The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Baraje

  • Court dismisses suit against Tukur, others

    Court dismisses suit against Tukur, others

    A Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Thursday dismissed a suit filed by Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP against Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for lack of jurisdiction.

    The Judge, Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, held that the Lagos State High Court had no power to assume jurisdiction over a matter which originated outside its territory.

    Adefope-Okojie said the applicants had averred in their affidavit that the cause of action was the Special Convention of the PDP held on August 30 in Abuja.

    She said they also averred that the PDP had its registered office in Abuja and that none of the defendants was resident in Lagos.

    The judge held that the argument by the applicants’ counsel that the court could effect its judgment against the defendants was not relevant at this stage.

    “I hold that with the defendants not resident in Lagos and the subject matter originating in Abuja, the High Court of Lagos State has no power to assume jurisdiction over this suit.

    “I accordingly make an order striking out the suit,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted justice Adefope-Okojie as saying on Thursday.

    NAN recalled that Baraje, Dr. Sam Jaja and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, filed the suit on September 1.

    They urged the court to restrain Tukur, Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman; Kema Chikwe, Women Leader; and Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary; from parading themselves as PDP National Executive Committee members.

    The Counsel to the defendants, Mr. Joe Kyari-Gadzama (SAN) and Mr. Emeka Etiaba, had on September 18 asked the court to strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

    They argued that the writs of summons was not endorsed and did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act.

    However, the applicants’ Counsel, Mr. Robert Emukpaeruo, had urged the court to dismiss the defendant’s preliminary objection and assume jurisdiction.

     

  • Let’s unite for national dialogue, Tukur pleads with Baraje faction

    Let’s unite for national dialogue, Tukur pleads with Baraje faction

    The national Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has appealed to members of the Abubakar Baraje faction to close ranks with the mainstream PDP, to enable the party forge a common front for the national pro posed dialogue.

    In a statement he signed yesterday, Tukur said the ruling party would mobilise Nigerians from all walks of life, including opposition groups, for the success of the conference.

    According to him, the dialogue offers a life time opportunity for Nigerians to re-lay the foundation of the country, stressing that the nation would emerge as a true giant of Africa at the end of the exercise.

    Tukur said: “I appeal to members of the PDP to align with the President on the national confab agenda. I also appeal to our aggrieved members to return to the PDP for us to forge a common endeavour towards rebuilding the party and our country in particular.

    “For this reason, I will not shy away from begging our party members to come together so we can enter the national confab like a team and set examples for the rest of Nigeria.

    “In doing that, we would have demonstrated that we remain the most serious party, not only in Nigeria but in Africa”.

    The chairman said the PDP was excited by the government’s desire to bring all ethnic nationalities in the country together for discussions on the progress and future of the country.

    He praised President Goodluck Jonathan for responding positively to the yearnings of the people for a national conference.

    Tukur wondered why the idea of the conference was being criticised by certain individuals and groups in the country.

    He described the critics as hypocrites, saying that many of them had severally called for the conference in the past and had mounted pressure on the President to set machinery in motion for the talks.

    The chairman admitted that the ruling party is presently at a crossroads, a development which he said, is normal in democracies.

    What is not normal, according to him, “is a situation where dissenting members resolve to permanently stand apart with little regard for the party’s starting line, past efforts in building the party, as well as common aspirations in raising the party to be the most formidable among all”.

    Tukur restated his determination to pursue with vigour the revival of the ruling party and to put the country on the path of sustainable growth and development.

    He said: “Let me reiterate that I am not the cause of the crises in our party. From the moment I came in as chairman, my focus has been on reconciliation and party reformation.

    “Some entrenched interests opposed that. They, therefore, left us with an impression that PDP does not need a reform. Why must we keep on operating without reforms? For me, such attitude is not encouraging.

    “As I speak, the Democratic Party in the United States with assurances from President Barack Obama, has promised to assist the growth of our party and they are serious about it.

    “That is instructive, coming from the world’s most respected political party. But we need reforms to carry us through, and the reforms we must implement”.

