Tag: defection

Hon. Eseme Eyiboh is a former member of the House of Representatives from the Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency. He spoke with reporters in Lagos on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crises and other national issues. Musa Odoshimokhe was there.

How would you react to the defection in the House of Representatives?

First, I was the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and I was also, for over a year, the Chairman House Committee on Donor Agencies. So, I am talking from an enriched position. This background has exposed me to the character and content of the institution, as well as the understanding of the dynamics of the legislatures. When people are talking in public domain of defection, I am always worried about it. I am not worried just as a politician, but as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am equally worried as a democrat, somebody who understands the import of democracy as a form of government. The defection itself is an infection, it is either a political plus or minus for one political party or the other. This particular defection is an infection on our democracy and the electoral process.

Are your saying that the defection affects development and democracy in this case?

The dividend of democracy is not just about road construction, because the military government also constructs roads. Besides, the sinking of boreholes and other projects also takes place during military administration. The dividend of democracy is the rule of law, liberty of the citizens and freedom to move. These are dividends of democracy and it is anchored on the rule of law and order. The National Assembly is the foundation for the preservation of our constitution. Now, when it comes to the issue of defection, it has altered and brought to the fore, what some of us have been complaining about: the issue of the leadership recruitment process. That is, putting the wrong people in the right places. If our political culture, if our electoral process, is to throw up men and women with capacity and pedigree driven by political conviction or ideology of their respective political parties, this particular defection would not take place. But this defection reveals that majority of those who are defecting are following their governors. They are not doing so on the basis of personal principle. They are not doing it out of conviction. If we have a situation where these gentlemen are products of an electoral process, propounded on the foundation of leadership recruitment process, they would have taken personal decision. That would have been at variance with the situation we have at hand today.

But it is also very good for our democracy because it has taught the PDP some lessons. That you must rise up to the issue of the management of your political party; that no matter the streak of successes made, you must conduct your affairs in an orderly manner.

The implication of your statement is that the PDP compromised in its responsibilities…

The people voted PDP massively because of their conviction that the party would be able to protect their interest. The political party was seen as a vehicle to bring the government and governed together. But because of the poor leadership recruitment process, the PDP threw up the leadership at a time that the country needed to project our unity. The country need to rise up to the problem of surveillance, the country needed to buy into globalization. When Alhaji Bamaga Tukur came, he saw PDP as a shopping mall, he saw the Presidency as an alter where he has to go and put a request. This was a wrong approach. He is a good man, but that is not the pedigree to run a political organisation. Political party is like a business, he has to stoop to conquer. He has to communicate and must step out there to engage.

How can the country engage the caliber of people that will bring the desired changes to the country?

The issue of leadership is beyond political parties. Up till now, I am one of those people who congratulated the legacy party that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). For one moment, this is going to be a conglomerate that will give PDP a run for its money. But today I am thinking differently. This is because APC has allowed PDP to reinvent itself. The moment Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu emerged as the PDP chairman, half of its problems were solved. So, I can tell you that without the fear of being contradicted, his emergence is going to be a positive step. Mu’azu has the pedigree to manage the situation; I stand to be corrected. He has the capacity and leverage for flexibility. PDP’s problem has always been the party chairmen and the governors of their state. For Mu’azu to be nominated by the governor of his state, it is a plus for him. It is a signal that the days of the PDP reinventing itself is nearby.

But the emergence of Mu’azu has not fully doused the tension because the influence of the likes of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Well, it depends on your perspective. One of the causes of the grievances is the way the party was being managed. Obasanjo’s decision not to participate in activities of the PDP does not mean he is not a member of the party. A lot of issues came up like the issue of Bamaga Tukur must go, but with what Mu’azu is doing through networking, courting people to buy his programme, there has been significant progress. Throughout Bamaga Turkur’s time, I was not passionate about PDP. But today, the PDP has provided a platform; it has provided leadership that would be able to welcome members. Mu’azu is a talent manager and venture specialist. Tukur was busy building an empire he lacks the capacity to sustain. He was building an ant-hill without being conscious of the fact that this is dangerous. Nigeria is a country where we have abundant of talents, people with pedigree. And it is because we have wrong people in leadership position that is why we have all these problems.

