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Tag: Makarfi

  • Makarfi takes charge at PDP secretariat

    Makarfi takes charge at PDP secretariat

    It’s a charade, it can’t stand, says Sheriff

    Sheriff yesterday described the action as a charade, which he chose to ignore – in deference to subsisting court orders. He accused Makarfi and the party chiefs of acting in breach of the court orders.
    Insisting that he remained the party chairman, Sheriff said Secondus or any other person never got his mandate to act on his behalf by handing over to Makarfi.
    In a statement issued by Sheriff’s Media Adviser, Mr. Inuwa Bwala, the former Borno State governor described the exercise as an act of impunity, which is null and void.
    The statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to the activities at the National Secretariat of the PDP to the effect that some individuals masquerading as leaders have handed over to Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi under a contraption called ‘caretaker committee’.
    “We state as a matter of fact that going by proceedings still pending in the courts to the effect that Senator Ali Sheriff remains the National Chairman, whatever transpired was null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
    “Sheriff has not mandated anybody, nor was his authority obtained by Uche Secondus, who has been parading himself as acting on behalf of the National Chairman.
    “While we await the verdicts of the courts, we wish to state that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff remains the National Chairman of the party, until otherwise declared by the courts.
    “We allowed the charade to go on at the secretariat without any form of challenge in strict obedience to careful pronouncement on the matter. But we must also state that there is no gathering of groups or individuals, however powerful such groups or individuals may be, that can be said to take precedence over the law.
    “For the avoidance of doubts, we state categorically that what took place at the PDP secretariat on Tuesday June 7, 2016 was a total disregard to court orders.
    “And an extension of the impunity of which the party has been accused and which has taken the party to where it is today. The public should disregard all the actions and pronouncements”.

    After more than two weeks of inertia, key organs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday handed  over its affairs to the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee.

    By that gesture, the committee is expected to organise a national convention where officials will be picked to run the affairs of the party for the next four years.

    The exercise was in defiance of subsisting court orders that emanated from Port Harcourt and Lagos, restraining the Makarfi-led committee and the deposed party chair, Ali Modu Sheriff, from exercising the right of leadership of the party.

    This prompted the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), last week, to assume responsibility for running its affairs, pending the election of new executives.

    The BoT chairman, Walid Jibrin, had attributed the action to the subsisting court orders against Makarfi and Sheriff.

    Jibrin said: “Nobody has taken the BoT to court. Today, the BoT remains the only legal body that is not in court with anybody, and that is why we are here to play our role.

    “We are here to perform our duty according to the PDP constitution, hoping that our problems will soon be resolved.”

    Jibrin and his fellow BoT members were active participants at the event where Makarfi was officially recognised as the party’s interim administrator.

    Conveners of yesterday’s event were however silent on the court orders. Makarfi’s installation was similarly approved by governors elected on the party’s platform, the National Assembly caucus and other stakeholders.

    Judging by the body language of the party chiefs, the exercise signified the final exit rites for Sheriff who is still fighting his unceremonious removal through the courts.

    Sheriff stayed away from the event. Party chiefs explained away his absence, saying he had travelled out of the country.

    Former Deputy National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus performed the hand-over ceremony, which received a resounding applause from the party chiefs.

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who spoke on behalf of other governors, said his colleagues decided to back Makarfi because his committee was properly constituted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

    He urged aggrieved members to explore the available dispute resolution options within the party to iron out their grievances.

    The governor regretted that the Civil Society Organisations that used to be vocal under the PDP-led Federal Government have withdrawn into their shells as if all is well with the nation.

    “In the absence of strong Civil Society Organistaions, we are determined to provide vibrant and purposeful opposition to the present administration,” the governor said.

    He stressed the need for the Federal Government to engage the various militia groups in constructive dialogue instead of confrontation. According to him, that was how the PDP-led administration handled the situation.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu restated the party’s resolve to throw the two members of the House of Representatives who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week out of their seats.

    “We will do everything under the sun to get them out of the National Assembly . This is no time for gamblers. We are going to replace them with genuine and committed PDP members,” the lawmaker said.

  • Crisis: PDP tinkers with new power sharing for Sheriff, Makarfi

    Crisis: PDP tinkers with new power sharing for Sheriff, Makarfi

    Overwhelmed by three matters in court, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is considering a new option of sharing offices between the faction of its sacked National Chairman, Senator Modu Ali Sheriff, and the Caretaker Committee led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.

