The war of attrition within the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is festering with the opposition groups
within the party plotting to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from picking the
party’s ticket for the 2015 presidential race.
This is even as the pro-Jonathan group led by the PDP national
chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and some members of the National Working
Committee (NWC) have declared “total war” on the opposition elements in the
ruling party.
chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and some members of the National Working
Committee (NWC) have declared “total war” on the opposition elements in the
ruling party.
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY learnt that the PDP chieftains took this
position following their failed bid to reconcile President Jonathan with former
president Olusegun Obasanjo, who has found an ally in some state governors to
stop the president at the next presidential primaries.
position following their failed bid to reconcile President Jonathan with former
president Olusegun Obasanjo, who has found an ally in some state governors to
stop the president at the next presidential primaries.
The sacking of the former president’s loyalists in the NWC (the
latest being Chief Bode Mustapha and Mr. Segun Oni), the dissolution of the
Ogun State executive and the nullification of the South-West congress by the
party’s hierarchy, it was learnt, were designed to weaken Obasanjo’s control of
the party in his zone .
However, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY learnt that the ex-president’s
loyalists, who include his former aides and some former governors, now hold a
weekly meeting in the Abuja home of a one-time governor to strategise on how to
stop President Jonathan.
loyalists, who include his former aides and some former governors, now hold a
weekly meeting in the Abuja home of a one-time governor to strategise on how to
stop President Jonathan.
‘‘The truth of the matter is that everyone is fed up with the
directionless and lacklustre administration of President Jonathan. We all knew
how we stopped the north from completing the second term of the late president
Umaru Yar’Adua. Imagine the poor handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. Look at
our economy that remains in the woods despite the fact that a former World Bank
top official is in charge with the title of coordinating minister, whatever
that means; the fact that the foreign reserves left behind by Obasanjo have
been depleted speaks volume in this regard,’’ a key member of the group said.
directionless and lacklustre administration of President Jonathan. We all knew
how we stopped the north from completing the second term of the late president
Umaru Yar’Adua. Imagine the poor handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. Look at
our economy that remains in the woods despite the fact that a former World Bank
top official is in charge with the title of coordinating minister, whatever
that means; the fact that the foreign reserves left behind by Obasanjo have
been depleted speaks volume in this regard,’’ a key member of the group said.
‘‘From the way things are going, we have realised that unless
something is done fast, the opposition would become acceptable to the
electorate and whoever is presented by our party might not be acceptable again.
We strongly believe President Jonathan’s performance is below average and he is
perfecting how to hijack the party to ensure he is presented as the sole PDP
candidate and this we would check,” he added.
something is done fast, the opposition would become acceptable to the
electorate and whoever is presented by our party might not be acceptable again.
We strongly believe President Jonathan’s performance is below average and he is
perfecting how to hijack the party to ensure he is presented as the sole PDP
candidate and this we would check,” he added.
When asked the plan of the group, he recalled how the group had
wanted to bring reforms to the party but was eventually frustrated, noting
that, this time around, they are keeping their game plan close to their chest.
According to the source, ‘‘we would shop for a credible alternative from the
north who would be acceptable to all the divides in the country and this could
be from among former or serving governors and possibly the incumbent vice
president. But we have not made up our mind on that. We are still meeting and
expanding our vision and membership’’.
wanted to bring reforms to the party but was eventually frustrated, noting
that, this time around, they are keeping their game plan close to their chest.
According to the source, ‘‘we would shop for a credible alternative from the
north who would be acceptable to all the divides in the country and this could
be from among former or serving governors and possibly the incumbent vice
president. But we have not made up our mind on that. We are still meeting and
expanding our vision and membership’’.
However, the group which claims to have a strong link with the
Nigeria Governors’ Forum said that, at the appropriate time, it would confront
President Jonathan with the undertaking he signed with the governors on the
party’s platform that he would serve for only one term in office.
Nigeria Governors’ Forum said that, at the appropriate time, it would confront
President Jonathan with the undertaking he signed with the governors on the
party’s platform that he would serve for only one term in office.
A former principal officer of the National Assembly and member
of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP also informed LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that,
should Jonathan insist on contesting the 2015 election, they would likely dump
the party.
of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP also informed LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that,
should Jonathan insist on contesting the 2015 election, they would likely dump
the party.
South-West
PDP vows to fight exco’s dissolution
The embattled factional chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the PDP believed
to be loyal to Obasanjo, Senator Dipo Odujirin, yesterday described the NWC’s
decision to sack him and the entire executive as barbaric and warned that if
not reversed it might destroy the party in the South-West.
PDP vows to fight exco’s dissolution
The embattled factional chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the PDP believed
to be loyal to Obasanjo, Senator Dipo Odujirin, yesterday described the NWC’s
decision to sack him and the entire executive as barbaric and warned that if
not reversed it might destroy the party in the South-West.
Odujinrin told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY after an emergency meeting of
the party held in Abeokuta yesterday that the pronouncement of the PDP’s
national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, was very disturbing, noting
that the party had resolved to appeal to the National Executive Committee (NEC)
for a reversal of the action.
the party held in Abeokuta yesterday that the pronouncement of the PDP’s
national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, was very disturbing, noting
that the party had resolved to appeal to the National Executive Committee (NEC)
for a reversal of the action.
“In accordance with Article 31, sub-section 2(8) of our party’s
constitution which is a much higher body than the NWC, we have resolved to
appeal to PDP’s NEC and we believe that our appeal would receive a favourable
consideration and that this injustice will be corrected. We put our faith in
the NEC of PDP and trust that the right thing will be done,” he said.
constitution which is a much higher body than the NWC, we have resolved to
appeal to PDP’s NEC and we believe that our appeal would receive a favourable
consideration and that this injustice will be corrected. We put our faith in
the NEC of PDP and trust that the right thing will be done,” he said.
Odujinrin further said: “The announcement said that the congress
conducted by Dayo Soremi-led state exco is now upheld. You will recall that
Prof. Alkali, the then national publicity secretary of PDP, led Kawu Baraje’s
NWC to publish an advertorial stopping the Soremi congress from holding. And it
was that same congress that Metuh has recognised. That is why we are now going
to NEC to appeal our case.
conducted by Dayo Soremi-led state exco is now upheld. You will recall that
Prof. Alkali, the then national publicity secretary of PDP, led Kawu Baraje’s
NWC to publish an advertorial stopping the Soremi congress from holding. And it
was that same congress that Metuh has recognised. That is why we are now going
to NEC to appeal our case.
“The implication of the pronouncement would be that the NEC will
do the right thing so that it will not affect the fortunes of our party in
future elections. This is not how to ensure genuine reconciliation; this
has further polarised all the parties to the dispute.”
do the right thing so that it will not affect the fortunes of our party in
future elections. This is not how to ensure genuine reconciliation; this
has further polarised all the parties to the dispute.”
On the case before the Appeal court, Odujirin said “the fact
that the appeals were withdrawn smells some rat; there were some sinister motive
behind the withdrawing of the appeals which were on course at the appellate
court”.
that the appeals were withdrawn smells some rat; there were some sinister motive
behind the withdrawing of the appeals which were on course at the appellate
court”.
In its reaction, the Buruji Kashamu faction said the PDP
leadership was following the rule of law, a process, it said, had eluded the
party till now.
leadership was following the rule of law, a process, it said, had eluded the
party till now.
The factional chairman, Adebayo Dayo, expressed this view when
he was contacted on phone by our correspondent. He noted that the faction was
ready to regain the PDP’s lost glory.
he was contacted on phone by our correspondent. He noted that the faction was
ready to regain the PDP’s lost glory.
Source: Leadership