But, those who can offer the right leadership are sidelined from leadership…

I want to say the system has collapsed. We no longer have a society of excellence or merit. There is no society of competitiveness; instead we have a society which celebrates affluence. The religious institutions have collapsed as well. Now, the only process of bringing about this change is through the electoral process. Now, how many people exercise their voting rights on merit? Somebody will go to the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and the Senate without visiting his community. But the moment the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) comes out with time table for election, he will start going around shopping for votes. Gone are the days when politicians mount the rostrum to articulate their programmes and the capacity to deliver. People don’t even know who is contesting election these days, apart from the bill boards that herald their presence.

Some Northern leaders have said that President Jonathan signed a pact to run for one term. Do you think the emergence of Mu’azu will make them shift ground?

Constitutionally, Jonathan is obliged to go for second term; I stand to be corrected. To quote Babangida Aliyu, who stated that Jonathan said he would not run, it was not on the basis of constitution requirement. He probably said this on personal volition. I don’t think it was proper, when Babangida Aliyu said that. But it is up to Jonathan to decide whether to exercise his liberty and the constitutional right of a citizen by running. Then secondly, I think that Jonathan is going to run and win. There are reasons for this. Within the PDP, including those who say he should not run, are yet to have alternative to Jonathan. He has done well in respect of the indivisibility of this country. He has done well to offer a stronger economy that would be able to enhance opportunities. The oppositions have not also come out with a policy direction, to articulate what in their opinion is a better policy than what Jonathan is doing. He may not have given 100 per cent improvement, but has done well. With the bulk of the private investors in the power sector, the situation has improved.

What are your plans for 2015?

Two things determine the life of a proactive politician: the aspiration of the person; and the opinion or disposition of the people in his electoral constituency..Whatever my action is going to be would be complemented by the disposition of the people of my constituency.

A tremor has hit the Senate. Eleven senators are perfecting their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). But, the move is being resisted by the PDP. Assistant Editor GBADE OGUNWALE reports that the Upper Chamber, which may witness more defections before the end of this quarter, will not remain the same again.

The 11 senators have crossed the rubbicon and there is no going back. Their defection from theruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is still generating ripples. But, there are more hurdles to cross.

The PDP leadership has kicked against the move. To President Goodluck Jonathan, it is an attempt to further decimate the party. The Senate President, Gen. David Mark, has also refrained from allowing the defecting senators to formalise the process. He has refused to read their letters of defection opn the floor. Also, the PDP has approached the court to stop the defection. The litigation has sowed a seed of discord in the Senate. Since the motive of the litigation is to determine the security of their tenure, the senators are also fighting back. Thus, they are doing battle with Mark and the party lleadership.

The defecting senators are Bukola Saraki, Shaaba Lafiaji, Abdullahi Adamu, Abdullahi Gobir, Umaru Dahiru and Magnus Abe. Others are Wilson Ake, Bindo Jibrilla, Danjuma Goje, Aisha Alhassan and Ali Ndume.

Mark, it is believed, is trying frantically to reisist any defection that could alter the majority status of the PDP on the floor. Clearly, the unfolding scenario poses a threat to his exalted seat and his political career. Should the APC succeed in securing numerical majority, it would render Mark a lame duck. With the required majority, the APC senators may call for leadership change in the Senate.

To prove that they meant business, the defectors led by Saraki (Kwara Central) had submitted a letter of ‘intent-to-defect’ to the President of the Senate. In consonance with the tradition of the Senate, they had expected Mark to read the letter on the floor the next day.

But to their surprise, Mark did not read the letter. In fact, he did not show up in the Upper Chamber. he was said to be away on an official assignment. His deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plennary session, also refused to read the letter. The senators engaged in him in hot arguments, insisting that he must read the letter. Ekweremadu clainmed that he did not have the letter, adding that Mark had kept it.

There is apprehension in the PDP over the defection. Since crisis hit the party, it has not remained the same. In the House of Representatives, 37 members of the party had defected to the APC. If the senators follow suit, the party will be ebbing away in the National Assembly.

Indications emerged at the weekend that Mark, in consultation with the leadership of his party, had perfected a counter-stroke against the 11 “rebel” senators. From the time the defection wind started blowing over the political space, the PDP leadership has threatened to declare the seats of the defectors vacant in the National Assembly. The party intends to invoke Section 68 (g) and (h) of the 1999 Constitution as a trump card.

