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Tag: Jerry Gana

  • 2019: Buhari must be defeated, says Jerry Gana

    The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Professor Jerry Gana, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari must be defeated in the 2019 presidential election.

    Gana, who spoke in Abuja on Friday shortly after an Abuja High Court affirmed him the authentic candidate of the SDP, said with him as the presidential candidate of the party, Buhari’s days as President are numbered.

    Joining calls by other opposition candidates for Buhari to sign the amended Electoral Bill, Prof Gana said every Nigerian, particularly the President, should be interested in processes that will guarantee free, fair and credible elections.

    Hinting that his campaign would be issue based, Gana said his party would unveil a five-point agenda next week, adding that he would initiate moves to reconcile with the Donald Duke camp.

    Read Also: Jonathan, Gana, others pay tributes to Dickson’s mother

    A court in Abuja had on Friday, voided the candidature Duke and declared Gana the presidential candidate of the SDP, declaring his victory at court as victory for the party and for democracy.

    “We are not going to victimise anybody because this victory is not for Jerry Gana but victory for everybody”, he said.

    The candidate expressed his readiness to abide by the Peace Pack already signed by other presidential candidate, saying that he was ready to go along with processes that will guarantee peaceful elections.

    Prof Gana restated his commitment to the decision by the SDP to pull out of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).

  • 2019: Fresh crisis hits PDP as Jerry Gana, Adeniran, Orubebe, Turaki, others dump party for SDP

    2019: Fresh crisis hits PDP as Jerry Gana, Adeniran, Orubebe, Turaki, others dump party for SDP

    Three former ministers are leading an exodus of top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after efforts to heal the wounds of the last national convention of the party hit the rocks.

    Ex-Information Minister Jerry Gana,ex-Education Minister Tunde Adeniran and ex-Niger Delta Minister Godsday Orubebe  are moving to the  Social Democratic Party (SDP) which is merging  with the  Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples Salvation Party (PSP) to form a formidable party ahead of next year’s elections.

    More chieftains of the PDP are expected to join them, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    The Olusegun Obasanjo-inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) is in  talks with the SDP to work together.

    The likes of Gana, Adeniran and Orubebe,all founding members of the PDP, are still displeased with what they see as the hijack of the party by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and others during the party’s last national convention.

    Adeniran was defeated in a bitter  chairmanship election by Wike’s candidate, Uche Secondus.

    A  high powered committee headed by  Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State to reconcile  the aggrieved members could not help the situation.

    The aggrieved party chieftains launched into a  marathon meeting/negotiation with the leadership of SDP on Thursday night in Abuja for a merger.

    The meeting ended  early yesterday with the the signing of  a Memorandum of Understanding  by the coalescing group at Ladi Kwali Hall in Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

    Joining Gana from the PDP are a former Military Administrator of Katsina State, Sen. Joseph Akaagerger; a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe; Chief Mike Oghiadhome, who was  a former Chief of Staff to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; ex-Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State; and ex-Minister of Defence, Dr. Olu Agunloye and a former Deputy Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Dare Emiola.

    Also teaming up with SDP are a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed; Sen. Bassey Ewa Hensaw;  a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olamide Oni; Supo Shonibare (South-West Zonal chairman of SDP), Hon. Dipo Olaitan (a former leader of the Alliance for Democracy in the House of Representatives); a former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Kehinde Ayoola;  Amb. Yemi Farounbi; leaders of the Middle Belt Forum; Mr. John Dara; the leaders  of the National Intervention Forum led by Dr. Tafawa Balewa; Amb Bejide; Shehu Gabam who gave the vote of thanks.

    A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae is a stalwart of the SDP.

    Although ex-Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and a former Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu were part of  the preliminary talks, it was unclear why they were not at the signing of the MoU.

    A highly placed source in the group said:”As a matter of fact, Mantu propped up the name of a party which should be included in the merger but it was rejected. He attended the initial meeting but by the time  the MoU was signed, he was not there.

    “We are hopeful that he will  be at our subsequent meetings. Some of our leaders are suspecting that Mantu may chicken out  because he has been begging Adeniran and Gana not to leave  PDP.

