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  • Why Ogun PDP remains in disarray

    Why Ogun PDP remains in disarray

    The crisis threatening the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is far from being over. In spite of the frantic efforts to bury their differences, the warring chieftains remain implacable. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the root of the crisis and why it has defied solution.

    There seems to be no solution in sight to the crisis rocking the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since its defeat in 2011 by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the PDP has not fully recovered from the shock. The party is fragmented into three groups and the crisis continues to fester.

    It all started prior to the 2011 general elections; as a proxy war between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Governor Gbenga Daniel over the control of the party structures ahead of the polls. The gladiators were divided over the choice of the party’s governorship candidate. Obasanjo had insisted that former Sole Administrator of Ekiti State, General Adetunji Olurin, should get the ticket, while Daniel preferred his long-time protégée and former Managing Director of the Gateway Holdings, Mr Gboyega Isiaka, for the role. The party became polarised, with the Daniel camp breaking away to contest the election on a different platform. The division proved to be their undoing; as the two groups eventually lost out in the election.

    In an attempt to regain power in 2015, remnants of the party after the exit of Obasanjo and the Daniel camp re-united. This includes supporters of Senator Buruji Kashamu and that of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole. But, it was not enough to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, from retaining power.

    Shortly after the elections, the cracks that were hurriedly patched for the purpose of regaining power widened once again, with gladiators moving in different directions. It became apparent that the centre could no longer hold during the failed bid to rebuild the party nationwide, when the three gladiators conducted separate ward, local government and state congresses. The arrow heads are Hon. Ladi Adebutu, son of multi-billionaire business mogul, Chief Adebutu Kessington, who represents Remo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Senator Kashamu and Hon. Bankole.

    Adebutu, who is backed by his father and Bankole are pitched in a fresh battle against Kashamu who also has the financial war chest to prosecute any political battle. While Adebutu has his eyes firmly on the governorship seat in 2019, Bankole is said to be bent on taking his own pound of flesh from Kashamu who single-handedly stopped him from picking the party’s governorship ticket for the 2015 polls.

    A chieftain of the PDP in Ogun State, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele, attributed the division in the chapter “to the selfish interest of Kashamu”. Ogundele, who is the Chairman of the Adebutu faction said: “We started having problems when Buruji Kashamu when he came up with a deceit that was supported by Daniel. We found out later that Kashamu was out to use our political fortunes to enrich his business interests through a diabolical organisation he called ‘Omo Ilu Foundation’. He forced many members of the party to take an oath of allegiance to his leadership.

    “Later, he took the party leadership to court on certain issues. With the support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he had his way. He used court injunctions to take over the structure of the party. Kashamu later frustrated Obasanjo, Daniel and other notable leaders out of the party.

    “What Kashamu did to the PDP in Ogun was the height of deceit. In 2011, he started selling party tickets for political offices to the highest bidders. In 2015, we had the opportunity of regaining power in the state, but we could not capitalise on it because of the selfish interests of Kashamu. Like he did in 2011, he fixed prices for elective offices. Those who could afford to pay were given the tickets; it was a cash and carry business.

    “He didn’t put into consideration the popularity of the candidates. For instance, Kashamu foisted Bisola Clark, the wife of Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on the Ogun Central Senatorial District as candidate. She is an Egba woman, but not popular among the people. She doesn’t stay in Abeokuta. Still, Kashamu gave her the senatorial ticket at the expense of a popular candidate.”

    A member of the Bankole group, Mr Adedotun Adetona, agreed with Ogundele. He confirmed that the seizure and firm grip of Kashamu on the party’s structure forced former President Obasanjo, with whom he had a running battle since 2010, to suddenly quit the party along with his supporters in the run-up to the 2015 general elections. According to Adetona, it was in a bid to pre-empt Kashamu’s deft moves that Obasanjo decided to call it quits.

    He said: “It was when Obasanjo got wind of the plan by the state executive committee of the party loyal to Kashamu to expel and disgrace him that he hurriedly called a press conference in his Abeokuta Presidential Mansion and announced his decision to quit the party. He did this in a dramatic fashion, by tearing his membership card in the glare of cameras.

    “The supremacy battle between Kashamu and the remnants of the Obasanjo camp dragged on and culminated in the party’s defeat in the 2015 general elections. The party could only boast of one senatorial seat won by Kashamu himself, two House of Representatives seats, one won by Adebutu and nine House of Assembly seats.

    “Rather than consolidate on this modest achievement and strive for better performance in future elections, the party became more divided, with each group jostling for its soul. The Adebutu and Bankole groups are upset with the way and manner Kashamu has taken over the party’s structure. Kashamu has remained the major financier of the party since 2011 when he took the structures from Daniel. As a result, he became the alpha and omega of the PDP in Ogun. He determines who gets the PDP’s tickets for various elective offices.

    “In their wisdom, the opposing groups argued that if they did not rise up now to challenge and checkmate the ‘one-man-takes-all’ style of Kashamu, the electoral fortunes of the party may dim further and prevent it from capturing the state in 2019.”

    Fatoki explained what led to the formation of the splinter group thus: “In order to put an end to Kashamu’s impunity, we the like-minds in Ogun PDP decided to return to the drawing board, by first identifying the problems. We realised that Kashamu had turned the party into his personal property and was using our political fortunes to entrench his business interests. We came together, we mobilised our members against the self-acclaimed leader. We formed a formidable team, with Daniel and Adebutu.

    “After we had gathered enough members to fight the monster, we went ahead to conduct ward, local government and state congresses. It was not only our group that held congress outside the one conducted by Kashamu group; the Bankole group did the same thing. It was a protest against the leadership of Kashamu. Ogun is an elitist state. Kashamu can’t lead Ogun PDP. The likes of Kashamu can’t be a councillor In Egbaland, because of his dented image. He can’t lead our campaign; people will look at your leader and judge you.”

