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Tag: Adamu Mu’azu

  • PDP Chair wants 5 APC governors back

    The national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu on Saturday  made passionate plead to the former five PDP governors now in All Progressive Congress to come back to the ruling party.

    He made the appeal during the north central solidarity and unity rally of the ruling party in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    Pleading to the former governors, the PDP chairman said, “We are willing to welcome them back home and I can assure them that they will be treated equally. Please come back home”.

    Mu’azu also directed the Chairman of Northern States Governors Forum and Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu to ensure that all the five governors that defected to the opposition party return back to the ruling party.

    According to the Chairman, “if the Niger state governor as the leader of the G7 and Jigawa State governor can remain in the party, I call on Gov. Aliyu to ensure the return of the other five PDP governors who went to APC.

    “Gov. Aliyu saw the light at the end of the tunnel and stayed, your job has not finished, go back and make sure your people (G5) see the light and get them to come back home to PDP,” Mu’azu directed.

    He said the party is better re-positioned to meet the yearning of the electorates and commended them for voting the party to power since 1999 and promised that the country should expect more goodies from.

    President Goodluck Jonathan in his address  described the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the only stable and democratic political party in the continent of Africa.

    Jonathan said that the party since inception has remained constant and focused in the delivery of its mandate to the people of the country.

    He said that the consistency of the party has made it the popular not only in the country but beyond the chores of the country and the continent.

    According to the President, “Since inception PDP has remained the same. We have not changed our name, we have not changed our slogan, we have not changed our logo, we have not changed our colour. We have remained stable. In fact we are the most stable and democratic party in Nigeria and in Africa”.

    Though Jonathan and Niger State governor claimed that the rally was not to campaign for 2015, virtually all the speakers at the rally took turn to assure the President of their support for his re-election bid.

    Party Chieftains from north central led by the Senate President, David Mark and the party’s national vice chairman, Yusuf Ayetogun assured the President of  victory at the polls come 2015.

  • 2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    2015: PDP’s new calculation in Imo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has held a rally to welcome defectors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Owerri, capital of Imo State. Correspondent KINGSLEY NDIDI examines the implications of the defection for the ruling party in the Southeast state.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is on the prowl in Imo State. At a rally in Owerri, the state capital, party leaders vowed to reclaim power from the All progressives Congress (APC) governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. But, the governor is not sleeping on guard. He said that the PDP chieftains were day dreaming. The rally took place at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. It was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, PDP National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) Chief Tony Anenih, Senate President David Mark, and some governors. .

    The rally was organised to welcome defectors from the APC. The defectors include former Governor Achike Udenwa, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume Imo East), Senator Chris Anyanwu, and Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN).

    President Jonathan urged party members to gird their loins, ahead of the 2015 polls. He said they should learn from the wrangling and discord, which permitted a crack on the wall in 2011.

    The governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, said that, with the return of the old members, the PDP will reclaim the state.

    He charged the party leaders to to promote unity in the fold. “We are not just here to receive the returnees, but their thousands of supporters and, with what we have seen so far. the PDP has recaptured Imo State. The will of God is that, in 2015, the PDP flag will fly again in Imo government House,” he said.

    The Senate President advised the PDP family to forget the past and forge ahead in the spirit of new understanding. He described Imo as a PDP state.“In fact ,Imo has returned to the PDP; we are getting back our own that mistakenly strayed away. We have made a strong statement by the turn out of people today,” Mark added.

    His deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, assured that the party will bounce back next year after the polls.

    Anenih was more optimistic that the PDP will regain power in the state in 2015. He said: “With the return of our great members, the job is already done; all we need now is to play the politics of inclusion. Nobody should be left behind. We should avoid the mistake of the past and work together to deliver our common goal. Our coming here today to receive the returnees has shown that the importance of the project to reclaim Imo by the leadership of our great party”.

    Mu’azu, who was impressed by the huge crowd, said: “The

    he journey to recapture Imo has just started and the new leadership of the PDP is committed to reclaiming all the states we have lost as a result of internal problems”.