    The MoU entered into by the leaders  was  obtained yesterday by The  Nation.

    Jointly signed by Falae (for SDP) and Prof. Gana (for Movement for a New Political Order),  the MoU reads in part: “Whereas on the 12th Day of February 2018, a joint resolution was adopted at Sheraton Hotel Abuja, for working together to ensure the emergence of a new and credible political order to deepen democracy, good governance and genuine development, with peace, security and social justice. The said meeting also  unanimously resolved to build:

    a)a restructured, balanced equitable and truly functional Nigerian Federation:

    b)a humane, free, seIf-reliant and democratic society;

    1. c) a dynamic, productive, transformed and sustainable economy;
    2. d) a just, fair, egalitarian and peaceful nation
    3. e) a land of bright and full of opportunities for all Nigerians; and
    4. f) a national culture of raising good leaders through effective mentoring;

    “Whereas, it was also agreed that the proposed movement shall be directed,  driven and defined by such core values as:  1. Justice, fairness, equity and progress;  2. Democracy, good leadership, good governance and sustainable development; 3. Transparency, integrity, truth and honour; 4. Accountability and zero tolerance for corruption; 5. Respect for human dignity, human rights and sanctity of human life;; and 6. Peace, security, harmony,  cooperative solidarity, within the rule of law; and 7. International cooperation for a common humanity within a secure and peaceful order.

    “Whereas, the movement further resolved to be inspired and motivated by the ideals of social democracy, with great emphasis on:  the triumph of social justice; the  nobility of human dignity; the  harmony of fairness and equality; the power of working together in solidarity; the excellence of good governance, driven by good leadership; the wisdom of reforms and transformation far beyond mere growth; the horror of poverty, demanding eradication; the dignity of prosperity; the imperative of democracy and the security of peace with justice

    “Whereas with due reference to these objectives, core values, and ideals, a Strategy Committee was mandated to search for a suitable, popular, meaningful and widespread platform, with a name that already resonates with the people and to make appropriate recommendations; and

    “Whereas, the Strategic Committee, comprising representatives from all the six geopolitical zones of the Federation, have met  and submitted their report, unanimously recommending the adoption  of  Social Democratic Party(SDP) vehicle by the movement for a new political order:

    “Therefore, we hereby resolutely agree to: (a) Fuse together into one political form; (b) adopt the Social Democratic Party(SDP) as the political vehicle for the fused political formation; (c) Convene a non-elective convention for Saturday, 14th April, 2018; (d) authorize the National Working Committee to serve as the Interim Management Committee until the said convention;  Set up a National Steering Committee of 12 members to guide the Interim Management  Committee during the transition period; Raise a Constitution Review Committee to consider all necessary amendments to the party constitution.”

    Speaking with our correspondent last night, Dr. Junaid Mohammed said: “Those involved in SDP are the Peoples Redemption Party(PRP), Peoples Salvation Party(PSP), the Social Democratic Party(SDP) and some elements of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP). It was like a merger but we do not want to call it so because the All Progressives Congress(APC) has destroyed the concept of merger.

    “I am an optimist, I believe SDP will make a great impact. The main reason I want to be associated with it is because it is ideologically driven. Even it was not ideologically driven before, it has to be ideologically driven.

    Asked if some governors and National Assembly members have subscribed to SDP,  Mohammed added: “It is not compulsory to have governors or members of the National Assembly in a party  to succeed. There are about 65 to 67 parties thereabout in the country. In terms of electoral performance, most of the parties are not on ground. The two parties which have led the country are not doing well. They have impacted negatively on the economy and our political life.  A three-party or a four or five -party system will be better.”

    A top source in the SDP said: “The SDP has been approached by the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) which has been founded by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. We are hopeful that our ongoing talks will be fruitful.

    “We share common ideals with the CNM on how to move the nation forward.”

  • FG, others urged to find solution to Benue killings to avert famine

    FG, others urged to find solution to Benue killings to avert famine

    Federal Government and other stakeholders have been urged to find lasting solution to the incessant killings and destruction in Benue State to avert famine in the area and the country as a whole.