    The parallel congresses from where three parallel executives emerged have worsened the crisis in Ogun PDP.  The simultaneous conduct of the state congress recently at three different venues, by party members loyal to each of the three combatants, suggests that reconciliation of the warring factions is not feasible. At the end of the exercise, a former Chairman of Ijebu North Local Government, Chief Adebayo Dayo, was elected chairman by the group loyal to Kashamu, while a former Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chief Wale Egunleti, emerged chairman of the Bankole faction. The Adebutu group elected Ogundele as chairman.

    There has been a growing apprehension within the party, as each faction continues to lay claim to the party leadership. A political analyst, Mr Duro Bankole, said: “The PDP in Ogun is in disarray. Nobody is sure which group conducted the authentic congress or which set of the executive is the authentic one. Each of the groups continues to lay claims to legitimacy and authenticity.”

    For instance, Ogundele argued that the congress conducted by his group was the authentic one and that the elected officials are the legitimate state executive council. He insisted that theirs is the constitutionally-recognised one and that it emerged to arrest the drift foisted on the party by the Dayo-led executive under the prompting of one man (Kashamu). He faulted the congress that produced the Dayo-led executive, saying it was an exercise in futility.

    He said: “We went to court to challenge the Dayo-led executive that conducted the Kashamu group’s congress. We got a court injunction restraining the faction from conducting or supervising the congresses. The Stakeholders Committee was put in place by the party at the expiration of Dayo’s tenure on February 28. The committee headed by Chief Iyabo Apampa conducted the congress from where I (Ogundele) emerged as party chairman.

    “This is why I am saying with confidence that we are the authentic executives of the party in Ogun State. We are also recognised by the zonal body (Southwest PDP). A stakeholder constituted by the party conducted our congress where I emerged chairman and that makes it legal and authentic. We got a letter from the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, recognising us as the authentic state executive of the party. The Ogun State Electoral Commission has also recognised as the authentic state executive and that was why the commission accepted the list of candidates submitted by our group for the recent local government election.”

    But the Kashamu faction hinged the legitimacy of its congress on its recognition by the National Congress Committee Chairman for Ogun State, Mohammed El-Yakub, and the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which monitored the exercise. El-Yakub said he was not aware of any parallel congress in Ogun, “because we had designated centres and the congresses my committee monitored took place in those centres”. He added that members of the committee monitored the exercise across the three senatorial districts and it was peaceful and smooth.

    Insisting that the congress organised by the Kashamu faction was authentic, El-Yakub said: “We carried all the members along and asked any intending contestant to approach the party secretariat to obtain forms. We gave everybody a level-playing ground and equal opportunity. What I know is that some people cannot consider themselves as having conducted authentic congress without nomination forms.”

    On the authenticity of Kashamu group’s congress, Dayo who emerged as chairman said: “There are no factions in Ogun PDP and there was only one validly conducted congress held on May 10, 2016. Any other arrangement anywhere that purports to be another ‘parallel congress is nothing but a gathering of people whose motives and intentions are not clear and definitely not in consonance with the mood of the larger percentage of our members that are desirous of a rejuvenated, peaceful and progressive party.”

    The Secretary of the faction loyal to Bankole, Hon. Johnson Fatoki, said his group obtained its nomination form on which the congresses were conducted from the PDP national secretariat, Abuja. According to him, “the executive that emerged from our congress is valid; we followed the party guidelines.”

    Fatoki noted that divergent interests were fuelling the internal rancour in the Ogun PDP. He said: “It is about interests; some people want to use their interest to overshadow that of the group. So, I can’t rule out 2019 connection in the internal rancour in Ogun PDP.   In politics, there are bound to be competing interests, but it must not be at the detriment of the party. Personal ambition must not override the collective prosperity of the party.”

    Observers are of the view that “the PDP in Ogun State has lost its potency and slipped into political irrelevance, because of the inordinate ambition of its leaders. The PDP has ceased to be a viable opposition to the ruling APC; because of the expansionist tendencies and the crude ambition of its leaders in their bid to control the party structures”.

  • Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    Enugu PDP caucus in disarray over consensus candidate

    •Chime: I didn’t anoint Ugwuanyi  

    •Enugu PDP ratifies consensus candidate

    The caucus of the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been divided over its consensus candidate.

    But Governor Sullivan Chime, who has been accused of masterminding the process that led to the emergence of House of Representatives member Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the party’s consensus candidate, has denied any wrongdoing.

    Many prominent members of the party boycotted last Saturday’s caucus meeting to show their disapproval of what they called a brazen attempt by one man and a few people around him to impose an unpopular candidate on the party.

    Among the party’s stalwarts who stayed away from the meeting are: Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, former governor of old Anambra State Senator Jim Nwobodo, Senator Fidelis Okoro, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke, Chief Anayo Onwuegbu, former Information Minister Frank Nweke Jnr, former Power Minister Prof. Barth Nnaji, former Foreign Affairs Minister Dubem Onyia and Senator Ayogu Eze, who has been insisting that the party should hold a primary instead of ratifying a consensus candidate.

    Others include former Senate President Ken Nnamani, who was said to be away in the United States, and several prominent members of the caucus.

    It was learnt that Chime tried to convince opponents of consensus to attend the meeting, calling them severally on his phone.

    Some of the leaders reportedly said they would not allow the governor to use them as the rubberstamp to his “handpicked candidate”.

    They wondered why the governor suddenly began to show them affection, after allegedly alienating them for about eight years.