    He added: “From the beginning of this democratic dispensation, the PDP has swept all elections in Imo, but due to internal wrangling, we were not able to hold on to power. Even, the incumbent governor, Rochas Okorocha ,was a PDP member.

    “Now, that we have found the answers to our problems and, with the returnees, I want to assure you that Imo State has fallen”.

    The national chairman however, appealed to the aspirants to thread softly. He said: “This is a brand new PDP and only our very best will be fielded during the 2015 election”.

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, said: “Imo is a PDP state and today we have earnestly began the journey to take back the state. We made mistakes in the past, but we are back. We misunderstood ourselves and power slipped off our hands, but today, our brothers who strayed away are back and that is one of the things we need to return to Douglass House”.

    President Jonathan described the rally as a reunion that will strengthen the party. He said: “We are here for unity rally because of our brothers that stepped out, but have stepped back. We are making a reunion of the PDP and the party will be stronger than ever before. The PDP is the only stable party in Nigeria and we will continue to play a major role in the country”.

    However, observers contend that the PDP has some some hurdles to cross. Certain elements in the party are not comfortable with the return of the founding fathers. a tall barrier to scale to return to Douglas House in 2015. Firstly is the challenge of internal scuffle which is already building up with the return of founding members of the party.

    The governorship race is already crowded. No fewer than 10 strong members of the party are struggling for the ticket. They belong to the various caucuses. They cannot be ignored because they are party financiers. They Ihedioha, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Acting Minister of Aviation Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and Ararume.

    A political analyst, Chief Stanley Egwudia, expressed doubt about the ability of the different factions in the PDP to agree on a consensus ccandidate. He said: “The storm is brewing in the state chapter of the PDP. The celebrated return of these heavy weights to the PDP will do more harm than good for the party. It will further break the rank of the party. All of them returning to the party have one ambition or the other they could not realize outside the party and they returned with the hope of getting retribution”.

    A clear pointer to this fact was the move by a faction of the party to concede the governorship slot to Ararume as a compensation for the injustice done him in 2007, which made him dump the party after the governorship election.

    Another challenge is that Okorocha has performed creditably to earn the people’s loyalty.

    In Imo State today, the feeling is that the PDP has ruled the state for 12 years without anything to show for it and the electorate are known to be resolute and cannot be easily swayed by political statements or monetary inducement.

     

     

    Governor Okorocha who was obviously unshaken by the threat by the PDP to sack him in 2015, vowed that the PDP will never govern the state again after.

    He described the 12 years of PDP administration in the state as a total waste, “these expired politicians have nothing to offer the state. Udenwa’s eight years as governor was a total waste, Ohakim’s four years was a disaster so where is there justification to return to power. They can no longer deceive our people the PDP has marginalized Ndigbo and we cannot continue to allow them.

     

    “What they are doing is mere ranting none of them can proudly stand before the people and asked to be voted for. They should show the people what they have done with the state resources for 12 years that should warrant their return to power”.

     

  • Kwara APC, PDP clash over comments

    Kwara APC, PDP clash over comments

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has described the comments by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as deceitful.

    PDP had, at its Sunday rally, claimed that APC was dead on arrival in the state.

    The leadership of the party put together the rally to welcome some indigenes appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman, Solomon Edoga, said the party would win in 2015.

    Edoga added: “We are grateful to President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing some of the sons and daughters of Kwara State to important offices. He asked me to tell you that more goodies are coming.

    ‘’He asked me to tell you that the leadership of the party, led by Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, will visit the state next week.

    “PDP is Kwara, Kwara is PDP. We’ll not relinquish our right. We will not pack out of our house. We are owners of Kwara and we are going to get out of it. This occasion today would not have been possible without the leadership of the PDP in the state.”

    But the APC’s Interim Publicity Secretary, Sulyman Buhari, said: “How can any reasonable person describe a party that mobilised about 400,000 people within two months as a dead party? Do they know what a dead party is?

    “The deserted PDP without any structure in the state is an example of a dead party.

    “The gang up against our party and party leaders is a badly arranged pack of cards which is bound to scatter. Some of the unguarded statements credited to PDP leaders underscore their civility and intelligence.

    “The gathering was a jamboree with no meaningful impact or consolidation plans for the people.