  • Tukur to Baraje’s faction: Let’s unite for national confab

    The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has appealed to members of the Abubakar Baraje faction to close ranks with the mainstream PDP, to enable the party forge a common front for the national dialogue.
    In a statement he signed on Tuesday, Tukur said the ruling party would mobilise Nigerians from all walks of life, including opposition groups, for the success of the conference.
    Tukur said the dialogue offers a life time opportunity for Nigerians to re-lay the foundation of the country, stressing that the nation would emerge as a true giant of Africa at the end of the exercise.
    He said, “I appeal to members of the PDP to align with the President on the national confab agenda. I also appeal to our aggrieved members to return to the PDP for us to forge a common endeavour towards rebuilding the party and our country in particular.
    “For this reason, I will not shy away from begging our party members to come together so we can enter the national confab like a team and set examples for the rest of Nigeria.
    “In doing that, we would have demonstrated that we remain the most serious party, not only in Nigeria but in Africa”.
    The chairman said the PDP was excited by the government’s desire to bring all ethnic nationalities in the country together for discussions on the progress and future of the country.
    He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for responding positively to the yearnings of the Nigerian people for a national conference.
    Tukur wondered why the idea of the conference was being criticised by certain individuals and groups in the country.
    He described the critics as hypocrites, saying that many of them had severally called for the conference in the past and had mounted pressure on the President to set machinery in motion for the talks.
    The chairman admitted that the ruling party is presently at a crossroads, a development which he said, is normal in democracies.
    What is not normal, according to him, “is a situation where dissenting members resolve to permanently stand apart with little regard for the party’s starting line, past efforts in building the party, as well as common aspirations in raising the party to be the most formidable among all.”
    Tukur restated his determination to pursue with vigour the revival of the ruling party and to put the country on the path of sustainable growth and development.
  • Tukur won’t resign, PDP tells Baraje

    Tukur won’t resign, PDP tells Baraje

    The National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has said the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, will not resign.

    Metuh was responding to a call by the Abubakar Baraje faction of the PDP .

    In an interview with reporters at the party’s secretariat yesterday, Metuh said there was no reason for Tukur to resign because the Alex Ekwueme Committee had in 2007, given a blanket waiver to all party members who were suspended or expelled.

    According to him, Tukur was one of the beneficiaries of such amnesty granted by the Ekwueme committee.

    He said: “The Ekwueme committee gave a blanket amnesty, a blanket waiver for all persons who have left the party or offended the party, or who the party sacked. They were given the freedom to come back and we wiped away every single thing standing against them so that they could start on a clean slate.

    “So, what that meant is that even if it is true that the national chairman or some other people had been suspended or expelled by the party, the Ekwueme report gave a blanket amnesty to them and brought them back and restored them to their original positions.

    “We have looked at the G7, or our aggrieved brothers; minus the governor of Jigawa State, we can’t think of any other person that has the institutional memory to remember things that happened in this party from inception.”

    Metuh said having no institutional memory about the party and having no record of party administration, members of the G7 are not in the right position to call for Tukur’s resignation on such grounds.

    He added: “The national chairman of the party is a foundation member of this party and he is one of the founding fathers of the party.

    “Besides the Ekwueme report, the national chairman went on a campaign and won election at the convention ground and nothing like this ever came up.

    “Nobody brought up the matter. It becomes completely immaterial whatever they are saying at this point.

    “Are they afraid of Bamanga Tukur because he is moving the party forward. Are they afraid of him because he is a strong personality. Do they want the PDP to have a weaker chairman.

    “Do they want the PDP that would not be supportive of the President as leader of the party? That is what we want to know. They should tell us why they are completely opposed to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur being chairman of the PDP.

    “We are worried about why they keep on harping on it and the more they shout at Bamanga Tukur, the more we cherish the national chairman that we have. The more we are proud of his achievements, the more we are more receptive to his ideas. So they can continue pushing, the chairman is in charge of the party and we are happy with him”.

     

  • Nigeria a crumbling edifice, Baraje laments

    Nigeria a crumbling edifice, Baraje laments

    •’They are making a carricature of serious national issues’

    The national Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Baraje has lamented the many woes of Nigeria as the country celebrates its 53rd independence anniversary.

    In a statement he personally signed yesterday, the party chair described the country as a crumbling edifice wrecked to the seams by corruption, bad leadership, ethnicism, parochialism, sectarian intolerance and childish political recrimination.