    There is pressure on PDP leaders in the North-East and the two governors of the party in the zone, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Darius Ishaku, to prevail on Sheriff to accept the new option.

    Talks were also ongoing yesterday with Sheriff’s new godfather, Senator Kashamu Buruji, to convince the ex-National Chairman on the sharing of posts.

    But adamant Sheriff insisted that the law must take its course instead of any short cut formula.

    The Board of Trustees of the PDP had taken over the affairs of the party on Wednesday, pending the time it will resolve its problems.

    According to investigation by our correspondent, the latest option of splitting offices between Sheriff and Makarfi was arrived at during the week by some stakeholders of the PDP in Abuja on Wednesday.

    It was gathered that the stakeholders were said to have discovered that the crisis in the PDP may linger for months, if it is left to court to decide.

    There were fears that the three court cases may run through the lower court to the appellate division and the Supreme Court.

    A top party source said: “All the leaders of the party are worried that the way the crisis is going, we may not get over it till the next poll in 2019 because Sheriff and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are not ready to withdraw all the cases in court.

    “Even one of the key players in the crisis, Governor Ayodele Fayose, was sent a text message before the botched Port Harcourt convention on the emerging crisis in the party.

    “The text, which was an issue at a Federal High Court in Lagos, was as follows:

    ‘Your Excellency: Governor Fayose sir. There is a very serious problem in the pipeline. The election should go on and we may appoint the three of them to function in acting capacity.

    ‘Constituting all as Caretaker Committee is very risky and dangerous. The other side will constitute a proper Executive Council and challenge and defeat your own Caretaker Committee.

    ‘Yours will be caretaker. They will call theirs NWC and will move round the courts to get a funny order/judgment to regularize. Alternatively, we do elections and not release results till Tuesday. Or release all, except the three and get the convention to appoint them in acting capacity. At any rate, the matter is on appeal and they will be in office while the other group will be in court for the next five years. Let’s be strategic and imaginative sir.’

    “A midstream approach is a power-sharing deal between Sheriff and Makarfi factions. They have to share party offices in order to move forward.

    “Concerned party leaders have begged the PDP caucus in the North-East and Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo and Darius Ishaku to prevail on Sheriff and some NWC members to withdraw all cases in court and allow the amicable resolution of the crisis.

    “The most convenient option is to share NWC offices and have a harmonized executive to lead the party. We believe we have to move forward now.”

    Another source said: “Some leaders of the PDP have already opened up talks with Senator Kashamu Buruji who is the main backer of Sheriff on the power-sharing deal because litigation might lead to the eventual collapse of the party.

    “Kashamu’s position is that Sheriff must not be humiliated from power. He has been consistent on this. But he has not been able to come up with options.

    “We are hopeful that wise counsel will prevail and we will strike a power-sharing deal in the next few weeks.”

    A member of the sacked NWC said: “From our meeting, Sheriff told us that ‘the law must take its course’. He is not ready to give up his mandate which will end in 2018.”

  • PDP Governors back Makarfi, as Dickson visits party Chair in Kaduna

    PDP Governors back Makarfi, as Dickson visits party Chair in Kaduna

    •Our party only on sabbatical leave- Caretaker Committee chair

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State yesterday paid a solidarity visit to the Interim National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi in Kaduna, pledging the support of all the party’s governors for the chairman.

    Dickson described Makarfi as a focused, trusted and respected leader.

    The Bayelsa governor who doubles as chairman of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee said he was in Kaduna to consult with Makarfi “on the way forward for our country.”

    He added: “All your governors are behind you and I have, in my capacity as Chairman of the National Reconciliation Committee, been in touch with leaders of our party across the length and breadth of our country and one thing everybody says is that, with you as our national chairman, our party has gotten it right.”

    He asked leaders of the party to refrain from “making legal point out of what is essentially a political misunderstanding within a family. People should resort to political solution and political solution comes by engagement and meetings and interaction of party leaders, not litigation in the law courts. People should refrain from making comments that will not promote the cause of reconciliation.”

    Makarfi said the PDP is only on sabbatical leave from power and will bounce back in 2019.

    He said: “We need to reconcile, we need to acknowledge where we went wrong. It is a good virtue to say sorry where you are wrong. It is a good virtue to reconcile. Every day, whether you are a Christian or Muslim, we pray. It is because we knowingly or unknowingly offend our Creator, asking for His forgiveness and reconciling with Him. No doubt, in the cause of events, we must have hurt each other. Why can’t we talk to each other, reconcile with each other and learn from past mistakes.”