    Dr Obadiah Mailafia, former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, made the call in a keynote lecture delivered at the presentation of three books by Amb. Joy Ogwu, on Thursday in Abuja.

    Mailafia in a lecture titled; “The Crisis of Leadership and World Order” tasked the leadership of the country on the need to ensure peace and harmony to accelerate nation’s development.

    The former special adviser to the president on Economic and Policy Matters, said that killings in Middle Belt were taking on a genocidal proportion and might undermine national food security.

    The economist and international development specialist, however, commended the present administration for the efforts made so far in addressing security challenge in the country

    He noted that: “without peace and harmony, nothing good will come. But without justice, there can be no peace to speak of.

    `We are encouraged by the enormous efforts our military, through the leadership of the current administration to break the back of the Boko Haram insurgency.

    “However, there are still many more rivers to cross. We need to finish the job and build a framework for a just and lasting peace in the northeast and the rest of the country.”

    According to him, there is the problem of the so-called marauding herdsmen who are waging a de facto war in the Middle Belt, which is the bread basket of our country.

    “These killings are taking on a genocidal proportion, and if care is not taken, may not only undermine national food security but also, ultimately, the future of our federation.

    “The task fall on our generation to re-imagine Nigeria as a land of peace, a land of justice, a land of progress…a land based on the precepts of democracy, the rule of law, enlightenment and civilized value.

    “We need a coalition of Nigerians who believe in our manifest as the leader of our glorious continent,” he said.

    Mailafia said Nigeria had a world historic destiny and manifest destiny of the leader of Africa and the black race as a whole.

    According to him, country’s vocation is to build a first class technological industrial democracy and to safeguard the integrity and honour of the continent.

    Read also: Benue attacks: Shot livestock guard loses 4 wives, 18 children

    “We are meant to be a city set on a hill- alight unto nations. But we can only fulfill that destiny if we reinvent our nation as country anchored on positive science, peace, the rule of law, social justice and humane values.

    “In so doing we must remain open to the world, to Europe, Asia and the Americas- building partnerships that promote trade, investments and a rules-based international system that guarantees the security of all nations.”

    According to him this requires nothing less than a new ethos of leadership. We would not only rebuild our world; we will be the salt of the earth-the pillars of world order and civilization itself

    Prof. Jerry Gana, who was the Chairman of the occasion said there was need to pay adequate attention to leadership development adding that nothing could happen without good leadership

    The former minister of information and culture, also stressed on the need for Nigerians to see themselves as one and stop all wanton killings and destruction in the country.

    He expressed concern that “instead of being our brother’s keeper we have become our brother’s killers, which is very disturbing’”

    Ogwu, who in her remarks called on all to be a good citizen wherever they found themselves said that was the prerequisite of leadership.

    The author of the three books, stressed on the need for everyone to be loyal to the country stressing that it was the only way the nation could be forge ahead.

    The former Nigeria Permanent Representative at the UN, urged Nigerians to be involved in politics as they are involved in all other sphere of their daily lives.

    She said politics should not be left only for politicians stressing that, the basic qualification required for politics was to be a good citizen.

    NAN

  • UNILAG: Emeritus professor urges incoming VC to build on Bello’s achievements

    UNILAG: Emeritus professor urges incoming VC to build on Bello’s achievements

    Emeritus Professor, Nimi Briggs, the Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, on Monday appealed that whoever succeeds Prof. Rahamon Bello as Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) should build on his achievements.

    Briggs spoke at the Public Presentation of the Book, “Walking the Vision,’’ in honour of Bello, whose tenure ends in November.

    “Bello’s successor must be silent on his mistakes and that of the past VCs, concentrate on how to build on the good work they have started and let posterity judge.

    “Bello has done excellently well; he is human and cannot solve all the problems of UNILAG,’’ the Emeritus professor, who was the book reviewer, said.

    He described Bello as a remarkable man deserving of a national honor, s and said the book is a reliable account written by those who worked closely with the VC.

    Prof. Jerry Gana, a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the institution, also lauded the contributions of Bello to the development of the university.

    Gana, represented by Dr Isuwa Dogo, CEO, Kishima Nigeria Limited, said Bello had piloted the institution toward achieving the vision of the founding fathers of the institution.