    “Although people were mobilised from 16 local governments with cash and yet-to-be fulfilled promises, it couldn’t save them from the disappointment the rally represents.

    “The APC is a formidable party and Kwarans will continue to enjoy the benefits of their unflinching support to the government and our party.”

     

  • Jonathan receives Udenwa, Anyanwu, others into PDP

    Jonathan receives Udenwa, Anyanwu, others into PDP

    President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Chairman, PDP’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, and other leaders of the party yesterday in Owerri, Imo State received former governor of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa, former Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, and the Senator representing Imo East, Chris Anyanwu and Mike Ahamba (SAN) back into the PDP.

    Other leaders of the party who attended the rally tagged unity rally at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, were Senate President, David Mark, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Bethel Amadi, President Pan African Parliament, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri among others.

    Also in attendance were Governors Seriake Dickson (Akwa Ibom), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Theodore Orji (Abia), and Liyel Imoke (Cross River).

    President Jonathan said at the rally that the PDP under the current leadership is undergoing a reunion to bring back all aggrieved members that had stepped out of the party.

    This, according to him, will strengthen the PDP.

    According to him, the PDP has continued to play a critical role in the nation’s democracy, adding that, “whenever anything is wrong in the PDP it does not affect only Nigeria, but the whole of African countries. PDP is the only party that is stable in the country; it is the only party that those that want to play decent politics should follow.”

    Also speaking, Mu’azu urged the returnees to win the state back for the party in 2015.

    “We lost Imo State because of internal wrangling which made our founding members in the state to stray away but today we are back and the journey to reclaim Imo has just begun,” he said.

    Anenih in his speech urged the PDP members in the state to play politics of inclusion, saying: “whatever happened in the past in Imo State is now history.”

    Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Ahamba, said that they “have returned to our ranks as members of the PDP. And we are going to work together to regain what we have lost.”

  • Mu’azu cautions PDP officials against careless statements

    Mu’azu cautions PDP officials against careless statements

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has cautioned officials of the party against making careless statements while defending the party’s position.

    He spoke yesterday while hosting Kaduna State Governor Ramalan Yero, who led a delegation of party faithful to the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

    The party chair described some statements by the PDP officials as fruitless and pedestrian, saying their statements and arguments must focus on the issues relevant to Nigerians.

    Said he: “You must discuss issues, which matter to the people and affect the life of the common man.

    “Do not drag yourself into argument with people, who do not know what they are doing, who talk about trivialities, ethnicity, religiosity and regionalism”.

    Mu’azu urged members from the state to cooperate with Yero, stressing the need for good and purposeful leadership.

    He enjoined the faithful to join the governor in building on the legacy of his predecessor, the late Patrick Yakowa, who died in a helicopter crash in December 2012.

    The PDP chairman pledged fairness and a level-playing field for contestants during the primaries, warning that they should desist from seeking nominations through the back door.

    Said he: “Ensure that you convince the people on issues at hand. Tell them what you and your party stand for and what you intend to do for them.

    “If they vote for you, you are my man, you are my candidate. Internal democracy will not only be run well and properly, it will also be deepened.

    “We will not hand-pick our candidates. Forget what you used to do in the past. This is a new era. Our best products will be presented to the electorate and they will surely be the winners.”

    Yero assured of fairness and justice in his dealings with members, saying that was the only way to ensure sustainability.

    “We will bring fairness, equity and justice to the party in the state. We are hoping to set example in the country,” he added.

    The governor pledged the loyalty and commitment of the Kaduna chapter to the chairman and other leaders, saying this would guarantee the success of PDP at the polls next year.

    The governor was accompanied by the chairmen of the 23 local governments, members of the state’s legislature, among others.

  • Jonathan in Sokoto, says PDP is party to beat

    Jonathan in Sokoto, says PDP is party to beat

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will coast home to victory come 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan stated yesterday.

    He said the party “is the number one party in Nigeria and it would continue to be so.”

    The president spoke in the Shehu Kangiwa Square, Sokoto State where he formally welcomed former Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and his supporters to the PDP.

    In his entourage were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark and National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu.

