• Asks
ACN, Tinubu to admit lying on invitation to U.S.
ACN, Tinubu to admit lying on invitation to U.S.
• Tukur meets South-West
leaders, re-admits Fayose
leaders, re-admits Fayose
• Sambo heads Ondo guber polls’
campaign team
campaign team
IN the search for a new order, the leadership of the ruling
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached out to some of its estranged
founding fathers and members.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached out to some of its estranged
founding fathers and members.
In the first of such reconciliation efforts, the party’s
leadership led by the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, on Tuesday night met
with some PDP leaders from the South-West geo-political zone when issues
bordering on the party’s dwindling fortunes in the zone were discussed.
leadership led by the National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, on Tuesday night met
with some PDP leaders from the South-West geo-political zone when issues
bordering on the party’s dwindling fortunes in the zone were discussed.
Other steps being taken by the PDP to bring back its old members
are an “elders’ summit” and brainstorming session with governors elected on its
platform.
are an “elders’ summit” and brainstorming session with governors elected on its
platform.
Also yesterday, the PDP took up the opposition Action Congress of
Nigeria (ACN) and its National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his presence
at the recent convention of the United States (U.S.) Democratic Party.
Nigeria (ACN) and its National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his presence
at the recent convention of the United States (U.S.) Democratic Party.
The PDP asked the ACN and Tinubu to admit that they lied by
telling Nigerians that former Lagos State governor was sent a gold card
invitation by the American party to attend the event.
telling Nigerians that former Lagos State governor was sent a gold card
invitation by the American party to attend the event.
Sources at the peace meeting held at Tukur’s residence in Abuja
told The Guardian that it was part of the ongoing efforts of the PDP hierarchy
to improve on the party’s fortunes at the 2015 general elections.
told The Guardian that it was part of the ongoing efforts of the PDP hierarchy
to improve on the party’s fortunes at the 2015 general elections.
Tukur reportedly said the party would not wait until 2015 before
it starts reconciling with its aggrieved founding fathers and other key
members.
it starts reconciling with its aggrieved founding fathers and other key
members.
The South-West delegation led by Otunba Oyewole Fasawe was assured
by Tukur that the PDP would not field any candidate who did not perform well in
their incumbent offices whether at the party level or in public office for the
2015 polls.
by Tukur that the PDP would not field any candidate who did not perform well in
their incumbent offices whether at the party level or in public office for the
2015 polls.
Already, the PDP has re-admitted former governor of Ekiti State,
Ayodele Fayose. His re-admission yesterday came six years after he was expelled
from the party.
Ayodele Fayose. His re-admission yesterday came six years after he was expelled
from the party.
In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh,
he said the decision was taken yesterday at the National Working Committee
(NWC) of the party in Abuja.
he said the decision was taken yesterday at the National Working Committee
(NWC) of the party in Abuja.
“The NWC of the PDP at its 315th regular meeting held on Wednesday
(yesterday) considered important party matters and arrived at the following
resolutions:
(yesterday) considered important party matters and arrived at the following
resolutions:
• The NWC ratified the re-admission of Peter Ayo Fayose into the
party with effect from September 14, 2011. The NWC also approved a waiver for
Fayose in line with the provision of Article 8(a) and Article 17.2 (g) of the
PDP constitution with effect from September 14, 2011.
party with effect from September 14, 2011. The NWC also approved a waiver for
Fayose in line with the provision of Article 8(a) and Article 17.2 (g) of the
PDP constitution with effect from September 14, 2011.
• By this action, Fayose is cleared to enjoy all rights and
privileges of a member of the PDP without let or hindrance,”
privileges of a member of the PDP without let or hindrance,”
the statement read.
Fayose was expelled from the PDP for alleged anti-party activities
in 2006.
in 2006.
The PDP also raised a campaign committee headed by Vice President,
Namadi Sambo for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo.
Namadi Sambo for the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo.
The statement added: “The NWC also approved the Constitution of a
National Campaign Committee for the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Ondo
State. The 32- member Committee of eminent Nigerians has the Vice President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo,
GCON as Chairman while the National Legal Adviser, Barrister Victor Kwon is the
Secretary.
National Campaign Committee for the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Ondo
State. The 32- member Committee of eminent Nigerians has the Vice President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo,
GCON as Chairman while the National Legal Adviser, Barrister Victor Kwon is the
Secretary.
The Committee shall be inaugurated by the National Chairman,
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in due course’’.
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in due course’’.
According to Tukur, the PDP had been repackaged with the opening
of democratic space under “Reconciliation, Rebuilding and Reformation (3Rs)”
with a view to reclaiming the lost states.
of democratic space under “Reconciliation, Rebuilding and Reformation (3Rs)”
with a view to reclaiming the lost states.
The new approach, he said, would attract more members while those
who left the PDP in anger would be encouraged to return.
who left the PDP in anger would be encouraged to return.