    Also, Dr Bolanle Babalankin, the current Pro-Chancellor of the institution, said the book was written for inspiration and guidance in University governance and for life well spent.

    In his response, Prof. Bello, thanked God and dedicated the book to all the Council members who worked with him.

    According to him, the council members gave the enabling environment for him to work and achieve what was recorded in the book.

    Prof. Bello resumed office as UNILAG VC in November 2012.

    NAN

  • Gov. Bello meets with predecessors, former ministers over security in Niger

    Gov. Bello meets with predecessors, former ministers over security in Niger

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger on Tuesday met with former Niger governors, ministers and political leaders over the security situation in the state.

    The meeting, held behind closed doors at the state house in Minna, also discussed other crucial issues affecting the state.

    Retired Col. Yohanna Madaki, former military governor of Kastina State, who briefed newsmen after the meeting, listed issues discussed to include security challenges, Internally Generated Revenue and infrastructure.

    “The meeting also agreed to set up a six-man committee to play an advisory role toward moving the state forward.

    “I was made the chairman of the committee; part of our mandate is to proffer lasting solutions to farmers/herdsmen clashes and work out measures to protect lives and property in Niger.

    “Security challenges are not peculiar to Niger, but the meeting agreed on the need for proactive measures to make Niger a model,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the meeting was attended by Prof. Jerry Gana, former Minister for Information, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, former governor of the state, his deputy, Dr Shem Zabagyi, and retired Gen. Garba Duba.

    Others included Gen. Idris Garba, Abubakar Muye, former Minister of Finance, Zainab Kuchi, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Asma’u Ahmed, former Minister of State for Agriculture.

  • Stop representing PDP, Sheriff tells Gana

    Stop representing PDP, Sheriff tells Gana

    The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, has advised the Prof. Jerry Gana-led Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs Committee to stop speaking for the party.

    Represented by his National Deputy Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougbo, at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, Sheriff described the Gana-led committee as “illegal”.

    The committee was constituted on Nov. 10, 2016, by the National Caretaker Committee of the party headed by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, which was disbanded by the recent judgment of Appeal Court, Port Harcourt.

    The court, in the judgment declared Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the party.

    The committee had been visiting founding and prominent members of PDP, including former Vice President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, Chief Tony Anenih, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Sheriff said that the report of the committee, which was submitted to the scrapped national caretaker committee on Feb.17, 2017, would not be useful in the ongoing effort at re-positioning the party.

    “Prof. Jerry Gana going round the country on behalf of the PDP is unacceptable to the party.

    “I have the report of Gana here where he recommended that all members of the Sheriff group should be suspended from the party.

    “We find it very uncomfortable that a person of Jerry Gana’s standing, if actually he wants to help the party as at this time of crisis, would recommend that a faction or members of the party should be expelled for their political beliefs.

    “That is very unbecoming of a man of Gana’s status. So, we take very serious views to his going round as whatever committee he calls himself.

    “The committee was not set up by the party and we are giving notice that forthwith, he should discontinue with it,” Sheriff said.

    On the party’s national convention, Sheriff said that the Standing Committee on Reconciliation’s report submitted by its chairman, Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, had been adopted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    He said that the report had become a working document of the party.

    The chairman expressed displeasure over media report that Makarfi, as chairman of the unrecognised caretaker committee said that Dickson’s committee was illegal.

    He insisted that the committee was legal, adding that its recommendations were not Dickson’s but of the committee of the party.

    Sheriff said that majority of the party’s stakeholders were in full support of political resolution to its leadership crisis, except for the caretaker committee, which had vowed to pursue legal approach.

    He, however, assured that the party’s NWC was capable of conducting free, fair and acceptable national convention in due course.

    “The reason why the caretaker committee is protesting is that they have seen that the table is now crumbling fast under their feet.

    “All the organs of the party are cueing into the reconciliation and when the reconciliation pulls through, they are out and Sen. Makarfi can only come as member of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    “They get subvention from the governors every month and when reconciliation happens, the N50 million monthly subventions from governors will stop.