    Governors of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Katsina, and Kogi states were also at the reception.

    Sambo, Mark, Mu’azu, Akpabio and the other governors echoed the unity of the PDP and their resolve to work together for success in the 2015 elections.

    Bafarawa told the president “to go and have a good sleep,” promising to deliver Sokoto State to the PDP.

    Sokoto deputy governor, Mukhtar Shagari, who is rumoured to have been promised the party’s governorship ticket, said: “Here in Sokoto, we love you and will send you back to Aso Rock in 2015.”

    But residents agonised over traffic gridlock as the ancient city was practically shut down, even long before the president’s arrival around 10am at the Sultan Abubakar 111 International Airport.

    Security operatives cordoned off major roads, leading to residents being unable to move freely.

    Spotting an overflowing white babariga, Jonathan described Bafarawa as “the political leader” of the state, stating that with his declaration for the PDP, the battle for the 2015 is won.

    According to him: “From what I know and what I have seen here today, I am convinced that in Sokoto, we are ready and just waiting for the 2015 elections.

    “Bafarawa has been your political leader. He has won all the elections and we know that when you see Bafarawa and see Mukhtar Shagari, you will know where your interest would be protected.”

    The president added that PDP has resolved “to use Sokoto as an example to show other states that PDP is still the major political party to follow.

    “We will also visit other states to showcase what the PDP government has been doing.”

  • PDP needs prayers, says Mu’azu

    The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu has said that the ruling party requires prayers to overcome its numerous challenges and to recover lost grounds.
    Mu’azu stated this Wednesday  when the Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan and Idris Wada of Delta and Kogi States respectively paid him a courtesy visit at the party’s national secretariat.
    Said he: “We must admit that the PDP has problems. The PDP needs prayers, sacrifice, commitment to move forward. We don’t know whether it’s a sailing ship or a ship that’s about to wreck.

    “We know our party has lost some grounds so we must assess ourselves. We must mark ourselves, we must be true to ourselves, we must be sincere to ourselves and find out what is wrong.

    “Mistakes have been made that require forgiveness and correction in order to reclaim lost grounds. If properly runned, PDP will achieve a lot. We have a job to build a party that will stand the test of time”.
    Mu’azu appealed to chieftains of the party that defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to come back, saying that the party would be ready to re-admit them.
    “I want to use this opportunity and medium today to appeal to those members of our party who have decided to leave for a journey to unknown destination, to a strange land where they will never be accepted as home.
    “This is your home so come back home because our doors are wide open. I assure you that we will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure that we deepen internal democracy in PDP.
    “We are going to build after regaining our grounds to continue strengthening and deepening democracy and rule of law in our party”, he stated.
    Pledging their loyalty to the party chair, Governors Uduaghan and Wada said they have been mobilising support for the party in their states.
    The governors  said they have been able to win the support of the people in their states through human capital development in critical sectors.
  • Don’t choose inexperienced candidate, Fayose warns PDP

    Don’t choose inexperienced candidate, Fayose warns PDP

    Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against selecting an inexperienced candidate for the 21 June governorship election.

    Fayose spoke yesterday at his campaign office in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with PDP chairmen from the 177 wards.

    Urging members to present him as the party’s flagbearer, he said: “PDP needs someone with experience like me to defeat Governor Kayode Fayemi.”

    Fayose hailed the restructuring initiated by the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, saying it would improve the party.

    He said: “I am the first PDP governor in this state and there is no aspirant with better credentials than mine. I am seeking your cooperation to confront the All Progressives Congress (APC) like the Biblical King David, who unseated King Saul.

    “The PDP administrations, I mean mine and that of Mr. Segun Oni, never borrowed, but the APC administration has plunged the state into debt.”

    Fayose said he would not desert the party, if he is not picked as its standard bearer and urged members to work for the PDP’s success in the election.

    The ward chairmen pledged their support for Fayose.

  • War of words over PDP’s future

    War of words over PDP’s future

    •Its rule worse comparable to slave trade, says Borno governor

    •Party does not want change- Atiku

    •Ex-Vice President to make ‘major announcement’ today

    •Whatever happens, we’ll win again-PDP chair Mu’azu

    A war of words raged last night over the fate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s elections with Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State saying that apart from the slave trade, no bigger calamity has befallen Nigeria than the 14 years of PDP rule.

    Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar whose majority of his supporters across the country are urging him to dump the party said the PDP is not interested in changing its way.

    He is due to make a ‘major announcement’ today on his political future.

    But the new National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, vowed yesterday that whatever happens, the party will win the 2015 elections.

    Governor Shettima told supporters of the All Progressives Party (APC) at the inauguration of the party’s interim executive committee in Maiduguri that the PDP has repeatedly failed to address the myriad of problems afflicting Nigerians.

    Citing electricity as an example, he said it was a matter of regret that the PDP cannot find a solution all these years with power generation falling at will.

    He said that the APC is out to deal with all such problems if voted into power next year.

    The governor described the PDP as a dying party with many of its key members in Borno defecting to the APC.

    He said: “Any one that matters in this state is with us now in the APC family, whether former CPC, ANPP or even PDP. I can tell you that there is no opposition in the state now because even Mohammed Goni is in the same page with our family”.

    The Governor told party stalwarts that the coalition which gave rise to the present interim executive was a ‘well thought out one’ after series of painstaking consultations among the different parties that formed the APC in Borno State.

    He warned party faithful that “we are living in a very interesting period which is why there is need for maturity, diplomacy, forgiveness and tact in handling issues that touch on the people.

    Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, a top member of the PDP, took to the Twitter yesterday to take a swipe at the party.

    The PDP, he said, is not prepared for change.

    He notified his friends and associates of his intention to make a major announcement today.

    He gave no details but it was gathered that he might be defecting to the APC.

    He accused the PDP of not recognising his worth.

    He said: “My friends, I shall be making a major announcement tomorrow (Sunday) and I will be sharing it with you.

    “Over the years, since I returned, the PDP hasn’t invited me to any party functions, even as a statutory BoT member.

    “I have also been kept out of the PDP National Executive Committee meetings and locked out of its caucus.

    “Even after walking out of the Special Convention to force changes, the party never contacted me. Not once. PDP doesn’t want change.”

    The ex-Vice President also said it was obvious that Nigeria might end up with a two-party state.

    He added: “Nigeria is inevitably moving towards a two-party system. It is time to make decisions on which ideological direction we will align with.

    “The interests of Nigeria override personal interests. We can only achieve personal ambitions by making Nigeria work first.”

    However, the new national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, declared yesterday that nothing would stop the party from winning the 2015 elections.

    He spoke in Bauchi at a civic reception organised in his honour by the Bauchi State government.

    Mu’azu, the immediate past governor of the state promised to provide a level playing ground for every member of the party to enable it win next year’s elections.

    He said that the PDP is working to ensure that those who win its tickets to contest eventually win the elections.

    He also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu during which he dismissed fears that the problems facing the party are insurmountable.

    He pledged to solve the problems by reconciling all aggrieved parties, and reposition the party ahead of the challenge ahead.

     

  • PDP chair Mu’azu can reunite party, says Tambuwal

    PDP chair Mu’azu can reunite party, says Tambuwal

    House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu will resolve the crisis rocking the party and reunite its dissenting members.

    Tambuwal spoke after inaugurating an empowerment programme by the member representing Biase/Akamkpa in Cross River State, Daniel Effiong Asuquo.

    He said: “I am sure the new chairman has the capacity to stabilise everything going wrong in the party.

    “Despite the crisis rocking PDP, I remain a staunch member of the party. Even with the lawmakers in the House defecting to the opposition party, I still remain resolute.”

    The speaker rued losing five governors of the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “For a party to lose in five states is challenging. But I am sure the new chairman has the capacity to stabilise PDP.”

    Tambuwal said he had no intention to declare on 2015 until “the time is ripe.”

    He added: “But I have committed all to the Almighty God to guide my footsteps.”

    The speaker hailed Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke for stabilising the party in the state.

    He also praisedAsuquo, deputy chair of the Committee on Interior, for reducing poverty in his constituency.

    Tambuwal urged the electorate to support their representatives, saying they would continue to get effective representation from them.