    “The governor never took the call of any leader of Enugu State for nearly eight years. I will be a fool to fall for this emergency love. It’s a Greek gift,” one of the party’s chieftains, who spoke in confidence, told our reporter.

    It was also learnt that the governor changed his “usual” authoritative voice for a conciliatory tone to persuade the members to toe his line.

    Some of those at the meeting said they were surprised by the haste with which it was conducted.

    They also alleged that nobody was allowed to comment or move the motion on the consensus controversy.

    Some of the party’s stalwarts said they would not attend the meeting because the consensus candidacy violated the party’s constitution.

    “There is no way I would have joined them to flout the instruction and guidelines of the party. No way! The PDP constitution is superior to any individual in the party, no matter how highly placed,” another party chieftain said.

    But Chime denied the allegation that he masterminded Ugwuanyi’s emergence as the consensus candidate.

    The governor addressed reporters at the weekend after the caucus meeting of the PDP, saying members of the party chose the lawmaker.

    Chime, who gave a rundown of how Ugwuanyi was endorsed by the people of Enugu North Senatorial District, where the governorship is zoned to, dismissed insinuations that he imposed him on the party.

    The governor said party members from the three senatorial zones chose Ugwuanyi.

    He said: “I was there as the umpire; I didn’t participate in the deliberations. Mine was to guide them, to coordinate what was happening. So, everybody who wanted to speak was given the chance to speak.

    “All those who indicated interest one way or the other were there. All elected officials – government, public officers, state and national – were there. Past and present leaders were there. So, we met and, unanimously at the end of deliberations, it was put to a formal motion. Many of the aspirants stepped down for Ugwuanyi.

    “Those who had expressed concerns earlier, thinking that they were called to just endorse a particular candidate, after hearing from their kinsmen, changed their views and withdrew from the race. “Interestingly, at the end of the day, the two persons who moved and supported the motion were actually contestants who stepped down. Fidel Ayogu moved the motion and it was seconded by former Deputy Governor Okey Itanyi. The motion was unanimously endorsed; everybody supported it.

    “When I asked if anybody was against the motion, not a single person raised his hand. So, they all endorsed it.”

    Chime explained that marketing his preferred candidate would not be difficult because of what he called his wide acceptability.

    The governor said his hope and prayers were to make history as the first governor whose successor emerged through a consensus.

    He stressed that it would be fool-hardy for anybody to challenge the lawmaker, either at the PDP primary election or at the general election next February.

    On the statement by the party’s national leadership, warning state chapters against endorsing candidates, Chime noted that instead of the warning, the party should pat states on the back for having consensus candidates through dialogue.

    He said: “The party cannot and will never be against the party coming together to agree on a candidate. What should be their problem, if any, is if any level of the party stops other people from buying forms. Here, people are free to buy forms. We endorsed the President as a consensus candidate. It won’t stop him from going for the primaries.

    “But it will be a mere formality. Any other person coming out will be coming there to ridicule himself because the party has spoken. But it can’t stop anybody from buying form constitutionally.

    “That we have endorsed him (Ugwuanyi) is a statement to whoever that is coming that the party has spoken. But if you like, the party wants to make some money. If you like, you can pick your form. Nobody will stop anybody from buying forms. Buy your form and go for the primaries. What you find, you will take. Nobody is going against the party directives.

    “I’m not sure what they said affects us. As far as Enugu is concerned, we are not stopping anybody from contesting.

    “Thank God, under the present dispensation, all forms are bought in Abuja. Nobody has the powers to stop you from buying forms. If anything, the party should encourage it. They should congratulate us for this feat, for coming together to say this is our choice.”

    According to him, almost all the aspirants, who initially indicated interest to run for the governorship seat, have backed Ugwuanyi, who represents Udenu/Igboeze North in the National Assembly.

    Chime described the development as a major feat and an example for other states to learn from.

    “All of them (aspirants) have queued behind him, as far as I know. If it had not been by a consensus, all of those persons would have been saying things in the papers. They would have been telling you different things. As at today, it is only Senator Ayogu Eze who is opposing the arrangement, for reasons best known to him,” he said.

    Also, the Enugu State caucus of the PDP has approved Ugwuanyi as its consensus candidate.

    Rising from a special meeting yesterday at the Government House in Enugu, the caucus reviewed the series of endorsements for Ugwuanyi by the three senatorial districts’ caucuses.

    The motion for his adoption was moved by a House of Representatives member, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, and seconded by a former PDP National Secretary and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Rex Onyeabor.

    The caucus assured Ugwuanyi of its support to win the election.

    The party said it had not barred any aspirant from contesting the governorship election, if such a person insists on participating in the primary.

    In a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, the party explained that the clarification was necessary because of the “erroneous impression” in some sections of the media through an aggrieved aspirant.

    The party said the aspirant claimed that he was denied the right to participate in the governorship primary election.

    It stressed that the PDP in Enugu State had always resolved its matters through dialogue and consultations with the people.

    The Enugu PDP said such approach had always worked for the party, adding that it had never stopped other aspirants from participating in its primaries.

    It wondered why a major beneficiary of the process was raising what it called a false alarm to whip up negative sentiments against the party.

    The party stressed that the choice of Ugwuanyi did not foreclose the planned governorship primary or prevent other aspirants from taking part.

    It said Ugwuanyi would still go through the primary election to be voted for by the delegates, with other aspirants who insist on contesting.

    At the meeting were Governor Sullivan Chime, Deputy Governor Ralph Nwoye, State Chairman Vita Abba, Senator Gil Emeka Nnaji, House of Assembly Speaker Eugene Odo, Power Minister Prof Chinedu Nebo, members of the House of Representatives and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu reportedly took permission that he was out of the country and would abide by the outcome of the meeting.