  • PDP crisis: Sheriff, 17 NWC members move to sack Makarfi

    PDP crisis: Sheriff, 17 NWC members move to sack Makarfi

    The sacked National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic party(PDP), Sen. AliModu Sheriff and 17 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) yesterday rushed to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory seeking the declaration of Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee illegal.

    They said the caretaker committe’s tenure will end on December 11, 2018 since a former National Chairman of PDP, whose mandate the members inherited, was elected at a Special National Convention on December 10th and 11th, 2014

    They also asked the court to set aside the decision of last Saturday’s National Convention of the PDP

    In an affidavit which Sheriff personally deposed to, the ex-governor, through his counsel, Alex A. Izinyon (SAN), sought an ex-parte order to stop Makarfi from leading a caretaker committee which he alleged was unknown to PDP’s constitution.

    Makarfi’s Caretaker Committee was caught unawares by the latest application of Sheriff and 17 NWC members.

    The other plaintiffs are Prof. Wale Oladipo (National Secretary), Kwon Victor Yusuf (National Legal adviser); Bala Buhari (National Treasurer); Adewale Adeyanju (National Auditor); Abdullahi Maibasira (National Youth Leader); Mustapha Abubakar (National Organising Secretary); Chikwe Kemafo Nonyerem (National Women Leader); Olisa Metuh (National Publicity Secretary); Onwe Solomon Onwe (Deputy National Secretary).

    Others are Enegesi Claudius Godsave (Deputy National Treasurer); Jalo Abdullahi Ibrahim (Deputy National Publicity Secretary); Ullam Hamata (Deputy National Women Leader); Gwalabe Auwalu Abdu (Deputy National Financial Secretary); Barr. Maudugu Bashir (deputy National Legal Adviser); Alonge Olaniyi Dennis (Deputy National Youth Leader); Nnaedozie Okechukwu (Deputy National Organising Secretary) and Alhaji Lawal Anche (Deputy National Auditor).

    It was not immediately clear if all the NWC members mandated Sheriff  to file the new application in court.

    The respondents are the PDP, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Sen. Ben Obi, Sen. Odion Ugbesia, Sen. Abdul Ningi; Barrister Kevin Usman; Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Mrs. Aisha Aliyu.

    There were indications yesterday that Makarfi and others were not yet aware of the latest suit which is yet to be assigned to a judge.

    Sheriff however offered to go to court instead of abiding by the directive of the Board of Trustees of the party to all aggrieved PDP leaders to withdraw their suits in court.

    Sheriff and 17 others sought the following reliefs:

    • A declaration that the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party in violation of the interlocutory injunctions in suit no: FHC/L/CS/613/2016 between Alhaji Ali Modu Sherriff & 2 Ords v. INEC & Anor and the subsisting judgement in Suit No.: FCT/HC/CV/1443/2016 between Emeka Dibia &Peoples Democratic Party at the purported National Convention of the PDP held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on the 21st May, 2016, is ultra vires, null and void.
    • A declaration that the 1st Plaintiff by virtue of the provisions of Article 33, 35 and 47(6) of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution as well as the judgement in Suit No.: FCT/HC/CV/1443/2016 between Chief Emeka Dibia v. PDP, is to hold office as National Chairman of the PDP until an election in accordance with the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party is conducted.
    •  A declaration that the setting up of a Caretaker Committee at the purported National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Port Harcourt Rivers State on the 21st May, 2016 is in violation of Article 33, 35 and 47(6) of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Constitution.
    • A declaration that the Caretaker Committee set up at the purported National Convention of the PDP held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on the 21st May, 2016 is unknown to the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.
    •        An order setting aside the resolution passed at the purported National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Rivers State on the 21st May, 2016 dissolving the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.
    •        An order setting aside the resolution passed at the purported National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party held in Rivers State on the 21st May, 2016 setting up the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.
    •        An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st – 8th Defendant, their agents or servants, privies or however so called acting through them from further parading themselves as the members of the Caretaker Committee or the discharging any National Executive Office functions of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    In an affidavit which he personally sworn to with his passport affixed, Sheriff said:  ”That I know as a fact that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur tendered his resignation as the National Chairman of the Peopled Democratic Party on the 15th January, 2014.

    “That the 1st Defendant at its 63rd National Executive Committee Meeting appointed the 3rd Plaintiff as its Acting National Chairman.