Some highly placed PDP chieftains, who are quicker to action than thought, are backing this option. If the party succeeds in declaring their seats vacant, then, the defectors would be fighting the court to regain their lost seats. PDP sourcers said that the ruling party is prepared to also employ delay tactics to frustrate the senator’s defection.

According to sources, one of the methods being considered is to ignore court orders on the reinstatement of the senators, should there be any. The PDP has a reputation for disobeying court judgments. The party’s estranged National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was reinstated by the court. But, the PDP leadership quickly suspended him after refusing to obey the court order. That the Appeal Court judgment of November 11, 2013, that reinstated Oyinlola as National Secretary was disregarded by the leadership of the PDP, showed that the party has not refrained from its disdain for the rule of law. Oyinlola is still in the cold, fighting to reclaim his seat.

However, another source said that the Senate President is not willing to be consumed by the tremour. Folowing consultations, he has reflected on the implications of the action on his political career. Declaring the senators’ seats vacant and ignoring court judgment in favour of the senators would guarantee the security of his tenure. However, the possible throw back of such action on his political future is said to be a matter of grave concern to him. For Mark therefore, it is a choice between his tenure as the Senate President, which expires in May 2015, and the rest of his political career.

Sources close to the number three citizen disclosed that he is giving thoughts to possible ways of resolving the crisis triggered by the defection without jeopardising his political future. “He appears to have been torn between the devil and the deep blue sea. The leadership of the PDP on the other hand is poised to push the plot through for obvious reasons. But, the Senate President also jnows his limitations,” added the source.

However, a meeting arranged by Mark with the the 11 senators to stop them from defecting was deadlock. Therer was no compromise. The storm is gathering in the Senate. A parliamentary source said that senate leadership may run into turbulence. “Many senators, both from the PDP and APC, have respect for Mark because of his leadership qualities. But, this is a different time”, he said.

The 11 senators have stood their ground that the defection notice must be read at the next plenary session. Mark, on the other hand, has insisted, based on the PDP directive, that their seats should be declared vacant. Who blinks first? The heat goes on.

Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) leader Hon. Olawale Osun spoke with Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN on the Afenifere crisis, the proposed national conference, and national security.

What prompted the formation of the Afenifere Renewal Group?

It was due to the lingering crisis in the Afenifere. The crisis has its root in the face-off between the older generation, comprising Chiefs Ayo Adebanjo, Olaniwun Ajayi, Reuben Fasoranti, Olu Falae, Supo Sonibare and the governors led by Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. When the Alliance Democracy (AD) was about to make Akande the chairman, the older generation kicked and installed Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa. Akande became the substantive AD chairman. It triggered a crisis of confidence.

There was the allegation that Obasano’s hand was quite visible in the AD crisis. At a certain point in the crisis of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin was arrested. That drove a wedge in the crisis. It was believed that the older generation were responsible for Odumakin ‘s arrest. The cause was the tussle over the control of 6, Jibowu Street, the administrative headquarters of the Afenifere. That further divided the group.

A group of young men, including myself, Ayo Afolabi, Kayode Fayemi, Bisi Adegbuyi, Jimi Agbaje, Famoriyo and some others came together and decided that we should reconcile the feuding leaders. We convened a reconciliation meeting at the International Institute of Trpopical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, which was attended by both sides. We had a useful discussion and far reaching resolutions were taken at the meeting. Both sides agreed to sink their differences and work together as a formidable group. We thought the conference had provided the plank for further communication.

Did the two sides keep to the peace agreement brokered at the Ibadan conference?

No, the agreement didn’t work. The reason was that Ayo Adebanjo, in a press interview while celebrating his 80th birthday, castigated the governors (Bisi Akande’s group) and called them all sort of names. That reopened the old wounds and pre-empted our peace efforts. It was then that theAfenifere Renewal Group came to the conclusion that it would be unproductive to be tied down by the crisis. We said, if the two sides are not willing to reconcile, we would not take side and it was necessary to move forward. We tried to reconcile them, but they are irreconciliable. The needs of Yoruba are too many and complex than to be bogged down by trivialities. We felt there was the need to move away from the feud and energise ourselves to do more work, more so, when Obasanjo mercenaries were being overrun in the Southwest. We decided to support any progressive party that would reclaim the Southwest from Obasanjo’s stranglehold. Obasanjo actually subverted the Alliance for Democracy.

