BETWEEN
the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bamangar Tukur, and
governors on the platform of the party, the ‘war’ appears to have just started
with Tukur telling the governors that he had no apology for his actions.
the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bamangar Tukur, and
governors on the platform of the party, the ‘war’ appears to have just started
with Tukur telling the governors that he had no apology for his actions.
Tukur’s new confidence is said to be premised on the support of
President Goodluck Jonathan whom the national chairman said was behind all the
decisions he had taken, including the ones rankling the governors who were said
to have insisted on their Tukur-Must-Go war.
President Goodluck Jonathan whom the national chairman said was behind all the
decisions he had taken, including the ones rankling the governors who were said
to have insisted on their Tukur-Must-Go war.
From London where the PDP chairman said he was attending to his
health, he sent words home on Tuesday, saying he had no apology for those not
comfortable with his style of running of the ruling party.
health, he sent words home on Tuesday, saying he had no apology for those not
comfortable with his style of running of the ruling party.
“We want every member to see the party as his or her own and as
a party that bestows pride on all. Many people would not like such. In that
case, I have no apology for doing good to PDP,” he said in a statement.
a party that bestows pride on all. Many people would not like such. In that
case, I have no apology for doing good to PDP,” he said in a statement.
Tukur said he had not done anything to warrant any conspiracy
against him and that he had the backing of Jonathan in every step he had taken
as chairman of the party.
against him and that he had the backing of Jonathan in every step he had taken
as chairman of the party.
He said, “I appreciate Mr. President who has been a major pillar
of support for the PDP. The President had endorsed every action we took with
conviction that they were all in the good interest of the PDP. The governors
have been supportive too. We have been in touch and they keep on assuring me of
their support.
of support for the PDP. The President had endorsed every action we took with
conviction that they were all in the good interest of the PDP. The governors
have been supportive too. We have been in touch and they keep on assuring me of
their support.
“While I take care of my health, I urge party members to
continue to support NWC in its drive towards re-launching PDP into a more
formidable structure capable of winning and winning elections without stress”.
continue to support NWC in its drive towards re-launching PDP into a more
formidable structure capable of winning and winning elections without stress”.
Meanwhile, feelers from the meeting of Jonathan and the
PDP ‘s Board of Trustees chairman, Tony Anenih, in the Villa on Tuesday
indicated that the President might have also vowed to save Tukur’s job at all
costs.
PDP ‘s Board of Trustees chairman, Tony Anenih, in the Villa on Tuesday
indicated that the President might have also vowed to save Tukur’s job at all
costs.
Though neither Anenih nor Jonathan spoke to journalists after
the behind-the scene meeting, The
PUNCH learnt that the duo
discussed the outcome of Anenih’s peace tour to PDP states where he held
consultations with the governors to broker peace between them and the party’s
national chairman.
the behind-the scene meeting, The
PUNCH learnt that the duo
discussed the outcome of Anenih’s peace tour to PDP states where he held
consultations with the governors to broker peace between them and the party’s
national chairman.
A source in the party’s top hierarchy confided in one of our
correspondents that Anenih’s visits to the state chief executives achieved
little in terms of pacifying the governors thus both the President and the BoT
chairman were said to have considered options to “deal with the thorny issue.”
correspondents that Anenih’s visits to the state chief executives achieved
little in terms of pacifying the governors thus both the President and the BoT
chairman were said to have considered options to “deal with the thorny issue.”
Nonetheless, Jonathan was said to have insisted on not
disgracing Tukur out of office. He was also said to have seen the recalcitrance
of the governors as a challenge to his own leadership of the party.
disgracing Tukur out of office. He was also said to have seen the recalcitrance
of the governors as a challenge to his own leadership of the party.
A top member of the BoT, who pleaded anonymity, said, “From what
was discussed at the meeting, Jonathan would continue to support Tukur. He has
been told not to allow himself to be intimidated by the governors.”
was discussed at the meeting, Jonathan would continue to support Tukur. He has
been told not to allow himself to be intimidated by the governors.”
Some of the governors so far visited by Anenih were said to have
insisted that the problem with the party was the manner Tukur was handling its
affairs.
insisted that the problem with the party was the manner Tukur was handling its
affairs.
They were quoted as saying that Tukur was running the party like
a personal estate.
a personal estate.
Media reports also had it that the governors had taken a common
position that for the party to know peace, Tukur must be sacked, thus fuelling
speculations that some presidential aides were already shopping for a
replacement for Tukur.
position that for the party to know peace, Tukur must be sacked, thus fuelling
speculations that some presidential aides were already shopping for a
replacement for Tukur.
The governors’ no-love-lost for Tukur started last year with the
national chairman’s alleged unilateral dissolution of the Adamawa State exco of
the party in his war for control of the state PDP with Governor Murtala Nyako.
national chairman’s alleged unilateral dissolution of the Adamawa State exco of
the party in his war for control of the state PDP with Governor Murtala Nyako.
In solidarity with their counterpart in the state, the governors
under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, had kicked and asked for the
reversal of the dissolution, apparently fearing that such could also happen in
their own states if the Adamawa case was allowed to stay.
under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, had kicked and asked for the
reversal of the dissolution, apparently fearing that such could also happen in
their own states if the Adamawa case was allowed to stay.
At the peak of their battle with Tukur, the governors in January
had asked for the immediate convening of the PDP National Executive Council
meeting where it was speculated that the governors who wielded enormous
influence among members had planned to pass a vote of no confidence on the
national chairman.
had asked for the immediate convening of the PDP National Executive Council
meeting where it was speculated that the governors who wielded enormous
influence among members had planned to pass a vote of no confidence on the
national chairman.
The PDP National Working Committee, over which Tukur presides,
has refused to heed the governors’ demand though the party’s constitution
prescribes that NEC meetings hold every quarter. The last meeting of the NEC
held in July 2012.
has refused to heed the governors’ demand though the party’s constitution
prescribes that NEC meetings hold every quarter. The last meeting of the NEC
held in July 2012.
Tukur was said to have angered the governors with his
recent announcement of plan to hold congress of the South-West where new
persons would be elected to replace the sacked PDP National Secretary,
Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the equally sacked Vice National Chairman, South-West,
Segun Oni; and National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.
recent announcement of plan to hold congress of the South-West where new
persons would be elected to replace the sacked PDP National Secretary,
Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the equally sacked Vice National Chairman, South-West,
Segun Oni; and National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.
The three were removed by the court which ruled that the zonal
congress that produced them was faulty.
congress that produced them was faulty.
The national chairman has been criticised for choosing to obey
the order of a Federal High Court which called for the removal of Oyinlola, Oni
and Mustapha, while ignoring the stay of execution order of the judgment by a court
of appeal.
the order of a Federal High Court which called for the removal of Oyinlola, Oni
and Mustapha, while ignoring the stay of execution order of the judgment by a court
of appeal.
Source: Punch