    Other apologies were said to have been received from Jim Nwobodo; former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani; a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubem Onyia and Senator Fidelis Okoro.

    Ugwuanyi is expected to be presented to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party this week for final endorsement before the governorship primary.

  • Osun PDP in disarray over Omisore’s ambition

    Osun PDP in disarray over Omisore’s ambition

    The Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been polarised over its recent governorship primaries. ADESOJI ADENIYI examines the implication of the post-primary crisis on the preparations of the troubled chapter for the poll.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has not been the same since the race for the party’s ticket for the August 9 governorship election began. Four stalwarts initially signified intention to run for the election on the crisis-ridden platform. The aspirants are Senator Iyiola Omisore, former Minister of Youths Development Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Oluwole Oke and former Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Akinade Akinbade, who has now defected to the Labour Party (LP). Former Governor Adetunji Adeleke joined the race about four weeks ago on the claim that he was called upon by the Presidency and the PDP leadership to do so.

    Senator Omisore had an edge over others. All the odds were stacked in his favour. For instance, he was believed to have installed the party’s executive committee led Alhaji Ganiyu Ola-Oluwa. He is seen as the major financier of the party. Even the state party secretariat, which doubles as the campaign office of President Goodluck Jonathan along Gbongan Road, is Omisore’s property, which he donated to the party. His political structure has always been made available to party members, including Prince Oyinlola.

    Omisore and Akinbade have been bidding his time to occupy the governor’s seat. They have been waiting in the wings, since the expiration of Oyinlola’s tenure. It was the November 26, 2010 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which sacked the Oyinlola, that put their ambitions on hold. This explains why Omisore has been so aggressive to get the plum job. He has also been struggling to shed the toga of a daring, fierce and violent politician.

    But it was perhaps the ambition of Senator Adeleke that further put things asunder for Omisore. A few weeks to the primary, Adeleke had claimed that he was the anointed candidate of the President. Omisore’s supporters had objected to the claim. Some PDP members are blaming Adeleke for the latest crisis in the party. They allege that he is being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to spoil show for Omisore, who by all calculations, had the backing of the state executive committee for the job.

    However, Adeleke had denied that he was being sponsored to spoil Omisore’s chance. He said it was obvious that none of the aspirants could deliver the state for the PDP, except him. Omisore’s machinery for the governorship election has been in place a long time ago and he has spent so much money on it. Thus, one can say that Omisore is at the centre of the crisis threatening to tear the PDP apart in Osun State. Two days to the primaries, one of the aspirants, Oke, petitioned the Chairman, Congress Appeal Committee over the result of the April 2 Ward congress. He insisted that he wanted justice and fairness. Oke alleged that Olaoluwa worked for his colleague, Omisore. He described the result as a charade. In a statement by the Publicity and Media Committee of his Wole Oke Capaign Organisation (WOCO), he complained that the congress was “highly manipulated and despicably concocted by the s Olaoluwa, in favour of his sole chosen aspirant, Omisore.” Oke explained that he rejected the congress, owing to lack of transparency in the selection of ‘Electoral and Returning Officers’ and refusal of the party chairman to liaise with local government party chairmen, contrary to the directive of the Electoral Panel.

    Oke said: “Electoral and returning officers for the exercise were selected solely by the state Chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa. The list reveals that those who were selected to serve were chosen from known members of Omisore Youth Solidarity Forum (OYSF) and Omisore Grand Mobilisers (OGM). Whereas, the equitable thing to do would have been to get local government party chairmen to nominate names to the party secretariat. Our proof of this allegation is rooted in the fact that, as grassroot politicians, we know ourselves, and so, we recognise the individuals involved. The electoral and returning officers did not report to the local government party chairmen, but simply reported to Senator Omisore’s ‘Local government Coordinators,’ who simply filled the result sheets with prepared names.

    “In many councils, agents of other aspirants alleged that there was no voting, but manipulation and falsification of results by Omisore’s hired thugs. All representatives of other aspirants reported that the electoral and returning officers made use of photocopy result sheets, instead of the original required by the rules, which gave room for manipulation and distortion of results. The state secretary, who was supposed to sign and vet all results, by virtue of his position under the party constitution, Major Raphael Towobola (rtd.), remained suspended by Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa against an instruction from the National Working Committee for him to be reinstated without further delay. Against the backdrop of the fact that the failure, success and credibility of primaries depends on the outcome of the ward congress, it is clear that the manipulation of the congress of Wednesday 2nd April, 2014 by Alhaji Olaoluwa has effectively skewed the primaries to favour an aspirant. The so-called congress was not transparent, unfair and incredible.”

    Also, few days to the shadow election, Adeleke and his men were allegedly beaten up by Omisore supporters. The former governor alleged that the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, believed to be a staunch supporter of Omisore, allegedly ordered his men to search Adeleke’s aides ,who had come to a popular hotel in Osogbo, where the aspirants came to meet a five-man electoral committee led by former Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero, to preside over the exercise. Adeleke claimed that he was beaten up by one Sogo Agboola, Adesiyan and Omisore. But, Adesiyan said it was case of two fighting between Agboola and Adeleke.

    Omisore’s supporters also alleged that Adeleke came to the hotel with thugs to disrupt the meeting convened by the electoral committee. On the eve of the primaries, Adeleke called his supporters to his country home and announced his withdrawal from the race. He said he decided to boycott the exercise, owing to insecurity. He said he could not endanger the lives of his followers because of “an aspirant’s desperation and determination to maim and kill in order to secure the Osun State PDP’s governorship ticket at all costs.”