    “That subsequently at the 1st Defendant’s 64th National Executive Committee meeting it appointed Alhaji Adamu Muazu as its National Chairman in accordance with Article 47 (6) of its constitution.

    “That by the appointment of Alhaji Adamu Muazu, he was to serve out the tenure of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    “That at the 1st Defendant’s Special National Convention held on 10th – 11th December, 2014, Alhaji Adamu Muazu was elected as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party along with other National officers for a tenure of 4 years to expire in 2018.

    “That mid-way into the tenure Alhaji Muazu resigned as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and I was appointed as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party until an election to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of Alhaji Muazu was conducted in accordance with the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “That the Peoples Democratic Party had given a notice of Congress dated 15th March, 2016 Referenced; PDP/DOM/GFI/VOLIII/590 by which it scheduled its National Convention of 21st May, 2016 for the purpose of conducting election to replace its national officers whose four years tenure are still running. Attached herewith is the copy of the said Notice Exhibit “A”.

    “That part of the business of the said convention was for the election of a National Chairman.

    “That the said convention was held on the 21st May, 2016 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. At the said convention there was no election of National Officers in line with the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “That the Plaintiffs were purportedly sacked by the conveners of the said Convention and replaced with a Caretaker Committee not known to the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “That the said purported convention was not chaired by the 1st Plaintiff as the National Chairman and none of the National Executive Officers of the Peoples Democratic Party were present at the purported Convention.

    “That the 2nd -8th Defendants were purportedly constituted as Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party at the Purported Peoples Democratic Party convention held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 21st May, 2016.

    “That I know as a fact that there is a subsisting order of the Federal High Court Lagos in Suit No.: FHC/L/CS/613/2016 between Alhaji Ali Modu Sherriff & 2 Ords v. INEC & Anor. Delivered on the 12th May, 2016 retraining the Peoples Democratic Party from terminating the tenure of the Plaintiffs pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter in the said suit. A copy of the aforesaid Order is attached herein as Exhibit “B”.

    “That I know as a fact that the Peoples Democratic Party constitution does not have any provision that relates to the establishment of the said Caretaker Committee as was done at the purported National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 21st May, 2016. A copy of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Constitution is attached herein as Exhibit “C”.

    “That the said Caretaker Committee has started taking steps towards performing the functions of the Plaintiffs as the National officers of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “That the decisions and actions taken at the purported Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party were in clear violation of the said judgement in Suit No.: FCT/HC/CV/1443/16 between Chief Emeka Dibia v. Peoples Democratic Party delivered on 18th May, 2016 and the subsisting interlocutory injunction of the Federal High Court Lagos in Suit No.: FHC/L/CS/613/2016 between Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff & 2 Ords vs. INEC &ANOR. Delivered on 12th May, 2016. A copy of the aforesaid judgement is attached herein as Exhibit “D”.

    “That I know as a fact that the 1st -8th Defendant were duly served and aware of the Order of the Federal High Court, Lagos in Suit No.: FHC/L/CS/613/2016 and the judgement of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja High Court in Suit No.: FCT/HC/CV/1443/16.

    “That there is need to restrain the Defendants from parading themselves as the National Officers or members of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “That I depose to this affidavit in good faith believing the content to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act, 2004.”

     Sheriff and two members of the  sacked National Working Committee (NWC) -ex National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo; ex National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju -had earlier approached a court in Lagos to halt the botched convention in Port Harcourt seeking an order to stop election into the offices of National Secretary, National Auditor and National Chairman.

  • More confusion in PDP as courts stop Makarfi, Sheriff

    More confusion in PDP as courts stop Makarfi, Sheriff

    The threE gladiators

    Modu Sheriff

    •The former Borno State Governor claiming to be chairman after being sacked by the convention. The Federal High  Court in Lagos says he is chairman.  In Port Harcourt the same court nullified his chairmanship

    Ahmed Makarfi

    •The former Kaduna State Governor appointed caretaker chair by the Port Harcourt convention. In Lagos, the Federal High Court the committee a nullity. In Port Harcourt, the court says his committee stands.

    Jerry Gana

    •The former Information Minister leading a 57-man steering committee appointed by the parrallel convention in Abuja. He rejects the Makarfi committee and advocates that the Board of Trustees (BoT) should takeover.

    Conflicting rulings in Lagos, Port Harcourt

    From convention grounds and party offices,  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders have moved their legitimacy battle to the court room.

    The crisis was yesterday deepened by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and Port Harcourt, which gave conflicting rulings on the status of the party’s leadership.