    Baraje bemoaned the fate of the citizenry, saying the masses have been pauperised and dehumanised by the present leadership through exorbitant charges on essential goods and services.

    But PDP National Publicity Secretary faulted his position. He said: “They are making a caricature of serious national issues. Their statements defy all known political norms and at best provide entertainment for social gatherings.”

    Baraje said: “Nigeria at 53 has turned into a borderless valley of tears where life expectancy hovers between 40 and 43 years. Nigerians are callously extorted through various government agencies like the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) which today excels in generating darkness and subjecting Nigerians to the highest ever tariff regime.

    “The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) set up as a well-meaning agency to tame the rising cases of road accidents has become a tool for mindless extortion through the issuing and re-issuing of vehicle number plates and drivers’ licenses at very exorbitant prices.

    “The petroleum sector has become an illicit cash cow for the people in government, their friends and relatives who exploit the hapless citizens through sundry means and cleansing the treasury via a phantom fuel subsidy scheme that targets friends and fronts of the members of the government for enrichment.

    “What could best demonstrate the wanton brigandage going on in Nigeria than the fact that the government, which set up the SURE-P programme with the huge N32 increment in each litre of fuel Nigerians purchase, has recorded no known achievement with the huge accruals from the increment?

    “Today, SURE-P has sacked the 110,000 youths it placed on N10, 000 monthly allowances on the excuse that there is no money to pay them. We ask, where is the government keeping the huge amount it realizes from the inhuman increment in the price of petrol, kerosene and diesel?

    “At 53 years of independence, our educational sector has completely crumbled and our universities have been shut for close to three months simply because a government that celebrates free loading of the nation’s resources cannot meet the agreement it signed with university teachers four years ago.

    “Our secondary and primary school sectors are jerking at the most inefficient level; neglected, abandoned and dejected and all have contributed to make Nigerian certificates almost worthless.

    “The health sector is in a pitiable state as our hospitals cannot handle simple malaria cases. Nigerians now troop to India and the Far East Asian countries to treat common ailments and nothing is being done to arrest this sad situation”.

    Baraje also noted that Nigerians in their millions are being forced to get out of the country, even to poorer countries as a result of pervasive poverty, unemployment and social dislocation.

    “The infrastructure sector is in its worst state as Nigerian infrastructural base has crumbled. Roads are decrepit. The economy has screeched to a halt in the face of unrestrained purloining, coupled with an officially-backed oil theft that targets the members of the government, its cronies and hirelings for enrichment.

    “The management of the Nigerian economy is, at best, haphazard as the cooking and circulation of flattering and fatuous economic reports that curiously suggest growth in the obvious degenerating reality Nigerians are facing.

    “At 53, youth unemployment has soared to over 80 per cent, insecurity of lives and properties has clearly overwhelmed the capacity of the state and a social crisis has driven many Nigerians to their untimely graves.

    “Our security agencies are inept and the Nigerian police have been reduced to the attack dog of the present Federal Government and its cronies while security challenges go unmet.

    “We can go on and on but suffice it to state that Nigeria has woefully failed its citizens at 53 years. The indices are all too obvious even as the present government lives in curious denial of these grave realities.

    “On a daily basis, Nigerians are being kidnapped, assassinated or butchered like chickens in hundreds and government seems at a loss on what to do”, Baraje said.

    He expressed disappointment with President Goodluck Jonathan’s Sunday night media chat in which he said rather than coming clean, the President chose to prevaricate on his 2015 re-election bid.

    The party chairman urged Jonathan to drop his re-election bid if he truly meant well for the country and concentrate on how to rescue the sinking ship of the Nigeria state.

    He observed that given the mindset of the present government, there is dim hope for redemption, adding however that well meaning Nigerians would continue to offer suggestions on how to save the country from imminent collapse.

