; that was when commotion set into their household.
“It is not surprising that this President is also following
after that dictate; but mark my words, this is the beginning of the end of the
PDP. It is a house totally in disorder, it is a house conceived in deceit and
all its transactions are in deceit.”
after that dictate; but mark my words, this is the beginning of the end of the
PDP. It is a house totally in disorder, it is a house conceived in deceit and
all its transactions are in deceit.”
Speaking in a similar vein, ACN National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, “The time for the All Progressives Congress has
come; the antics of one or two or three people within the group cannot affect
the fate of APC. You see, the APC is about rescuing Nigeria and the way and
manner that Nigerians have received the yet to be formed APC is signalling that
APC is not a platform for food-is-ready politicians before whom he (the President)
might try to dangle as many carrots as possible.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, “The time for the All Progressives Congress has
come; the antics of one or two or three people within the group cannot affect
the fate of APC. You see, the APC is about rescuing Nigeria and the way and
manner that Nigerians have received the yet to be formed APC is signalling that
APC is not a platform for food-is-ready politicians before whom he (the President)
might try to dangle as many carrots as possible.
“I don’t think that we are perturbed about that, we are not
going to lose a night’s sleep over that kind of politics.”
going to lose a night’s sleep over that kind of politics.”
Calls to the mobile phones of the Political Adviser to the
President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, indicated that his phone was switched off. The
Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, did not
pick calls to his mobile phone and neither did he respond to a text message
sent to him.
President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, indicated that his phone was switched off. The
Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, did not
pick calls to his mobile phone and neither did he respond to a text message
sent to him.
Source: Punch