    After last weekend’s parallel conventions in Port Harcourt and Abuja, three people have been claiming the leadership of the troubled former ruling party. They are:  Senator Ahmed Makarfi, the caretaker chairman appointed in Port Harcourt, Prof. Jerry Gana, the Interim chairman picked in Abuja and Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, who was removed by the governors.

    In Lagos, Justice Ibrahim Buba declared the Makarfi-led caretaker panel a nullity.

    He declared Shefiff as the authentic chair and ordered the police to enforce the order.

    In Port Harcourt, Justice A.M. Liman stopped Sheriff from parading himself as the chairman and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.

    Justice Buba held that the Sherrif-led executive should remain in office until the suit is determined.

    He ordered the police to ensure that the order is enforced.

    The committee, headed by a former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was appointed last Saturday following the party’s shelved convention.

    Members are Senator Ben Obi (national secretary), Sen. Odion Ugbesie, Sen. Abdul Ningi, Mr. Kabir Usman, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye and Alhaja Aisha Aliyu.

    Justice Buba held that the committee was appointed in violation of an order he made on May 12.

    He had barred the party from conducting elections into offices of PDP national chairman, national secretary and national auditor, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

    The judge had also restrained INEC from monitoring the election.

    The plaintiffs – Sheriff, National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo and National Auditor Alhaji Fatai Adeyanju –  prayed the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining PDP from conducting any election into the offices of the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor, which they occupied, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    Justice Buba said he would not allow his order to be violated without consequences, adding that he had an obligation to ensure his directives were obeyed.

    “No court can make an order in vain,” he held.

    Oladipo’s and Adeyanju’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, told Justice Buba about an application filed yesterday in which he prayed the court to invoke its disciplinary powers.

    He said: “Certain steps were taken to remove the plaintiffs from their office, notwithstanding your lordship’s interlocutory injunction which restrained the respondents from taking such steps.

    “The steps were taken over the weekend to remove them and it was during the pendency of this action. It is for that reason that we were constrained to file this application. We seek your lordship’s disciplinary jurisdiction to bring back matters to the status quo based on the order of May 12.”

    Justice Buba said although Oluyede’s application was not ripe for hearing, he was bound to protect the court’s sanctity against violation of its orders.

    He said to ignore the flouting of a court order was to invite anarchy.

    He quoted Section 287 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, which says: “The decisions of the Federal High Court, a High Court and of all other courts established by this Constitution shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and persons, and by other courts of law with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Federal High Court, a High Court and those other courts, respectively.”

    The judge added: “Therefore, the Inspector-General of Police is directed to enforce the orders of this court until the order is set aside or all the applications before the court are disposed of.

    “Because of the nature of this matter, being political, time is hereby abridged for the hearing of all applications,” he said.

    The judge warned the Makarfi-led committee “not to act in that capacity in defiance of this order”.

    Before the ruling, there was a scene as two lawyers, Ahmed Raji (SAN) and Godswill Morakpor, were locked in a heated argument over who, between them, was authorised to represent the PDP. Both announced appearance for the party.

    Raji said: “There was no attempt to change counsel. I am the counsel on record for the second defendant (PDP). The new caretaker committee has re-validated my appointment. This is the letter,” he said, handing the letter to Justice Buba.

    But, Morakpor said he was the one authorised to represent PDP, not Raji.

    He said: “Today is like a nightmare to me. I never envisaged a situation where I would be dragging a client with a senior member of the Bar. We have filed a notice of change of counsel and served same on the learned SAN.”

    Raji, however, claimed he was not served with an application for change of counsel for PDP.

    The court’s bailiff was sent for, and he confirmed that he indeed served Raji with the application at his office.

    Justice Buba held that Morakpor is the recognised counsel for PDP, adding that both lawyers could not appear for the same client.

    Justice Buba said: “Granted, Mr Raji (SAN) is the former counsel on record, but the filing of notice of change of counsel and service of same has legal consequences. This court is one of record. The court can only grant Mr Morakpor audience. There is no room for response under Order 9 of the rules of this court,” Justice Buba held.

    He adjourned the hearing till Friday.

  • Gana group rejects Makarfi, insists on BoT

    Gana group rejects Makarfi, insists on BoT

    The Concerned PDP Stakeholders have rejected the choice of Ahmed Makarfi as chairman of the caretaker committee of the party, saying the appointment was a violation of the party’s constitution.