    Adeleke added: “The devil had taken control of Senator Iyiola Omisore, who is ready to kill to emerge as the party’s candidate.” He reiterated the allegation that the party machinery had been hijacked to favour Omisore, stressing his decision not to participate in the primary was not an act of cowardice or fear. Adeleke said when the party decides to organise a transparent contest in the future, he may decide to participate.

    When the result of the primary poll was released, Omisore was declared the winner with 1,128 votes, out of 1280 votes expected from the delegates. Two contestants, Akinlabi and Oke, scored 35 and 5 votes respectively and 18 void votes were recorded.

    Omisore said his victory was for the PDP members. He commended his co-contestants for their maturity. He said that the contest showed that the PDP was set for the governorship election.

    But, before the shadow election, Akinlabi and Oke, said the process should be reviewed because the party leadership had allowed all contestants to expend their resources on the exercise. They said that the resources should have been deployed to prosecute the governorship election.

    The genesis of the crisis in Osun PDP is traceable to the 2011 senatorial contest. Many had opposed the candidature of Adeleke and Omisore, claiming that new blood would have made an impact than the old brigade. Omisore lost to Senator Jide Omoworare in Ife/Ijesa District. Adeleke lost to Senator Mudashiru Hussain in Osun Central District.

    Fears are rife that the oppostion party may go to the election as a divided fold. Adeleke is popular in his Ede area and he may mobilise the people to vote for another party, if reconciliation between him and Omisore fails. Already, he had vowed to take Omisore and Adesiyan to court for an alleged assault before the primaries.

    Also, in the PDP, there are many chieftains who believe that the chapter may attract a negative perception, with Omisore as the candidate. They believe that Omisore is too controversial and the ruling party may invade the media with propaganda against his candidature.

    Analysts believe that, if the post-primary crisis is not resolved, the divided party may pay dearly for it at the poll.

  • ‘PDP is in disarray in many states’

    ‘PDP is in disarray in many states’

    House of Representatives member Hon. Dakuku Peterside is the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). He spoke with BISI OLANIYI in Port Harcourt on the crisis rocking the state and other partisan issues.

    What is responsible for the deepening crisis in Rivers State, especially, within the ruling PDP?

    There is a problem between certain persons in the Presidency and the Government of Rivers State. The problem is not between Chief Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education and the Rivers governor. The problem is not between Chief Felix Obuah, the Rivers State PDP chairman and the Governor of Rivers State.

    The problem is in two dimensions. There is a perception by some persons that Governor Rotimi Amaechi wants to aspire to the office of the vice-president and I describe that as nonsensical. Do people contest for office of the VP? The answer is no.

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said consistently, continuously and persistently that he is not aspiring to the office of the VP. Those persons, who are saying Governor Amaechi wants to run for office of VP, are doing everything to strangle him economically and by extension, strangle the people of Rivers State.

    There have been attempts to appropriate the oil wells belonging to Rivers State to neighbouring states. An economic strategy to weaken Governor Amaechi, who is perceived to have interest to aspire to the office of the VP.

    Some persons in Rivers state, who are not comfortable with the revolution Governor Amaechi is championing, especially changing the strategy of governance, from elite-driven governance to grassroots-driven governance.

    The revolution has led to the proliferation of roads that you can see everywhere, modern primary and secondary schools and primary healthcare centres everywhere. These are resources that would have ended in the pockets of some members of the elite class, if he had followed the conventional way of running government in this clime.

    But GovernorAmaechi has dared to be different. Some persons are uncomfortable with that and they consistently say they are not being consulted in running government. To them, the lack of consultation means they are no longer giving the opportunity to share the resources of Rivers State.

    What is the implication of the crisis for the PDP, as we move towards 2015?

    If you say the PDP in Rivers State is in disarray, are we not sure the party in Nigeria is in disarray? President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that the PDP in Nigeria is in disarray and he has decided that he will lead the team that will reconcile everybody, so that we can have a united PDP that can win elections.

    It is in acknowledgment of the fact that the PDP is in disarray, that made the Chairman of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, to lead a team that went from state to state, trying to reconcile different factions in the party. So, it is not just in Rivers State. PDP in the country is in disarray.

    I am also aware that the PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, not long ago, set up a committee made up of five governors and a few other persons, to try to resolve the conflicting forces in PDP, that have torn the party into shreds. If the PDP in the country is in disarray, it is only natural that the PDP in Rivers State will be in disarray, since the larger body is in disarray.

    On the implication for 2015, if there is no sincere and definite programme to reconcile everybody, your guess is as good as mine. The party will go into the elections and lose. If the party is in disarray, won’t it lose?

    If Governor Amaechi leaves the PDP, will you join him?

    I will join him. I did not say I may. I will. Governor Amaechi is still a member of the PDP as we speak. In politics, as in many other engagements, you have a team. It is worse in politics. In my team, Governor Amaechi is the leader. We all subscribe to his leadership. Once he makes up his mind to leave, the entire team would have sat back and I am part of the team that would sit back and all of us would agree that our team needs to leave, because whatever is happening in the PDP or any other party does not represent our vision or our aspiration or would not provide us the conducive platform, to achieve the changes we want to bring about.

    For him Amaechi to make the decision public, that means all of us, we would have sat inside at a table. Governor Amaechi will not just wake up and say he is leaving the PDP. I know him. He will never do it. We all must sit as a team and make the decision. The day we make the decision, everybody who belongs to that political family will leave. As we speak, we are members of the PDP.

    Would you contest as Rivers governor in 2015?

    Only God can say who will contest in 2015.

    The Rivers State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, said that the era of zoning had passed in the state. What is your take on this?