    “Secondly, Makarfi wants a situation where he will tailor-make the convention to suit his interest because he has come out to say that he will be contesting the presidency of the country.

    “We are very mindful that we are not going to tie our party around any individual, and that is why the national chairman, Sheriff said ‘look, I am going to throw everything open’,” he said.

     

  • PDP, AD, SDP form opposition forum

    PDP, AD, SDP form opposition forum

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party and several other political parties have agreed to constitute a broad based political opposition, known as United Forum of Democrats.

    The group disclosed this in a resolution signed by Prof. Jerry Gana on Thursday in Abuja after its Wednesday’s meeting.

    According to the resolution the forum is made up of the leadership of PDP, People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Accord Party, among other political parties.

    It stated that the forum would be effective, responsible and fearless watchdog, by mutual agreement to broaden the base of the opposition in the country.

    Gana, who was a former Information Minister had on Wednesday while submitting the report of PDP Strategy Review and Inter-party Affairs in Abuja said that PDP was already meeting with some leaders of political parties.

    He disclosed that the initial contacts had yielded positive responses from seven people-focused and social democratic parties which would meet in Abuja.

    “This has nothing to do with the rumoured Mega Party, but a separate and highly principled initiative of the PDP.

    “Our desire is to have all genuine democrats and friends of the people to flow together and provide a fresh and trustworthy leadership to promote and ensure people-friendly process of national development,’’Gana said

    According to the resolution, the forum would henceforth ensure that the electoral and security Umpires in the country act strictly within the dictates and ethics of their profession.

    “We have resolved that we shall stand united and steadfastly work together in the interest of the vast majority of our people who are now suffering and traumatized.

    The forum also upheld the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference and was resolved to work earnestly for its full implementation.

    “We equally resolved that we shall work together henceforth in all upcoming elections as we approach 2019.

    “This is to ensure we enthrone genuine democracy, good governance, respect for the rule of law and put an end to the reign of civilian dictatorship.’’

     

  • PDP mulls alliance with seven other parties

    PDP mulls alliance with seven other parties

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has initiated discussions with seven political parties to explore the possibilities of forming alliance ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The Chairman of the PDP Strategy Review and Inter-Party Affairs Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, gave the hint in Abuja on Wednesday while submitting a report of his committee to the leadership of the party.

    According to Gana, the initial contacts made by the committee have yielded positive responses from seven people-focused and democratic parties.

    He,‎ however, clarified that the meeting with delegates and representatives of the seven parties had nothing to do with the formation of the much touted mega party.

    “Our desire is to have all genuine democrats and friends of the people to flow together and provide a fresh and trustworthy leadership to promote and ensure a people-friendly process of national development,” he stated.

    Addressing journalists shortly after the event, the spokesman for the Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, confirmed that the PDP actually met with the seven parties.

    Among prominent PDP chieftains present at the event were a former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma; businessman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; former Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Sule Lamido; and Ambassador Aminu Wali.

    The Chairman of the PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who received the Gana committee report on behalf of the party, said the PDP leadership would not be distracted by people who want to make the party remain perpetually irrelevant.

    He said, “We have been facing challenges. One of the ways designed to hold the PDP down and destroy opposition party in the country was to tie us down and make us irrelevant by using the court to tie us down.”

     

  • Gana, others set for parallel PDP convention

    Gana, others set for parallel PDP convention

    The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist with the party set to hold two separate national conventions on Saturday.

    While the faction loyal to the National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, will be holding its convention in Port Harcourt, another faction, headed by a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, will be holding its own in Abuja.

    The two factions met simultaneously in Abuja on Tuesday to fine-tune plans for their separate conventions.

    The pro- Sheriff convention is backed by the party’s serving governors, its National Assembly caucus and a faction of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by the chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin.

    The Gana group, under the aegis of Concerned PDP Stakeholders, inaugurated its 56-members steering committee to conduct its convention and pilot the affairs of the party afterwards.

    Members of the group include Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Senator Bala Mohammed, Mr. Taminu Turaki, Dr. Doyin Okupe and Mrs. Remi Adiukwu.