    Rather, the group insisted that the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) should be allowed to run the affairs of the party pending the conduct of an acceptable national convention.

    Speaking at a media briefing yesterday evening, the leader of the party’s leagues of former cabinet ministers, Mr. Taminu Turaki called on the BoT to step in.

    Said he, “It is now time for the BoT to step in and take charge. It is there in our constitution that in a situation like, the BoT, which is the conscience of the party as well as the father of the party should step in immediately.

    “There shouldn’t be any vacuum and we are concerned that what is coming out of the party from Port Harcourt may likely deepen our disagreements.”

    “In this situation therefore, the BoT leadership must take up its responsibilities for the running of the affairs of the party and bring all members of the party back home for us to sit down and find a way forward as members of one family.”

    Also speaking at the briefing, co chairman of the Concerned Stakeholders, Senator Ibrahim Mantu echoed Turaki’s position but added that the group welcomed the removal of Ali Modu Sheriff as chairman.

    Mantu said the next thing for the party to do was to cancel the state congresses conducted under Sheriff’s leadership.

    He also said that the zoning of the party’s 2019 presidential ticket and the chairmanship position to the North cannot stand. According to him, one of the slots must to the South.

    Mantu and Turaki however said consultations were still ongoing with the view to ironing out other issues arising from the botched convention.

     

  • Buhari’s integrity an asset to economy, says Makarfi

    Buhari’s integrity an asset to economy, says Makarfi

    The former Kaduna State Governor and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has said the integrity of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari remains an asset that will boost investors’ confidence in the economy.

    Senator Makarfi, who contested a senatorial seat in the March 28 National Assembly election, but lost to Alhaji Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, his former commissioner for Finance and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, said: “Gen. Buhari has all it takes to take Nigeria to a higher level.”

    He told The Nation yesterday that given the track record of Buhari, he was confident that the economy would be revived and the masses would reap the dividends of democracy.

    Makarfi said he conceded defeat to Hunkuyi because it was the will of God, as expressed by the people.

    He congratulated the people who participated in the elections and were victorious.

    The former governor, who served between 1999 and 2007, expressed gratitude to his political associates for their support and understanding when he served as the governor and senator.

    “In particular, I wish to send my hearty congratulations to Gen. Buhari on his victory in the presidential election, believing that he will use his wealth of experience, integrity, fairness and discipline to lift Nigeria higher,” Makarfi asserted.

  • Makarfi denies ‘plan’ to dump PDP

    Makarfi denies ‘plan’ to dump PDP

    Senator Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna North) yesterday denied rumours that he was planning to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Makarfi spoke at the PDP secretariat in Kaduna while submitting his nomination form to seek another term in the Senate.

    He said: “I am among the founding fathers of the PDP and I have no intention to dump the party for any emerging political party. I am here to submit my form, and I don’t believe in making noise. It is not in the party office that one should show his or her strength; it is in the ballot box that we should show that we have people.

    “We will do our best to ensure victory for our party; I will run again in our party for the Kaduna North Senatorial District seat. We should work together; I am a founding member of PDP and will remain here. I have no intention to dump the party.”

    Answering a question on whether the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a threat to the PDP, Makarfi said: “It depends on what you mean by threat; it is not a one man party and I consider all parties contesting against PDP as threats. It is a threat that we should do more to win and ensure victory.”

    The former governor is the first PDP senatorial aspirant in the state to submit his nomination form.

  • 2015: Sambo, Makarfi renew rivarly

    The subtle but fierce battle for the soul of Kaduna State politics between the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo and Senator Ahmed Makarfi, seems far from being over, reports Remi Adelowo

    Up until mid 2010, former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and his successor, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, enjoyed a near excellent relationship.

    It was one friendship that has lasted over two decades or more, it was gathered.

    In the run-up to the 2007 governorship election in Kaduna State, many top aides of Makarfi, then the state governor had commenced silent campaigns to succeed Makarfi.

    Despite Makarfi’s closeness to some of the aspirants, he kept his succession plans close to his chest.

    But few months to the 2007 general elections, The Nation gathered that Makarfi had summoned a meeting of his kitchen cabinet including some of the aspirants jostling to take over from him. The meeting held at the Kashim Ibrahim Government House on Ahmadu Bello Way in Kaduna.

    Midway into the secret parley, Makarfi reportedly dropped the bombshell: Mohammed Namadi Sambo is his anointed candidate for the 2007 governorship seat.

    The tone of finality in Makarfi’s voice left no one at the meeting in doubt that he had made up his mind on his preferred successor.