    I try to avoid discussing politics. I have been restraining myself from taking issue with Chief Felix Obuah, because I feel he has his conscience to deal with. If his conscience acquits him, good for him. If he can stand before God and defend his actions, good for him. For everything we do, I know we will give account to God. For every word we alter, every action we take, we will give account to God. It is very often wished away and people say it is politics.

    The issue of whether there is zoning or not, as an individual, I do not believe in zoning. I know that in our society, since we are multi-ethnic and we have not come out of the ethnic colouration in doing things, we must accommodate all sets of people. We cannot develop at the same pace. We need to give everybody some sense of belonging.

    The Nigerian constitution, in recognition of this, you find that you must have ministers from all the states of the country. That is zoning. Nigerian constitution acknowledges the fact that offices must be shared, to reflect all components of the federation. That again, is an acknowledgment of zoning.

    When Obuah says there is no zoning, I do not understand the context in which he is saying there is no zoning. If he is referring to the governorship of Rivers state, I will rather refer you to the responses so far.

    Justice Peter Akere (rtd), who leads pan-Ogoni Forum, has disagreed with Obuah. A group in Kalabari part of the state has also disagreed with him. An Okrika group has also responded that Obuah does not know what he is talking about. Pan-Ijaw National Assembly issued a statement, saying Obuah is speaking for himself and himself alone. He is not speaking for Rivers people and he is not speaking for PDP.

    The reasonable inference to draw from all these comments made by the people and groups is that what Obuah is saying is out of tune with the present reality in Rivers State. What he is saying does not represent the views of the average Rivers people, who desire that our people should be united and that the basis for unity should be equity, justice and fairness.

    So, Obuah represents himself alone. He is not speaking for any Rivers man and his opinion is certainly not popular.

    How will you describe the face-off between Governor Amaechi and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu?

    The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, has gone out of the contemplation of the law or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the discharge of his duties. He has been abusing the governor , calling him names and describing the governor as a dictator and a tyrant, this is most unfortunate.

    The commissioner of police is first a public servant. He is on oath to serve the people of Nigeria. He is an agent of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). The IGP is appointed by the President, on the advice of the Nigeria Police Service Commission, of whom the governor is a member.

    The contemplation of the Constitution in Section 215, Subsection 4 is that the commissioner of police shall take directives from the governor and in this case the Governor of Rivers State. Any commissioner of police shall, it is mandatory; it is not optional; he should take directives from the governor of a state. The intention is that there is no dispute in the relationship between the governor and the Commissioner of Police. The governor is the superior officer of the state and the commissioner of police should take directives from the governor.

    Besides, the governor is elected and holds the mandate of Rivers State people. Anytime Mbu Joseph Mbu insults the Governor of Rivers State, he is insulting the whole of the people of Rivers State. Anytime he abuses the Governor of Rivers State, he is abusing the entire people of Rivers State.

    The duty of the commissioner of police i is to help in ensuring the safety of lives and property. If the man, who is supposed to secure us, is abusing us, should he still remain in our midst? The answer is no.

    We do not need anybody to convince us that Mbu Joseph Mbu is enmeshed in political developments in Rivers State. I will advise the IGP, the Police Service Commission, the Nigeria Police Council and indeed the President of the country, to as a matter of urgency, withdrawal Mbu from Rivers State, so that we can enjoy peace again in Rivers State.

    Since the commissioner of police has got involved in the internal politics of Rivers State, we have had rising cases of kidnap, politically-sponsored violence and other criminal activities. I am pleading with President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria Police Council, the Police Service Commission and the IGP to please move Mbu Joseph Mbu out of Rivers state, as a matter of urgency, if you want peace and the economy of Rivers State to thrive.

    What is happening to the Rivers State Government-owned, but grounded jet?

    The joint committee of the House of Representatives on Justice and Aviation, in its report, cleared Rivers State of any wrongdoing and asked that the aircraft be released to Rivers State. That Rivers State did no wrong, in the acquisition of the aircraft. Clearly, the aircraft is owned by the Rivers State government and operating within the confines and the contemplation of the law.

    It is still a committee report. It was tabled before the floor of the House. The proper thing to do, is for the House in plenary, to look at the report and come out with a position. Unfortunately, we proceeded on two-week end of legislative year break, which is done all over the world. We are just resuming.

    Till the Honourable members of the House sit and look at the report, we cannot say what next.

    What is happening to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the National Assembly?

    The PIB has passed through second reading, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. PIB will eventually be passed into law or an Act of the National Assembly, if not by the last quarter of this year or by the first quarter of next year.

  • My life is in disarray 100-yr-old father of cleric detained for alleged espionage

    My life is in disarray 100-yr-old father of cleric detained for alleged espionage

    At the family house of Abdullahi Berende in Idi Ape area of Ilorin, Kwara State, a group of people sat in a circle, praying in Arabic. With the looks on their faces, it was obvious that they were praying about a matter of serious concern. Close to the spot were some other members of the community who gathered in clusters. Worries, fears and concern were written on their faces as they spoke in hush tones.

    Berende, an outspoken member of the community, had been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since he was arrested on December 17 last year for allegedly working for a terror group and serving as a spy for Iran in Nigeria.

    Berende’s 100-year-old father, Pa Jimoh Amosa, was particularly in distress over his son’s arrest and detention. He led other members of the family in appealing to government to conduct a proper investigation into the allegations against Berende.

    He said: “Since he has been detained, everything has been in disarray. We usually have our family meetings here and he is the secretary. But since he was arrested, we have not had a sitting.”

    At the Medinatulilm Academy (City of Knowledge), a Koranic school where Berende worked as a teacher before he was arrested, the atmosphere was as gloomy as the one at his family house. The female pupils were all dressed in black gowns. Many of their male counterparts wore shirts and trousers, while a few of them wore long gowns popularly called jalamia.