    To this end, the party chair made the following demands on the Jonathan administration:

    . The constitution of a critical management team made up of apolitical, eminent technocrats and knowledgeable Nigerians to take over the management of the national economy given the woeful failure of the economic management team of the Jonathan government;

    • A similar team to arrest the infrastructural decay that is threatening the nation’s infrastructural base at present;

    •Impanelling of a credible, independent and resolute anti-corruption body to cleanse the country of the thick stench of corruption that has overwhelmed it at present;

    • A re-ordering of the inchoate federal structure we are running with a view to allowing the states and the other federating units more access to resources to attend to the numerous responsibilities placed on them;

    •The introduction of state police as an antidote to the worsening security problems, which the present inept and highly politicised Nigerian Police had been unable to deal with.

    • An urgent need for Nigerians to come together and discuss matters affecting them as well as proffering the way forward, as stated in the President’s enunciation of a national dialogue.

    Baraje however, welcomed the President’s announcement in his Independence Day broadcast of the establishment of a committee to advise him on the modalities for the holding of the proposed national dialogue.

    “We, however, wish to warn that the proposed conference should not serve the same cosmetic purpose served by previous efforts; it should be empowered to discuss all issues agitating the minds of Nigerians – there should not be any no-go areas except the unity and oneness of Nigeria, which is not debatable.

    “Finally, we urge Nigerians not to lose hope but to remain resolute in demanding good governance, transparency and accountability from government at various levels as that is the only way to force the corrupt clique in power to change their ways”, Baraje stressed.

  • Baraje faction romances Accord

    Baraje faction romances Accord

    The Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have begun consultations with the Accord on how to use its platform for the 2015 elections, it was learnt yesterday.

    A source said cracks have emerged in the faction, following the objection of governors loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to any close association with the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). The PDM is believed to have links with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who was a key leader of the group under the leadership of the late Maj.-Gen. Sheu Yar’Adua.

    Accord was registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the Obasanjo administration.

    Its Oyo State leader, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, opted for the party instead of defecting to the defunct Action Congress (AC), so that he would not incur the wrath of Obasanjo, who was the PDP national leader.

    Since its inception, aggrieved PDP chieftains, who lost out at the primaries, have always sought refuge in the Accord, especially in Delta and Oyo states.

    Recently, Ladoja told reporters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, that the Accord’s doors were open to aggrieved PDP chieftains.

    The source said members of the Baraje faction were considering the Accord option and were not interested in reconciling with the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur faction. He said the aggrieved governors and their associates were in regular contact with Ladoja.

    The source said: “The Baraje group is demanding the removal of Tukur as the PDP chairman. The chairman is a trusted ally of the president. This cannot be possible. They are also saying the president should not re-contest, even though he has the constitutional right to do so. But, more importantly, they are saying that they should not be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They know their demands cannot be met.

    “The faction has a slim chance. If they return to the mainstream PDP, things cannot be the same again. I know that some of them, especially the arrowheads, may not opt for the APC. Those loyal to Obasanjo will not follow Atiku to the PDM. I think that is why they are making Accord their Plan B.”

  • Court reserves judgment in suit between Tukur, Baraje factions

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its Chairman, Bamanga Tukur and 11 others against factional Chairman of the PDP, Abubakar Baraje, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and other executive members of members of the breakaway faction.

    Justice Elvis Chukwu, after listening to parties adopt their final written addresses yesterday, told them a judgment date will be communicated to parties.

    Yesterday, parties adopted their final written addresses in relation to the originating summons and preliminary objections filed by Baraje, Sam Sam Jaja and former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

    Adopting Baraje’s written argument on the preliminary objection, his lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN)urged the court to decline jurisdiction over the suit.

    He claimed that the case was in relation to the domestic affairs of the PDP, which is not justiceable.

    He urged the court to confine itself to the questions as framed by the plaintiffs in their originating summons. And ignore attempt to make it seem the court could exercise jurisdiction over the case.

    Raji argued that the questions posed and reliefs sought by the plaintiffs, simply showed that the main contention is who the truly elected leaders of the party are.

    On point of law, Raji argued that the court could not assume jurisdiction over the case solely because a federal agency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was made a party.

    He argued that the law was that the subject matter of a suit confer jurisdiction on the court and not parties.

    He claimed that under Section 251 of the Constitution, a complaint must be made against the action of a federal agency before the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction could be activated. He noted that in this case, no complaint was made against INEC.