    Elections over, Sambo, a wealthy architect and one of the biggest contractors to the state government, was inaugurated as the Kaduna State governor on May 29, 2007. Makarfi chose to go to the Senate as the representative of Kaduna North.

    All was well between the duo until May 2010. The search for a new Vice President to succeed Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who became the president following the death of his boss, Umaru Yar’Adua, eventually culminated in the elevation of Sambo as Nigeria’s number two citizen.

    Sambo’s elevation allegedly did not go down well with Makarfi, who was strongly tipped to become the vice president before the pendulum finally swung in Sambo’s favour.

    Basking in his new status as the most senior political officer holder from the North, Sambo expectedly decided to stamp his imprints on the politics of his home state. This, Makarfi did not take kindly to.

    However, the two men managed to keep their frosty relationship out of public scrutiny.

    Aftermath of Yakowa’s death

    The rivalry over control of Kaduna politics between the two men reared its ugly head again following the death of Sambo’s successor, Mr. Patrick Yakowa about two years ago from a plane crash in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

    With Yakowa’s deputy, Ramalan Yero succeeding his late boss, an intense jostling for the vacant deputy governorship seat soon began with Makarfi and Sambo singing discordant tunes on the choice candidate.

    But once again, Sambo had his way. The vice president allegedly convinced his godson, Yero, to pick the former Chairman of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga from Kaduna South as the new deputy governor.

    Makarfi’s camp, a source alleged, felt sighted over Bajoga’s appointment, but however decided not to rock the boat.

    Ahead the 2015 polls

    As preparations for the 2015 general elections gather momentum, The Nation reliably gathered that both Sambo and Makarfi are set to renew their rivalry over the governorship race.

    While the vice president is solidly behind Yero, who served under him as the finance commissioner during his reign as governor, Makarfi is allegedly rooting for another candidate.

    The alleged below par performance of Yero since he became governor is causing anxiety within the ruling PDP and the vice president’s camp.

    There are fears in Sambo/Yero’s camp that in his bid to get even and prove his political relevance in the State, Makarfi may work against the re-election of Yero in 2015.

    Speculations are rife in the North West state that Makarfi, who is currently serving his second term as a Senator, could work with the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the PDP nominates Yero as its governorship candidate in 2015.

    Since its formal registration some months ago, the profile of APC in Kaduna State has been in an upward swing, with many political heavyweights in the State pitching their tents with the party.

    Interestingly, the trios of Yero, Sambo and Makarfi all come from the same constituency of Zaria province in the northern part of the state.

    Although the VP had severally laid claims to Zone 2 in Kaduna Central by virtue of his years of place of residence, he is originally believed to have hailed from Zaria city.

    Sambo had lived most of his life time in Kabala West area of Kaduna Central. Conversely, Makarfi, Sambo’s supposed godfather, hails from Makarfi, in Makarfi local government area of the northern flank of the State.

    Although the lawmaker and the nation’s number two citizen had once publicly declared to sheath their swords during the inauguration of Ambassador Bajoga as the state PDP Chairman in 2012 at the Yar’adua Hall, Murtala Square, developments in the state in the last two years clearly point to the contrary.

    For instance, Makarfi’s absence from several PDP state caucus meetings presided over by the VP on account of what some believe to be flimsy excuses, and the threat to suspend him from the party’s activities in recent times are pointers to this effect.

    The alleged bad blood between the duos in view of their dispositions to different governorship contenders may intensify in the weeks and months ahead.

    While Sambo’s camp is rooting for Governor Yero’s continuity in office in 2015, sources say Makarfi’s camp is the brain behind Isah Mohammed Ashiru’s governorship ambition.

    In recent times, Ashiru, who is contesting the governorship on the platform of the APC, has intensified his consultations with stakeholders across the length and breadth of the State.

    Just a few weeks ago, he had a meeting with his campaign team from all the 23 local government areas and the wards.

    His candidature, according to sources, is garnering support from influential politicians including the former state chairman of PDP, Yaro Makama; former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hassan Hyet and former federal lawmaker, Ruth Jumai Ango, all of whom are staunch loyalists of Makarfi.

    Ashiru’s defection to APC to actualise his governorship dream, analysts noted, may have further brightened Yero’s chances at the 2015 PDP governorship primary.

    The need to consolidate his hold on the political levers of the state ahead the 2015 elections, may have necessitated Yero to dissolve his cabinet shortly on assumption of office.

