Plans are in top gear to welcome former governor of Jigawa State, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, back to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of a purported ministerial appointment by the presidency as the nominee for the state in President Goodluck Jonathan’s new cabinet expected to be announced soon. Originally, Turaki was elected governor of the state under the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), when he served for eight years.
After his tenure as governor, he was elected to the National Assembly, representing Jigawa North West Senatorial District in 2007, when he defected from the ANPP to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). After seeming irreconcilable differences with incumbent Governor Sule Lamido, Turaki defected from the PDP to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He contested for the Senate again in 2011 but lost.
Already , as a prelude to his defection back to the PDP, a court order for his arrest on charges of corruption, lodged by the state government, has been set aside by a Dutse High Court, apparently to enable him move free-ly without harassment from the EFCC that had arraigned him for stealing public funds to the tune of N150 billion. Since the court order, his supporters including those in Lamido’s government, have been jubilating and celebrating across the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.
It will be recalled that Turaki played a prominent role in installing Governor Lamido in 2007 when after the victory, it was agreed to run an inclusive government comprising loyalists of both politicians. Unconfirmed reports from the state claimed that followers of the present administration in the state are pointing fingers at the Presidency for plotting to bring back Turaki so as to place him in a vantage position to take over the structures of the PDP in the state.
As Turaki returns, there are reports which have been confirmed by sources that want to remain unnmed that Lamido is not comfortable as his own followers are attributing it to a plot by the Presidency to disgrace him by placing Turaki at a vantage point to take over the PDP in the state.
According to the sources, “It is an elaborate move to checkmate Lamido and punish him for daring to challenge the president and the [party leadership,” A prominent member of the organising committee for Tueraki’s defection, who pleaded anonymity, told Saturday Mirror that the former governor is expected to be fully back in Jigawa in the coming weeks before the names of the new ministers are revealed.
He has been away since 2011. According to the source, “Turaki has no problem with confirmation as a former Governor and especially a Senator.” Efforts to speak with the Director of Press to Governor Lamido, Umar Kyari, were unsuccessful but the state chairman of the PDP, Salisu Mamuda asserted that Lamido is still in the party and in control in the state.
Source: National Mirror