    Some of the pupils lamented that Berende’s absence had created a big vacuum in their lives. They said although a friend of his had taken over the school’s administration after his arrest, things have not been the same.

    As early as 7 pm, many of the pupils had started leaving the academy for their various homes. A source at the school told our correspondent that the development was quite contrary to what obtained before Berende was arrested.

    “The pupils were always there listening to Berende’s teachings till very late in the night,” the source said, pleading not to be named because of the sensitive nature of the Islamic teacher’s case.

    Describing Berende as a man of peace, one of the pupils, Sulaiman Olayinka, said the allegation of spying and terrorism levelled against him came as a rude shock.

    He said: “I have known him (Berende) for seven years. It was a surprise to us that he was accused of terrorism because it is the opposite of what he taught us. He taught us that a Muslim must be a saviour and not a destroyer. He taught us that one cannot teach the society by force but by knowledge.

    “He said we should not discriminate and that we should have both western and Islamic education. He told us that Islam is a religion of peace. He said terrorism is crime and not Islam, and that terrorism is perpetrated by people who do not believe in Islam.”

    The Central Mosque at Oja Oba, Idi Ape, Ilorin, where people used to gather to listen to Berende’s teachings on Saturdays and Sundays was desolate when our correspondent visited. Only traders were seen around the mosque. Before Berende’s travails, many of the traders were said to abandon their wares to listen to his sermon. A number of them said they were surprised that such a fate would befall the cleric.

    Berende’s brother, Yakubu, said the cleric’s children were yet to fully recover from the shock they experienced when SSS operatives came to arrest him. According to him, Berende was said to be in the bathroom when SSS men stormed his house on December 17. His children, aged between eight and 23, were said to be at home when the SSS operatives came because they were on holiday, but his wife had gone to work.

    The SSS men were said to have seized the mobile phones of the children. They were also said to have searched the house and recovered about $160 and some naira notes. They then returned the mobile phones to the children and took Berende away.

    Yakubu said it took the family a while before it realised that Berende was with the SSS. “Initially, we didn’t know his whereabouts. It was a traumatic experience for the family, especially the children,” Yakubu recalled.

    He said Berende had released more than six albums in which he denounced terrorism and violence. He admitted though that his brother had gone to Iran for further studies. “We have the certificate he obtained from Iran when he went to study there,” he said, waving a certificate.

    According to Berendes’s personal assistant, Aremu Kamaldeen, until he was arrested by the SSS, he had enjoyed a cordial relationship with the security outfit, as he always alerted them before preaching or delivering lectures.

    Kamaldeen said: “On November 16, 2012, Berende wrote a letter to the Director of SSS and the Commissioner of Police during a remembrance programme in honour of the late former governor of Kwara State, Muhammed Lawal. The Deputy Director of SSS spoke to us and the programme was attended by the SSS.”

    A source said his brand of teaching could have been responsible for his travails, as he belongs to the Shiite sect, which was just being accepted in Ilorin. “The general public loves his teachings, and his popularity has soared lately, which has made some people uncomfortable.

    “He is also a politician. Unfortunately too, most of the late Lawal’s supporters have crossed to Berende’s party and they follow him religiously. This has become a sort of threat to some people.”

    However, when the State Security Service (SSS) paraded Berende early this year alongside two other suspects, he was allegedly linked to espionage and terrorist activities with the backing of some Iranian fundamentalists.

    The spokesperson of the SSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, gave the name of the main suspect as Abdullahi Mustapha Berende who trained in modern Shi’a Islamic teaching (Da’ awa) at the Imam Khomeni University, Iran.

    According to the SSS, Berende was allegedly recruited by some Iranian elements when he returned to Iran for further studies in 2011 and was trained on the use of AK 47 assault rifle, pistols, production and detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDDs).

    In an interview with newsmen during the parade at the SSS headquarters, Berende, who hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, said his Iranian sponsors did not disclose their mission to him at the initial stage.

    According to him, his Iranian sponsors approached him with an offer to assist him set up a business in Lagos, with an outlet in Ilorin, consequent upon which he was invited to Dubai for briefing in 2012.

    He added that it was in Dubai that he was asked to establish a terrorist cell in southwestern Nigeria, with emphasis on Lagos where he was detailed to identify and gather intelligence on specific corporate and individual targets for attack.

    He said his Iranian sponsors were particular about Lagos because the Israelis have an intelligence facility there which they employ in spying on Iran. According to him, codes were invented to secure communication with his sponsors. Israel was coded “Uncle”, while the US was coded “Aunt”.

    The suspect claimed to have personally taken photographs of the Israeli Cultural Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos which he sent to his sponsors after which he was asked to establish a business in Lagos to serve as cover for his operations.

    The SSS disclosed further that the suspect collected 4,000 US dollars upon completion of training, 3, 500 Euros in April, 2012 at a meeting in Dubai; and 20, 000 dollars.

    Giving a breakdown of how the 20, 000 dollars was to be spent, the suspect said 10, 000 dollars was for his relocation from Ilorin to Lagos, to furnish a house and rent a shop for his business. Five thousand dollars was meant to cover his visa processing expenses, while the remaining 5,000 dollars was for his upkeep.

    In the course of carrying out surveillance, Berende said he engaged the services of three other local accomplices. However, Berende who said he was still writing his Masters Degree thesis at the University of Ilorin, however denied any link with Al-Qada or Boko Haram.

    He described his involvement in the operations as “regrettable and embarrassing”, saying that he never meant to do anything that could betray his country.

    “Everybody must watch it because there are many gullible people out there who get trapped with promises of assistance. I regret my role because it is very embarrassing. I never meant to betray my country.