    Responding, plaintiffs’ lawyer, Tochukwu Onwubufor (SAN) urged the court to assume jurisdiction on the ground that the suit merely asked it (the court) to interpret certain provisions of the nation’s Constitution, the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution.

    He argued that irrespective of the claim, once any of the parties in a suit was a federal agency, the Federal High Court was the proper forum for the hearing of such a case.

    Counsel to Sam Jaja, Robert Clarke (SAN) also prayed the court to decline jurisdiction on the ground that the suit was incompetent and not properly constituted.

    Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Abubakar vs Yar’Adua, he argued that by identifying the 2nd to 13th defendants in more than one name each has robbed them of their juristic personalities.

    Clarke argued that it was wrong for the plaintiffs to have sued the said defendants by their names and their designations.

     

     

     

     

    He urged the court to dismiss the case on the no “effectual order or orders could be made in relation to the claims before the court.”

    Oyinlola lawyer’s E. R. Enukpoeuo, described the case as an abuse of court process. He claimed that some of the defendants were also major parties in a similar case before the Lagos State High Court.

    He urged the court to dismiss the case

    On Clarke’s argument, Onwubufor argued that since the law does not recognise the designations with which the 2nd to 13th defendants were described in the suit, the argument by Clarke should be discountenanced.

    He denied Enukpoeuo’s argument that the case was an abuse of court process.

    Adopting his final address on the originating summons, Onwubufor urged the court to grant his client’s prayers and discountenace the defendants’ counter arguments.

    Raji, Clarke and Enukpoeuo, who filed joint counter affidavit urged the court to dismiss the suit.

    PDP, Tukur and others are by the suit, seeking among others, to restrain Atiku, Oyinlola, Sam Jaja and others from laying claim to being executive members of the PDP.

     

  • PDP crises: Reps exchange blows over Tukur, Baraje

    PDP crises: Reps exchange blows over Tukur, Baraje

    Stop Jonathan from back door third term, says factional chair

    LAWMAKERS had a violent return to work yesterday, after a long break.

    The crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spilled over to the House of Representatives, with Abubakar Baraje and Bamanga Tukur factions of the party clashing.

    Room 0.28 where a delegation of the Baraje faction was slated to meet with the leadership of the green chamber and brief its loyalists in the new PDP soon became a churning mass of struggling bodies and ripping fabric.

    The G-7 governors watched in awe as blows flew and clothes were torn. Members climbed on chairs and jumped on tables. Tempers ran riot as the hall erupted in violence.

    Lawmakers from the two factions launched at one another’s throats in an attempt to establish dominance in the hall.

    The white flowing robe (Agbada) of Hon. Afees Adelowo (PDP Oyo) was torn into shreds by a former member of the House, Binta Masi Garba and now Women Leader for the Baraje faction, as she sought to stop him from his anti- Baraje chants.

    On the right side of the packed hall, a group of pro-Baraje lawmakers exchanged blows with Hon. Henry Ofongo ( PDP Bayelsa).

    Ofongo was disrupting the session with his attitude as he shouted: “ Point of Order! Point of Order!” .

    Soon, there were pockets of fights in various parts of the hall.

    Baraje’s speech was subsequently made inaudible by the incessant chants of the members of the PDP .

    They initially began “no! no! no!”, then changed to “Bamanga! Bamanga! “ and “ Tukur! Tukur!”

    But the hall became silent when Speaker Aminu Tambuwal took the stand. Members honoured him, giving him an enabling atmosphere to deliver his speech.

    Tambuwal said the situation in the PDP puts democracy at risk.

    His words: “As politicians and leaders, we’re deeply concerned about developments in the country in recent weeks, especially the face-off within our Party.

    “This development, once again, exposed our vulnerability and the status of the culture of inter-party democracy and tolerance. Political parties and the political infrastructure mean that democracy can only flourish when there are strong political parties and well developed institutions and firmly entrenched democratic culture.

    “It is important, as politicians, to constantly remind ourselves that the democracy we have belong to entire Nigerians and not politicians alone.

    “Indeed, all Nigerians fought to install this democracy and many paid the supreme price in the process. Therefore, we must not by our actions thwart the supreme sacrifices by our heroes past with levity.