    Also in the group are – Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Sen. Ben Obi, Mr. John Odey, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, Alh. Shittu Mohammed Kabiru, Senator Grace Bent, and Senator Anietie Okon.

    A group of former PDP governors who are also named as members are – Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Mr. Bonnie Haruna, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, Mr. Donald Duke, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Alhaji Mahmood Shinkafi, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, Sen, Ahmed Makarfi, Chief Achike Udenwa, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and a former PDP national Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

    At a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), Walid said he met with the Gana group up to 2:30am on Tuesdays where he pleaded with the aggrieved members to drop plans for a parallel convention.

    “I pleaded with them to refrain from actions capable of destroying the unity and progress of the party. I made it clear to them that I will not be attending meetings other than the ones called by the organs of the party.

    “As a matter of fact, I made it clear to them that I will be leading the BoT members to the Port Harcourt convention,” the BoT chairman said.

    Also speaking at the NEC meeting, Sheriff said the party had resolved to cancel results of the just concluded congresses in some states and that fresh congresses would be conducted in the affected states.

     

  • PDP crisis: Sheriff threatens to drag Gana before EFCC

    PDP crisis: Sheriff threatens to drag Gana before EFCC

    The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist on Thursday with the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff threatening to drag a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Sheriff alleged that Gana unilaterally took a N500 million loan from a second generation bank on behalf of the PDP, without getting approval from the leadership of the party. The party chairman however did not state the time Gana allegedly obtained the said loan.

    Addressing newsmen at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, the Media Adviser to the party chairman, Mr. Inuwa Bwala who spoke on behalf of his principal, said Gana lacked the credibility to criticise Sheriff.

    Speaking at a stakeholder’s forum held earlier in the day, Gana, in apparent reference to Sheriff, said the PDP had been hijacked by hoodlums and gangsters who are bent on destroying the party.

    He accused the Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC) of impunity and reckless imposition of candidates in the just concluded ward and state congresses across the federation.

    Gana said, “To save the PDP from imminent collapse, we need excellent and competent leaders to run the party; not incompetent persons without dignity of purpose parading themselves as leaders.

    “The Southern part of the country should produce the next national chairman because the North had produced seven national chairmen since the birth of the PDP in 1998.

    “The Southwest geopolitical zone has never produced the national chairman in the 16 years of the existence of the PDP”.

    Gana, leading other prominent members of the party, also described the planned amendment to the PDP constitution, championed by Sheriff as illegal and insisted that the national convention slated for May 21 be put on hold.

    But Sheriff vowed to go ahead with the amendment of the constitution and national convention.

    Said he, “The national convention will certainly hold in Port Harcourt on May 21 if the world does not end before that date.

    “The group headed by Prof. Gana and similar others are not known to the party. They should take their grievances to the convention if they have any. If they choose to leave the PDP, it would be good riddance.

    “It would be foolhardy for the PDP chairman to involve the same people who led the PDP to failure in the 2015 general elections in rebuilding the party. These are the same people that played ignoble roles in squandering the resources of the party.

    “Let it be known to Prof. Gana and members of his group that they don’t have the monopoly of mudslinging. If we are forced to open up on them, we will not hesitate to do so.

    Sheriff also accused Gana and members of his group of having approached him for one favour or the other, only to turn around to attack the chairman when they failed to have their way.

    In a communique issued at the end of the Gana-led stakeholders forum, the group announced a 21-member steering committee to run the affairs of the party and work with the Board of Trustees to conduct the national convention.

    The communique also said, “We enjoin all our party faithful not to despair. The new steering committee will soon embark on a nationwide tour, to address and resolve all issues and areas of conflict in every state of the federation.

    “We call on the governors elected under the PDP, who are our leading beacons of light, our able senators, House of Representatives and state Assembly members to take up the gauntlet and support this noble cause.

    “We need to come together as a family, to fight the cancer of impunity that has eaten deep into the tissues of our party”.

    The communique was jointly signed by a former Education Minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; a former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; and Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

    Those that attended the meeting included Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Bode George, Wilberforce Juta, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Senator Bala Mohammed, Ibrahim Bunu, Senator Grace Bent, Adamu Maina Waziri among others.