    “I mentioned some names to my Iranian handlers from information given by the guy I put on surveillance. But I later found out that the information could be harmful to my country.

    “I plead with the people around me, my family and the entire Nigerian people to forgive me and overlook the incident. If given the chance, I will contribute to the development of this country”, the suspect stated.

    But Marilyn Ogar said the Berende, 50 was arrested in December 2012 following a painstaking investigation that lasted six months.

    Ogar said while parading the suspect then: “From the foregoing, there is conclusive evidence that Berende in collaboration with his Iranian handlers were involved in grievous crimes against the national security of this country. Accordingly, he and his accomplices will be charged to court soon.

    “The safety of Nigeria is our collective responsibility. We therefore enjoin fellow Nigerians to collaborate with security agencies as we strive to protect our nation from the antics of terrorists within and outside our shores. Let’s collectively remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals and activities to security agencies”.

     

    Additional report from Gbade OGUNWALE (Abuja)

  • Militants in disarray after French air strikes

    Militants in disarray after French air strikes

    ANSAR Dine fighters are believed to have left Kidal for desert and mountain hideouts

    Three weeks of French targeted air strikes in Northern Mali have left the Islamist militants “in disarray”, France’s defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

    Le Drian said the jihadists had now scattered, marking a “turning-point” in France’s intervention.

    His comments come as the French troops continue to secure Kidal. The town is the last stronghold of the fleeing militants.

    France is preparing to hand over towns it has captured to an African force, which has begun to deploy to Mali.

    So far, about 2,000 African soldiers, mainly from Chad and Niger, are believed to be on the ground.

    It will be the job of the African Union-backed force, the International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA), to root out the al-Qaeda-linked insurgents that have fled further North.

    At least two Malian soldiers have been killed when their vehicle hit a landmine Southwest of Gao, officials said.

    Le Drian said that some Malian militants who had been on a “military adventure have returned home.”

    Others had made a “tactical withdrawal to the Adrar des Ifoghas”, the mountainous region East of Kidal, covering 250,000 square kilometer (about 96,525 squre miles), he said.

    Although France has reached a a turning-point, the minister said it did not mean that “the military risks and the fighting has ended.” He pledged the support of his home country for the idea of sending a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force to Mali.

    Bristish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reporter Christian Fraser in Paris said the UN Security Council had previously been uncomfortable with the deployment of a force under a UN mandate, but the support is growing.

    Envoys believe it would be easier to monitor and prevent human rights abuses if the UN could pick and choose which national contingents to use, Fraser said.

    French army spokesman in Bamako Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Dosseur, told the BBC French Service that France’s special forces were in Kidal, but the majority of troops were still at the airport.

    A heavy sandstorm that hampered operations on Wednesday was starting to clear and troops may soon be deployed, he said.

    Haminy Maiga, who heads the regional assembly in Kidal, said he had witnessed no fighting as French forces entered and two helicopters were patrolling overhead.

    Jean-Yves Le Drian adjudged the French intervention as successful.

    The secular National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) said its fighters would support the French but would not allow the return of the Malian army, which it accused of “crimes against the civilian population”.

  • PDP in disarray

    PDP in disarray

    •Failure of the Peoples Democratic Party to elect its chairman is another manifestation of indiscipline

    The inability of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Board of Trustees to elect a chairman when it met on January 8 is another indication democracy remains endangered in the country. The party lays claim to being the largest in Africa. It, indeed, controls the structure of governance in the country and thus exerts great influence on the polity.

    Twenty-three of the 36 stage governors were elected on its platform, in addition to producing the president and executive arm of government. Also, about two-thirds of members of the National Assembly were elected on the party’s platform. It is therefore a source of worry that the election of a chairman for the BoT could generate such rancour.

    After a three-hour meeting, the board’s secretary, Senator Walid Jibrin, announced that a six-member committee headed by a former secretary of the board, Professor Jerry Gana, had been set up to address issues raised by the contestants and their supporters. The board could not proceed with the election of its chairman because members did not know those qualified to attend and vote at the meeting. Over the years, a board whose duty includes serving as conscience of the party, reconciling aggrieved members and resolving conflicts had become so unwieldy that even its secretary has no record of authentic members. There were suggestions that some of the 12 contenders for the top job are not authentic members of the board.

    If the national ruling party had allowed indiscipline to define its essence, why would anyone have confidence that it could impose order on the polity and chart a direction for the future?

    Article 12.80 of the PDP constitution spells out the duties of the board. It is expected to, “ensure highest standards of morality in all the activities of the party…, ensure high morale of members of the party and that the party enjoys a good image; harmonise, coordinate, review and advise on policies, programmes and activities of the party at the national level, coordinate the sourcing of party funds and mediate in disputes between the executive and legislative arms of government, among other functions.”

    Fourteen years after its establishment, the party still cannot interpret its own rules. Dr. Alex Ekwueme was the first leader of the party’s board of elder statesmen. He was succeeded in the role by Chief Tony Anenih and then Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. To ensure his continued relevance in national affairs, Obasanjo, shortly before he left office as president, got the constitution amended to give effect to a desire to hold the BoT office for life. This was changed shortly after he left office.

    Dr. Ekwueme, Chief Anenih and former national Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, are among the dozen aspirants to the office. Obasanjo who stepped aside last April, a few months to the expiration of his tenure, did not even attend the meeting. At the root of the intractable dispute is an alleged clash of interests between President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-President Obasanjo.

    How the intrigues play out is not the main issue now. The concern here is the failure of the internal democratic order in the PDP. If the 2015 elections would succeed where others failed, the parties must show that they respect the rules.