Despite peace moves, the storm in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be getting stronger.
But suspended Governor Aliyu Wamakko has an answer to the problem: President Goodluck Jonathan should direct the removal of National Chairman Bamanga Tukur for alleged incompetence.
Besides, he should sack Presidential Political Adviser Ahmed Gulak for “arrogance” and clear incompetence”.
Wamakko did not spare Ijaw leader Edwin Clark who he described as “a liability”. Ex-militant leader Mujadeen Asari Dokubo, he said, should be arrested.
The governor said he and like-minded governors as well as other democrats are not fighting the party but the recurring injustice.
“Our pride should be to defend the course of justice and fair play for the desired unity, strength and progress,” he said Wednesday night in Sokoto.
This is the first time the governor has spoken about his suspension last week by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). He said their collective belief was to ensure the rule of law and unity of Nigeria.
“We are law abiding democrats who respect the rule of law and rights of others in the course of ensuring the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians are met,” he said.
Wamakko was addressing his supporters shortly on arrival from a two-week trip to the Netherlands where he attended an economic summit with some of his counterparts.
He said that ‘’ as leaders, there is no retreat, no surrender on our pursuit towards stabilising the confidence of the citizenry for a prosperous nation.”
The governor is alleged to be among the eight “rebellious” party members, who are believed to be against the President’s ambition.
Wamakko reeled out his sacrifices for the party’s victory in various political circumstances, noting that between 2007 and now he had lifted the party to great level.
“I returned the caliphate into mainstream politics, brokered peace between former Governor Bukola Saraki and his late father, gave the party all elective seats at the 2011 general elections without conceding to the CPC tsunami,” the governor said.
Wamakko challenged those he described as political sycophants who sit back in Abuja to determine what happens in Sokoto, urging the President as party leader to detest their antics in the interest of progress.
“None of them has been able to return a single seat to the party since I joined PDP in 2007. Some of them were Ministers and ambassadors yet did not reciprocate their worth for the party up to date,” he said.
He said leaders and Nigerians must come together to save the nation’s nascent democracy.
Wamakko said: “I was unhappy with a development where Gowon and former President Shagari were given lesser prominence than Clark”. This, he cautioned, should not be allowed to happen again because “it is wrong and painful”.
“Asari-Dokubo should be arrested and prosecuted,’’ the governor said.
He described Tukur as “a political boot licker” who cannot bring fame to the party, stressing: “We don’t have confidence in him anymore. A chairman cannot be running the party as his private entity without due consideration for the party’s status.”
Reaffirming that he remains in the PDP, Wamakko maintained that Tukur, who, he said have lost the confidence of his people in Adamawa, should not be allowed to stagnate the party.
He faulted “attempts” to ease Speaker Aminu Tambuwal out of his seat, questioning why he should be tagged a political enemy.
The governor said: “Speaker Tambuwal has been used severally to achieve and sustain many positive steps for the party through vibrant means.
“Goodluck , Bankole and many others were beneficiaries of Tambawal’s efforts.
Tambuwal, who spoke of his resilience in the defence of Nigeria’s unity and for the good of democracy, said “purposeful political fraternity is key to peaceful and sustainable democracy.”
The Speaker, who described Wamakko’s suspension as “purported”, pointed out that it was an unconstitutional and self-serving decision taken through “undemocratic means”. Those who said you have been suspended are saying their minds but you remain our leader with determination.
“You have our total support and be on course for what is right and good,” he told Wamakko.
Tambuwal said: “We should be seen to imbibe and respect the rights and freedom to exercise our liberty of choice.
‘’ We have to uphold the political and democratic legacies of our forefathers in the Caliphate who displayed their God-given wisdom for an established system even before the coming of the colonialists.
‘’Sokoto has produced democrats of repute, respecters of the rule of law, detribalised leaders in the late Sir Ahmadu Bello and former President Shagari who have managed Nigeria transparently, with absolute fairness in the spirit and principles of rule of law; which guarantees freedom and liberty of choice.”
Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi is currently on suspension and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including National Secretary Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