His words: “Some people are accusing us of not doing anything. But
you and I know that we need not rush to embarking on actions aimed at making
our great party regain its groove in political engineering and operations. We
are, at the moment, making consultations with PDP elders, youths, women and every
relevant group on how best to take off so that we begin to regain the lost
grounds.
you and I know that we need not rush to embarking on actions aimed at making
our great party regain its groove in political engineering and operations. We
are, at the moment, making consultations with PDP elders, youths, women and every
relevant group on how best to take off so that we begin to regain the lost
grounds.
“I am saying that we have started reconstructing our beautiful
umbrella and in the process, we will block all loopholes, we will extend the
shelter, we will strengthen the structure and make it more attractive to
everybody. At the end of it all, PDP will rise up powerfully and prove its
strength as the only national party in Nigeria through subsequent elections
that will be devoid of rigging
umbrella and in the process, we will block all loopholes, we will extend the
shelter, we will strengthen the structure and make it more attractive to
everybody. At the end of it all, PDP will rise up powerfully and prove its
strength as the only national party in Nigeria through subsequent elections
that will be devoid of rigging
“I hereby call on our loyal members in all states of the
federation to join us in the process of making PDP the only attractive party
with input from the youths and women, most especially since we are now inclined
to give more space to the youths and women in our new ideology and agenda,’’
Tukur was quoted as saying.
federation to join us in the process of making PDP the only attractive party
with input from the youths and women, most especially since we are now inclined
to give more space to the youths and women in our new ideology and agenda,’’
Tukur was quoted as saying.
The PDP chief also disclosed that the party would soon “hold
a summit for stakeholders including founders of the party who sacrificed
so much for the continued existence of PDP.”
a summit for stakeholders including founders of the party who sacrificed
so much for the continued existence of PDP.”
He said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) would engage all
its governors in a brainstorming session with a view to re-shaping and
consolidating on the PDP electoral fortunes, ahead of 2015.”
its governors in a brainstorming session with a view to re-shaping and
consolidating on the PDP electoral fortunes, ahead of 2015.”
Others at the meeting included Chief Ademola Adepegba (Osun),
Chief Remilekun Iyiola and Prof. Ishola Odelola.
Chief Remilekun Iyiola and Prof. Ishola Odelola.
In a statement, Metuh said the Tinubu saga “explains itself in
clear terms. The ACN tried to force its dish of lies down the throat of
Nigerians on the imaginary international exposure and connection of its
national leader. This attempt by the party to ingeniously tap from the
credibility of an American political institution through a spurious claim
backfired. The Democratic Party convention officials would have none of that
and wasted no time in denying the ACN and Tinubu. The implication of this on
the image of Nigeria and on the pride of our good people is wantonly damaging.
clear terms. The ACN tried to force its dish of lies down the throat of
Nigerians on the imaginary international exposure and connection of its
national leader. This attempt by the party to ingeniously tap from the
credibility of an American political institution through a spurious claim
backfired. The Democratic Party convention officials would have none of that
and wasted no time in denying the ACN and Tinubu. The implication of this on
the image of Nigeria and on the pride of our good people is wantonly damaging.
“The matter needs no further explanation if not for the ACN’s
deliberate persistence on misinforming the nation. A statement from Tinubu’s
office which the publicity secretary of the ACN repeated in his own statement
stated that ‘Tinubu received a gold card which is prime… and … was
invited to the Democratic convention as the leader of the opposition and an
influential figure in Nigeria.
deliberate persistence on misinforming the nation. A statement from Tinubu’s
office which the publicity secretary of the ACN repeated in his own statement
stated that ‘Tinubu received a gold card which is prime… and … was
invited to the Democratic convention as the leader of the opposition and an
influential figure in Nigeria.
“Verily, no matter how hard the ACN tries to water down this
statement to suit a latter day whims, even a child understands that it means a
special invitation and recognition. This is the falsehood that the ACN sold to
the Nigerian public about its leader, which unfortunately backfired; thus,
necessitating a denial.
statement to suit a latter day whims, even a child understands that it means a
special invitation and recognition. This is the falsehood that the ACN sold to
the Nigerian public about its leader, which unfortunately backfired; thus,
necessitating a denial.
“However, this matter will become clearer if one ponders the
following questions and their answers:
following questions and their answers:
Did Bola Tinubu receive an invitation or did he buy it at $5,000?
He bought it?
He bought it?
“Did the Democratic Party send him an invitation as the leader of
the opposition in Nigeria? The answer is a resounding No, as nothing to that
effect exists in the records of the Democratic convention.
the opposition in Nigeria? The answer is a resounding No, as nothing to that
effect exists in the records of the Democratic convention.
“Was a gold card extended to him as claimed by the ACN? The answer
again is No. Tinubu paid $5,000 to get a generic invitation ordinarily given to
all contributors to the campaign. It is this ordinary invitation that the
merchants of lies in the ACN re-baptised as a gold card in its usual
desperation to bolster its status,” Metuh said.
again is No. Tinubu paid $5,000 to get a generic invitation ordinarily given to
all contributors to the campaign. It is this ordinary invitation that the
merchants of lies in the ACN re-baptised as a gold card in its usual
desperation to bolster its status,” Metuh said.