    Expectedly, controversy trailed the dissolution of the cabinet and the appointment of new appointees into strategic government positions.

    The Sambo/Yero camp also moved fast to take total control of the state House of Assembly, resulting in the impeachment of the Speaker, Hon. Usman Gangara and his deputy, Dr. Dogara Mato.

    The impeachment generated a lot of controversies, as some political opponents pointed accusing fingers at the VP as the brain behind it. The matter is still in court.

    The primary objective of these strategic moves, sources aver, was to obliterate the remaining structures of late Yakowa and thus smoothen the political environment for his Yero to assert his authority.

    Yakowa’s political machinery, according to loyalists of Sambo and Yero, was not formidable enough, a situation that led to PDP’s loss in the vice president’s ward and local government in the 2011 general elections.

    The new crop of leadership of the state legislature and the new commissioners, who are mostly former chairmen of local governments, are unquestionably loyal to the incumbent governor and are believed to be solidly on ground politically.

    Will Makarfi regain his political control of Kaduna State or will Sambo finally prove that he has come of age politically in 2015? The 2015 general elections will surely provide the answer.

  • Govt spent $4.5b illegally on kerosene, says Makarfi

    Govt spent $4.5b illegally on kerosene, says Makarfi

    The Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) illegally spent about $4.5 billion on kerosene subsidy from the Federation Account without appropriation, Senator Ahmed Makarfi alleged yesterday.

    Makarfi, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, said the ongoing forensic audit of the NNPC would likely indict some key officials.

    Makarfi, whose committee probed the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Lamido Sanusi’s allegation on the $49.8billion ‘missing’ oil money, told reporters in Kaduna that the panel’s  recommendations are subject to the forensic audit’s outcome.

     “The forensic audit may indict many individuals,” he said, adding: “We were asked to find out the whereabouts of some money. For $47 billion out of the $67 billion, there was no dispute at all right from the time we started our sitting that the money was in the Federation Account. Where there was dispute was between the figure of $10.8 billion and $20 billion.

    “Even that dispute did not state that the money was really missing, but what has been done with that money. It was not stated at that time that the money was missing, but that it was not remitted to the Federation Account. If it was not remitted to the Federation Account, it could be hanging in one account or the other.

    “We took the larger figure of $20billion so that we could investigate what happened to that money. Out of that money, $5.5 billion was spent on petrol and what we needed to do was to find out if the money was appropriated. We checked the budget of the relevant ministries and discovered that the National Assembly appropriated the money.

    “So, if the National Assembly appropriated money and it was expended, you cannot talk about money missing. Another $4.5 billion was expended on subsidy on kerosene. But unlike that of petrol, the money was not appropriated by the National Assembly, but there was evidence and certification that the money was spent.

    “Again, there is a difference between missing money and money spent without appropriation. You know what it was used for, but the fact is, was it authorised by law? It was not authorised constitutionally because all money to be spent are supposed to be appropriated by the National Assembly. That takes care of $10 billion out of the $20 billion.

    “One part of the money was budgeted for and spent, while another part was not budgeted for, but spent. We also discovered that about $8 billion does not entirely belong to the Federation Account. Our job was to determine how much of that money belongs to the Federation Account”.

    Makarfi said what the government should have done after the money was spent was to send a supplementary budget to the National Assembly for approval, stressing that this was not done.

    Makarfi, who was Kaduna State Governor from 1999 to 2007, said even though former President Umaru Yar’Adua outlawed kerosene subsidy, his administration did not take any step to implement the directive. The fact that money was spent on subsidy without appropriation does not mean that the money is missing, he said.

    Makarfi said his committee did not indict Minister of Petroleum Resources Dezeani Allison Madueke because it did not find anywhere that she approved for any expenses to be made.

    He said: “When you talk of indicting, if you are to indict at this point, it is institutions you can indict. It is when the forensic audit comes out that you can indict individuals. That is why some of the recommendations say subject to the forensic audit and we said that the National Assembly should take further legislative action upon the receipt of the forensic audit if we find any reason to do so.

    “We have not foreclosed anything in our report. We made conditional recommendation and we are waiting for that forensic audit from the external forensic auditors. That is where personal indictment can come. For one reason or the other, some people believe the Minister and some other people should be indicted.

    “But from what we have seen, we have not seen anywhere the minister made any approval. So, if you don’t see any particular thing she approved, how do you come to indict her? But the forensic audit also covers payment on subsidy and in that case, the people that could be indicted are many. “