    “While acknowledging that political parties are vehicles through which we pursue our ambitions and aspirations, we must all conduct ourselves strictly within the confines of our Constitution.

    “I wish to caution that Nigerians need peaceful atmosphere to conduct their lives and business endeavours, I make bold to say that we, card-carrying members of political parties, contribute not more than 25 per cent of the population of this country.

    “We must, therefore, abstain from heating up the polity unnecessarily; we must not take Nigerians for granted, we must not overreach our goodwill and we must not over task the goodwill of Nigerians.

    “Let us, therefore, take conscious effort to allow national interest take the driving seat and not our personal ambitions.

    The new PDP members, at a briefing led by Hon. Andrew Uchendu (PDP Rivers), said the action of the PDP members in the House shows the level of lawlessness, impunity and intolerance in the party.

    According to Uchendu, who claimed that the New PDP has 108 members and still counting, the action of the G7 was based on the fact that if Nigeria must have direction, the party in power must have direction.

    “They formed the New PDP so that Nigerians can heave a sigh of relief,” he said. On the need for the meeting with the Baraje-led executive, Uchendu said it was for a fuller briefing since most of the drama occurred when the House was on recess.

    “What happened today at this meeting was what our leaders have been complaining about – reign of impunity, lawlessness, intolerance and lack of courage to agree and disagree.

    “Since all of us can’t sit to arrive at the same conclusion, it will make greater sense to have allowed the Baraje-led executive to brief those who are loyal to them.

    “But, in their character and in condemnation of all of us, they came in to disrupt the meeting, unfortunately for them, Baraje still went ahead and briefed us,” Uchendu said.

    He went on: “This just showed the reign of impunity that has pervaded the entire fabric of our polity and this can’t be allowed to continue. This country belongs to all of us and there must be a new direction, which is what the Baraje-led National Working Committee is out to achieve.”

    Asked why he was raising a Point of Order that started the fracas, Henry Daniel-Ofongo said he explained that he only wanted to tell the gathering that the meeting was supposed to be with the Caucus of the House and not for everybody.

    “There is freedom of speech; why would they not allow me to air my my opinion. This meeting is supposed to be with the Caucus of the House and for everybody; so why come with a crowd?

    “Even those that were not part of the caucus or the executive were there”

    A member who pleaded not to be named said the reason for the open forum was to allow for everyone to air their view. “The Speaker was not ready to gag anybody or bar anyone from attending the meeting, which is what democracy is all about,” Daniel-Ofongo said.

  • Jonathan wants a third term from back door, says Baraje group

    Jonathan wants a third term from back door, says Baraje group

    DESPITE desperate moves to find peace, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be sinking deeper into crises.

    It is all about the 2015 presidential race – going by the position of the party’s Kawu Baraje faction, which said yesterday that President Goodluck Jonathan should be stopped from getting a third term in office.

    This was one of the issues tabled by the faction when Baraje and his team visited Senate President David Mark at the National Assembly.

    Baraje was accompanied by Governors Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) , Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

    Others in the delegation were factional National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Deputy National Chairman Sam Sam Jaja and National Youth Leader Timi Frank, among others.

    The group was first received by the 22 Senators supporting the New PDP and then Mark.

    Baraje urged Mark and the Senate to help find solution to the logjam in the party.

    He demanded, among other things, Amaechi’s recall from suspension and his recognition as the elected chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    He also demanded “the reversal of the dissolution of the party executives in Rivers and Adamawa states, conduct of a fresh convention by the PDP due to the lapses in the recent one, removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the party, strict adherence to party constitution and total objection to third term for President Goodluck Jonathan from the back door”.

    President Jonathan was sworn in on May 6, 2010 to complete the tenure of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    Jonathan won his election in 2011 and took an oath of office on May 29, 2011. There have been arguments over Dr. Jonathan’s eligibility for another term, with some saying since he has been sworn in twice, he can no longer run.

    Others say the President only completed the late President Yar’Adua’s tenure in the first instance.

    President Jonathan is yet to speak openly on his political future. He says he is concentrating on his current mandate.

    Baraje said: “I call on you and the Senate to look at all the steps we have taken with the aim of finding solution to the problems of impunity and injustice in the PDP.