Why did the likes of Odumakin and Agbaje pull out of the ARG?

It was difficult to say specifically why Odumakin left. At a point, Odumakin embarked on a campaign that the ARG was being sponsored by Tinubu. People knew we were independent of both sides. We used to brief Chief Fasoranti and Chief Fasanmi about what we were doing. Odumakin was involved in the planning and formation of the ARG. He as the Publicity Secretary of the group was the closest person to me. We met and discussed issues, took decisions and implemented them without external influence. We felt he needed an excuse to leave and that was why he kept talking ofTinubu’s role. I can’t lay my hands on any specific issue as to why he left the organisation he was a party to its formation.

Some PDP governors have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). What does this portend for the polity?

For the purpose of a virile democracy, a gradual evolution of two strong political parties is a welcome development. With two strong parties, the voters can always have a choice. Although our constitution allows multi-party system, a situation where we have more than 30 parties and one of them is dominant is not healthy for a democratic growth.

What role did theARG play in resolving the crisis between Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, who has defected to the Labour Party?

Ordinarily, I should not say anything at this time. I was involved in reaching out to Bamidele and persuaded him to remain and work within the APC structure to realise his political ambition. A true democrat will work within the ambit of his own party to achieve his political ambition. Crossing from one party to another because of elective office means you don’t believe in the party ideals. The fact that some people have endorsed Fayemi for second term has not given him the ticket. He has to pass through the process of party primaries. If Bamidele had confidence in himself and the potentiality of his aspiration, he could have waited for that process to be completed. If he had the patience of going through that process and felt badly treated, it is a different thing. But, he didn’t allow the process to take its full course before pulling out. If he is a democrat and he believes in its tenet, he should not have dumped the party. What kind of democrat is he?You are not sure of what will be the outcome of the process.

He must have left because he knows he has no chance of defeating the incumbent governor. Bamidele should not forget that it was the AD/ACN and now the APC that made him to serve as commissioner in Lagos State for 12 years and it was on the platform of the party that he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives. He cannot forget that it is our party that has given him the opportunity to serve politically for 16 years. He should know he had acted wrongly.

What is your assessment of the INEC’s handling of theAnambra governorship election?

The election did not run well. The INEC role was disappointing. I am sure the election petition tribunal will decide sooner or later on the election. There is the need for the INEC to put its house in order against 2015. It has not shown the confidence expected of an impartial umpire. The commission needs to go to the drawing board to re-strategise. If it could not handle a state election satisfactorily, what would happen in 2015? It is hoped that the criticism that attended Anambra would be taken care of to put 2015 in the right perspective.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Suleman Nazif is from Bauchi State. He spoke with JOHN OFIKHENUA on the failure of the ruling party to avert the defection of its aggrieved members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is becoming popular by the day; why is this so?

Today, in Nigeria, we are faced with a very serious challenge and our leaders have to adopt extraordinary solutions to save what so many of us have worked hard for many years trying to achieve to make Nigeria a better place. I must give credit to people like General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Chief Tony Momoh, Chief Bisi Akande and Ali Sheriff, for bringing us together to agree. Without them, we would not have achieved this tremendous success that we have brought to Nigerians.

We believe, very strongly too, that this is the only way out of the mess, which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has put this country in, to unite. Our doors are open to all Nigerians, who desire to come into this party in search of the opportunity to institute this change we so badly need in Nigeria, so that we can all make it possible.

What do you have in store for those who are joining you, especially those who have made name in the political arena?

As far as I am concerned, the APC is the party, which is offering millions of Nigerians the opportunity to bring about change; not necessarily those who have made ‘name’. Even, those who have no ‘name’ are welcome to make their own ‘name’. For those who are formidable enough to join the party, it is a welcome idea. Same applies to those who are known or unknown.

But then, it is not about making name; rather, it is all about doing the right thing. We have been going in cycles for so long that it has become apparent to everyone that there is need and desire for change and that this change must be effected, so that Nigeria can be a better place.

For those who are still undecided, seeing those personalities leave the party will also encourage them to do same. I can tell you that they are only bidding their time. We will welcome them. For those who took the bold step, we welcome them wholesomely and thank them for the sacrifices they have made and the place they have earned in history. They must know, though, that it is an opportunity to show Nigerians the stuff they are made of.

Some analysts have pointed out that, if any person who was elected on the platform of a party leaves for another party, that person has forfeited that seat. What is your take on that?

This is not the first time that members of a party have cross-carpeted to another party. Besides, we have not seen, in the past, where anyone’s seat was declared vacant for cross-carpeting; and the Senate President has made an open declaration concerning that. Nigerians desire change and it is only through radical means that this change can come about. Now, let me assure you of one thing: by the time all the lawmakers in the House of Representatives move over to the APC, the PDP will become a minority party. Slow and steady wins the race and as far as the global strategies on war agree, wars are won long before they are fought. Every Nigerian alive today knows that the PDP is crumbling, the PDP has come to its last bus-stop, the PDP is diminishing and that the PDP is sinking. It is already on its knees.

This is the real reason why they have resorted to all sorts of strategy to stop people from cross-carpeting. We have seen so many moves to different parties. so, what is so new about this one?

That is not all. Today, all those who are principal office holders of the PDP have lost grasp in their states. The national chairman of the PDP is from Adamawa State and the state is owned by the APC. The deputy national chairman, Uche Secondus (Rivers); the secretary to the Board of Trustees, Senator Waheed Jubril (Nasarawa); the national Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo (Osun); the publicity secretary, Olisah Metu (Anambra); the women leader, Kema Chikwe (Imo), the president’s political adviser, Ahmed Gulak (Adamawa); the President’s Chief of Staff, Mike Oghiadome (Edo) and many others are from states where the APC hold sway. It is easy to see why they are desperate. Mark my words: By the time 2015 rolls over, there will be no one left in the PDP. So, it is an opportunity for us to come and advocate for a radical change, a radical solution to these extraordinary problems which we have been facing.

In Lagos State, for example, Bola Tinubu believed that there was need for a radical change, so he opted for someone who could do it – Fashola. See where Lagos is today. Today, thousands of Nigerians want to be like Governor Fashola.

If you look at the case of Kano, Governor Kwankwaso has also instituted some radical changes in the governance of the state. His Kwankwasiyya group has brought about effective governance, infrastructural development, management of agricultural potentials, all in Kano.

Look at Governor Amaechi of Rivers State. He is a radical governor, who came to office through radical means and has since begun to proffer radical solutions to the state’s problems. He is man of the people and someone who is committed to making Nigeria better. That is why he has stood his ground so many times and all he has done is in the interest of the country.

You can now see why the PDP is so agitated about this cross-carpeting. Some members of the National Assembly do not care, if they take their seats from them; they will still cross-carpet and, if elections are conducted, they will win. The comfort is that it won’t get to that level, because no one will remove them from their seats.

But how can this change come if there is no change in the constitution or the composition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC )?

If you were in Abuja last week, you will recall that we marched to the headquarters of the INEC to go tell Jega how unhappy Nigerians are about the way the election in Anambra State was conducted and the non-provision for a supplementary election. You can see how thousands of Nigerians followed our leaders in that peaceful protest to the commission’s headquarters, to tell the chairman about the disappointment of Nigerians and that enough is enough. That is enough. What we did has sent a clear message to Nigerians and the international community that what some miscreant got away with in the past will no longer be tolerated in the present and in the future. We also succeeded in communicating to him that we want effective conduct of our elections; we have had enough of irregularities and that we support the philosophy of one man, one vote.

For Jega, it is an opportunity. 2011 is past and what happened then should not be allowed to repeat itself in 2015, Nigerians will not accept it.

As we speak, you and I know that the APC is not only a force to reckon with, but also the party for you to make name, the party through which you can make Nigeria better , the party for the younger generation to contribute through for the sake of change and history. I can assure you.

You talk about one man, one vote. How can you achieve this?

Our party is fully prepared and we are gearing up towards the 2015 elections. There is a lot of sensitisation going on within the party and Nigerians, and our party leaders, are fully involved. The locals and our officials in the state are also aware of happenings within their communities. They are advocating, campaigning and soliciting for one man, one vote and sensitising Nigerians for same.