    “We call on you and the Senate, as members of the ruling party that the issue of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has gone beyond the ordinary man on the street.

    “All the negotiations that have been carried out by ASUU and the Federal Government have yielded no result. Our students and our children are at home exposed to all sorts of dangers.

    “ I call on you and the Senate to please quickly intervene and ensure that our universities are reopened.

    “We can no longer keep these children at home. I also call on you and the Senate to ensure that the 2013 budget is faithfully implemented.”

    Mark told the group that he would continue to stand for justice, fairness and equity, notwithstanding the circumstances.

    He said: “Even if you have a knife to my head, I will stand for justice, fairness and equity.”

    He urged the warring groups to come together and uphold a strong and united party.

    Mark promised to remain in the PDP, saying he would not live to see a fallen Party.

    He pleaded with the group not to defect to another party.

    He said: “We are stronger and better as one big , strong and united party . We need to work together and make our democracy sustainable.”

    He urged the opposing groups to lay the cards on the table honestly and objectively to help find solution to the crisis rocking the party.

    Mark promised that the lawmakers elected on the platform of the party would remain united and cohesive.

    He said what makes for the good of the nation and her citizens would be their watchword.

    He stressed that the leadership of the National Assembly has no intention to declare the seats of Senators or House of Representatives members vacant on account of the crises.

    He expressed the hope that the issues would be resolved amicably soon.

    Mark said: “I will remain in PDP. All of us collectively, whether it is Baraje led or Bamanga led want to see our house stand and stand erect and stand in such a way so that it can stand the test of time.

    “The obvious problems that you have raised here have all been in the newspapers. I have had occasions to plead with our elders. You have also met with our elders led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “Both parties have presented their cases and I believe that the elders’ committee has also made a submission to Mr. President.

    “Subsequently, you have also met with Mr. President and from what I gathered there is progress. It is slow but the progress in any peace move is better than no progress at all. As long as there is dialogue, there must be progress.

    “The essence of our meeting from time to time is to exchange ideas, look at the areas where we have differences and try to iron them out.

    “My position on the crisis in the PDP has always been that whatever happens, we must keep the members of the PDP in the National Assembly united because that is the only thing that can stand the test of time.

    “Yes, we are a large family, there will be crisis but we should not translate that crisis to the floor of the Senate because once you do that then we are divided in the Senate.

    “The Senate remains one united family and I have not declared anybody’s seat vacant. I have no intention whatsoever of doing that because this is a crisis that we are working on and trying to resolve.

    “As long as we are trying to resolve this crisis, all the sides to it must be prepared o give and take.”

    Mark said: Having spoken with you, I am also going to discuss with the Bamanga group and we will all be very frank because if we don’t put all the cards on the table, then we are not going to find a solution.

    “We agree that there was a problem but it is a family problem and we will solve it. When we solve it, we will be stronger when we come out of it.”

    “We should not allow the crack to continue so that lizards and all sorts of reptiles don’t begin to get into the house. What we will do as elders is to make sure that where the crack is, we cover it.”

     

  • Baraje’s suit against Tukur, others assigned to another judge

    Baraje’s suit against Tukur, others assigned to another judge

    The suit filed by Alhaji Kawu Baraje’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to stop Alhaji Bamanga Tukur from parading himself as national chairman of the party has been transferred to another judge.

    The chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, assigned the matter to a new judge, Justice Oludotun Adefowope-Okojie.

    The change of the judges followed the withdrawal of the former trial judge, Justice Ganiyu Safari who was a vacation judge.

    Although all parties were present at the resumed trial on Tuesday, the suit failed to proceed as scheduled, in view of the fact that the case file had been returned to the office of the Chief Judge.

    At the last hearing, the Alhaji Baraje’s faction of the PDP failed in their bid to get the court to order the reopening of their Abuja national secretariat which was sealed up by the police.

    Mr. Robert Emukpaero, the counsel to the Baraje faction, had made an oral application in which he prayed the court to order the reopening of the secretariat.

    Ruling on the matter, Justice Safari ordered the claimants to file a different application joining the Inspector General of Police as defendant.

    Emukpaeruo had also accused the defendants of allegedly violating the court’s previous order to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit.