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Tag: Muazu

  • Drama as PDP, Gulak disagree over Mu’azu’s replacement

    The aspiration by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vie for the national chairmanship of the party, has suffered a setback with a declaration by the leadership of the party that the position is not vacant.

    The position is being occupied in acting capacity by the party’s National Deputy Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus following the forced resignation in May of the substantive chair, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

    A mild drama played out yesterday as Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, an erstwhile Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, stormed the party’s Abuja secretariat to register his intention to vie for the chairmanship position.

    Speaking with journalists shortly after meeting with some of the party leaders, Gulak said the three months that the party’s constitution allowed Secondus to act as chairman had expired and that there was need to choose a substantive chair for the party.

    Gulak said, “I came to inform the National Working Committee (NWC) of my intention to contest the chairmanship of the party for the purpose of rebuilding, rebranding and renovating the party.

    “Going by the PDP constitution, the position is vacant because the three months allowed for anyone to act as chairman had elapsed and the party constitution stipulates that the replacement must come from the same Northeast zone as the erstwhile substantive chair.

    “The PDP cannot continue in the illegality of continuing with Acting Chairman because the three months stipulated by the party’s constitution had elapsed.

    “So it is time for the NWC to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for the party to call for nominations to fill the vacancy. We have had enough of impunity”.

    But the leadership of the party could hardly wait for Gulak to leave the party secretariat before declaring that the position is not vacant.

    At a joint briefing by the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, the party leaders countered that the party constitution did not stipulate time limit for an acting chairman.

    According to them, the party was waiting for the report of the Post Election Review and Assessment Committee, headed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

    Oladipo said, “The position of chairman is not vacant because there is an acting chairman in place. We cannot call a NEC meeting until we have received the report of the Ekweremadu led committee.

    “We are not afraid or reluctant to call NEC meeting. We can’t call NEC meeting just for the sake of it. The fact is that we have just lost election and we need to re-examine our structures to know where we got it wrong”.

    Kwom also dismissed the claims by Gulak that Secondus’ tenure as acting chairman had expired, saying the party constitution did not stipulate a time limit.

    Kwom said, “Section 45(2) of the party constitution allows the acting chairman to continue in office till NEC in its wisdom decides to appoint a replacement.

    “Section 47(6) that empowers NEC to appoint a replacement also did not give a time limit within which a person can act as chairman”.

     

  • PDP NWC members won’t resign – Secondus

    PDP NWC members won’t resign – Secondus

    The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, on Thursday ruled out the possibility of the remaining members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) resigning from their positions.

    The PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, resigned their positions on Wednesday.

    Many members of the party had called for Mu’azu and NWC members’ resignation following PDP’s failure in the 2015 elections.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Secondus said there is no reason for any of the remaining NWC members to resign as they all have their tenures still running.

    He also explained that Mu’azu was not forced to resign from his position.

    He said: “You know that is not right, it is unconstitutional, because the chairman resigned voluntarily, and the BoT Chairman also did that voluntarily. Some of the others have tenures, at the end of our tenure if we are re-elected, fine, if not that is the right thing to do.”

    “There is no reason for us to resign because we have worked hard.”

    On Mu’azu and Anenih’s resignation, he said: “Sometimes it happens that way. Nobody forced them to go.”

    Explaining the purpose of his visit to the Villa, he said: “I just came here to interact with our leader, Mr. President.”

     

  • Mu’azu quits as PDP chair after losing Jonathan’s support

    Mu’azu quits as PDP chair after losing Jonathan’s support

    A sudden “palace coup” by members of the National Working Committee(NWC) forced yesterday’s resignation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman Alhaji Adams Mu’azu.

    It was apparent that he had lost the confidence of President Goodluck Jonathan, governors and top leaders of the party.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) members came together and placed a conference phone call to Mu’azu, who is abroad for medical reasons, to step down.

    A source said: “When the NWC members placed a call to Mu’azu, they threatened to pass a vote of no confidence on him by Wednesday if he did not resign.

    “To avoid being disgraced through a palace coup by NWC members, Mu’azu quickly offered to resign to avoid being humiliated out of power.

    “The forces behind the ouster of Mu’azu used a divide and rule method. They set NWC members against him to achieve their aim. At the end of the day, Mu’azu was left in the lurch and he had to throw in the towel.”

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that a recuperating Mu’azu was disturbed that the doors of the Presidential Villa were shut against him following his refusal to leave office.

    It was gathered that in the last two weeks, Mu’azu had limited access to the Villa signposting that the game was up.

    A top source, who spoke at about 6pm yesterday, said:

  • Muazu: Jonathan, Secondus, Dickson meet in Aso Rock

    Muazu: Jonathan, Secondus, Dickson meet in Aso Rock

    Few hours after the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Muazu resigned from office, Uche Secondus, who steps in as Acting Chairman, met with President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday behind closed-doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Secondus arrived the Presidential Villa around 5.15 p.m with Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.

    He acknowledged greetings from those who were congratulating him as the new PDP chairman.

    The meeting with the president is believed to be connected with the new development in the party.

    Secondus and Dickson walked out together from the President’s office around 6.17 p.m.

  • How Mu’azu, others ruined Jonathan’s chance, by Fani-Kayode

    How Mu’azu, others ruined Jonathan’s chance, by Fani-Kayode

    The Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has taken a swipe at the Adamu Mu’azu- led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

    According to him, Mu’azu and his NWC members are a disaster and that they must be sacked for the PDP to survive.

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja yesterday, Fani-Kayode said: “The present leadership of the party, particularly its information organs, have no chance of standing against an APC Federal Government because they are weak and they lack understanding and courage.

    “They will be savaged beyond belief and torn apart if they try it because they do not have the stomach, the grit, the appetite or the wherewithal for a long drawn fight.

    “They are simply incapable of defending the President and his legacies after he has left office and neither are the majority of them even ready to do so. Instead of focusing on their numerous inadequacies and trying to fix them, these very same people are hurling brick bats at others.

    “Instead of preparing to defend the party and enhancing the fortunes of the party members over the next four years, they are making childish and nonsensical allegations and alienating and upsetting many party leaders.”

    The NWC had blamed President Goodluck Jonathan’s defeat at the last election on the hate campaign initiated by the campaign organisation, saying the President’s campaign team ruined the President’s chances.

    Reacting to the crushing defeat the PDP recorded at the last election, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, complained that the NWC was sidelined in the campaign and that the entire campaign funds were placed under the control of the President’s campaign organisation.

    But Fani-Kayode described the claim as nonsensical and unadulterated rubbish, adding that their actions were fueled by hate and envy.

    He retorted: “What the NWC said about us is undoubtedly the unkindest cut of all. It is like Brutus’ betrayal of Julius Caesar. It is wicked, uncharitable and unacceptable and some of us will not take it.

    “What they need to understand and appreciate is that we will not sit by idly and allow them re-write history or make us the fall guys. The only reason we have not opened up on them is out of respect for President Jonathan and because we want to ensure that our party remains united.

    “They are indeed the enemy within. The truth is that their allegation is not only baseless but it is also unadulterated rubbish and those who made them are nothing but ingrates, cowards and traitors who know nothing about politics, political campaigns, intellectual discourse or political engagement.

    “They are simply trying to revise and re-write history in order to cover up their treachery, weaknesses and inadequacies. They are fueled by hate and envy and worse of all, right from the start, they had no interest in fighting for our leader and presidential candidate President Goodluck Jonathan or in ensuring that he won the election.

    “From day one, all they did was sulk about the fact that a Presidential Campaign Organisation had been set up and that they would not be able to have control of the campaign themselves or have access to the resources that we were given.

    “At every point, they tried to undermine our efforts and sabotage us but we ignored them and remained focused on doing our job despite their provocations.

    “From day one, all they were interested in was in controlling others and telling them what to do. They were not in the fray, they refused to enter the heat of battle and all they did was moan and bicker from the side walk like little children.

    “What we were doing and attempting to do was lost on them because they had never taken anything seriously and they found it hard to comprehend the logic and style of those of us that did.

    “Their arrogance was insufferable, they were an unmitigated disaster and their leadership style was abysmal. It still is. If any group of people were responsible for our loss, it was them.

    “They were envious of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation and its high profile and they are nothing but a bunch of bitter and treacherous ingrates who have no business leading a political party.

    “The lies, falsehood, innuendos and terrible stories that they are bandying around about us are just despicable and if they do not stop, they will divide the party and utterly destroy it.

    “That is the sad and bitter truth. In playing this game blame and pointing fingers at others, they are biting off far more than they can chew.

    “The fact is that the Presidential Campaign Organisation not only did an excellent job but we also fought a damn good fight. We fought a better fight than any other organ of the party had fought over the last two or three years against a relentless, well-funded, well-motivated and well-organised opposition.

    “Before the Presidential Campaign Orgaisation came into being, the PDP had virtually lost its voice and those that do not recognise this have obviously lost touch with reality.

    “Those that attack and cast aspersion on our character and blame us for the failure of our party and our president to win the election are not seeing things clearly.

    “They are hopelessly confused and they have no idea how political campaigns are conducted in the civilised world. Their accusations are not only baseless, but they are also self-serving”.

    Fani-Kayode maintained that retaining the present crop of the party’s elected officials would spell doom for the PDP and insisted that the honourable thing for them to do is to resign en mass.

    He went on: “We need a new leadership that is open, kind, fair-minded and accommodating. In order to achieve that, I must add my voice to that of a number of governors and other key stakeholders and leaders in our party who have said that the party’s National Working Committee must go. Sadly the NWC has become a clog in the wheel of progress.

    “They have much to learn from what the leadership of the Labour Party and the Liberal Democratic Party did in the U.K. just a couple of weeks ago when they resigned a few hours after losing the election to the Conservatives.

    “They resigned with honor and no-one had to ask them to go or call for their resignation. They did the right and proper thing because they are well educated people who have honor.

    “Sadly, the NWC members lack both education and honor otherwise they would have resigned by now. They are ignorant of the fact that when people lead a party into defeat they must resign to make way for others.

    “And when people tell them to resign they threaten them with suspension or expulsion from the party forgetting that there is life outside politics.

    “Not only have they refused to take the path of honor by resigning but they are also throwing bricks at those of us who raised the PDP flag and fought a good fight. Honestly it is sad and unbelievable.

    “In any other country these people would have been lambasted morning, day and night for their sheer effontry and ingratitude and for their inability to provide strong and decisive leadership. Yet here we just pamper and manage them and shy away from telling them the bitter truth.

    “The truth is that the NWC has to go and I add my voice to that of Governors Aliyu Babaginda, Sule Lamido, Ayodele Fayose and that of so many other people including the overwhelming majority of governors, party leaders and elders.

    “I am saying that there are needs to be a change at the top if the PDP is serious about forging party unity, restoring its fortunes, redeeming itself and winning any election in 2019.

    “I do not want to rock the boat out of respect for our President and our party elders. Otherwise, I would say a lot more that will shock the nation and the party faithful about the atrocities that these people have committed over the last few years”.

     

  • Court urged to restrain PDP from forcing out Mua’zu, NWC members

    Court urged to restrain PDP from forcing out Mua’zu, NWC members

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has been urged to restrain  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from compelling the party’s chairman, Adamu Mua’zu, and other members of its National Working Committee (NWC) to resign their position until the expiration of their tenure of office.

    The request is contained in a suit instituted by two members of the party, Tasiu Iliyasu Hussaini and Waziri Amadu.

    They, in suit filed yesterday, want the court to determine whether the PDP’s NWC could  be dissolved or its members forced to resign their positions without following require procedure lay down by the party’s constitution.

    The plaintiffs want the court to declare that the party’s NWC cannot be dissolved or force to resign their positions without following procedure.

    The plaintiffs asked the court to make an order restraining the party from directing Mua’zu and other NWC members from resigning their positions without following the prescribed procedure in the party’s constitution.

    They said the call for the resignation of the party’s NWC members will jeopardise the efforts of party members to reposition it for success in future elections.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

  • Bickering not in the interest of PDP, says Mu’azu

    •Party chairman: I’m abroad on medical advice

    THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has appealed to stakeholders and members of the party to put behind them the disappointment of defeat and misunderstandings.

    He advised the party faithful to put the survival and stability of the party ahead of all other considerations.

    Mu’azu, who spoke in a statement yesterday, said though the party’s defeat in the last general election was painful, members should key into the intervention by President Goodluck Jonathan and not allow the situation to further divide the party.

    The statement said: “The national leadership of the PDP has noted the various reactions that trailed the unfortunate loss of our great party in the last general elections.

    “In the last few weeks, the media have been fishing on these reactions with a section even blowing it out of proportion to a level that has become a threat to our oneness as a family.

    “As the national chairman and a key stakeholder in this party in the last 16 years, I quite understand and appreciate the concern, pain and frustrations of our members regarding our defeat.

    “I am also deeply worried about the division the development has generated within the PDP family, especially regarding whether or not the national leadership should be dissolved as a direct consequence of our collective challenge.

    “In the course of events, there have been reactions and counter-reactions among party members; mistakes have been made, some of them avoidable. But this is the time to put all of them behind us and move ahead as our party and its interest remain paramount and overriding.

    “Expectedly, our party has had a share of media bashing and misrepresentations, which contributed immensely to the misunderstanding we are facing in our fold.

    “For instance, in one of the press reactions from my office, the media quoted one of my aides as saying that our party will be “buried’ without the National Chairman, a clear deviation from what was actually said. Such misrepresentations of our party leaders also abound in the social media and we must be wary of them.

    “However, I have already issued a strong warning to all my aides to henceforth desist from making comments on matters of party administration in the media or any other forum whatsoever.

    “Having been a state governor on the platform of this party for eight years and having the grace of being a committed member for the past 16 years, I very much appreciate the reactions of some of our members like Governor Ayo Fayose, whose victory in Ekiti in June last year helped to strengthen our party, particularly in the Southwest region.

    “Nevertheless, in the larger interest of our party, we all must resolve to bury the hatchet, pick our pieces and move on to rebuild our party and return to our winning ways.

    “In the wisdom of leadership of the party, we have set the machinery in motion by the constitution and inauguration of the Post Election Assessment Committee headed by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    “The needful thing to do at the moment is for all hands to be on the deck with this committee to come up with meaningful report that will provide answers to our challenges and roadmap for the future.

    “Furthermore, my absence from the country lately has led to some apprehensions within the party resulting in various public interpretations. But the fact is, following the rigorous campaigns and its attendant toll on my health, I had to yield to the advice of my doctor to take a two-week bed rest for proper checks and recuperation. I am happy to inform all our members that I have been responding to care and will soon return to the country.

    “Finally, I wish to charge all members that though we have had our setback, we are not down and out. The PDP remains the largest political party in this country. What we need now more than ever before is to unite as therein lies our strength as a family.

    “Fighting ourselves will not yield anyone any good. Our members, therefore, must remain focused and join forces with their leaders at all levels to actualise our collective quest to rebuild the PDP and reposition it to regain power in 2019”.

     

  • Mu’azu to Fayose: your allegations are baseless

    Mu’azu to Fayose: your allegations are baseless

    All efforts being made to halt the raging post-poll crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seem to be futile.

    The verbal war goes on, despite the warning by Senate President David Mark that the party risks death, given the bickering among its leaders.

    Yesterday, National chairman Adamu Muazu took a swipe at Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose for alleging that his betrayal contributed to the abysmal failure of the ruling party and its candidate President Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential poll.

    Fayose, calling for the sack of the National Working Committee (NWC) members, said he had evidence that Muazu worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. He threatened to make the evidence public.

    A bitter Mu’azu on his twitter handle yesterday, taunted the governor. In a series of tweets, he said: “Fayose: I have evidence that Mu’azu worked for APC. We hope it’s not the kind of evidence he once said he had that Buhari was dying?

    “We challenge Governor Fayose to come out with the evidence that shows National Chairman worked for APC during the elections.

    “On Governor Fayose’s allegations, they are baseless & unfounded. We will continue to support him and the good people of Ekiti State.

    “We must provide a responsible and credible opposition to the incoming government. Together Nigeria will be great.

    “I am willing to work with all members and organs of our great party to begin a new journey of trust and sincerity with the Nigerian people.

    “In our desire to correct all wrongs & negative impressions about our party, I am calling on Nigerians to partner with us.

    But things will change now. Power truly belongs to the people and we are giving it back to them.”

    Debunking speculations that he may dump the PDP for the APC, Mu’azu said: “I am too principled to betray my party. I have been here since 1999”.

    Fayose had wondered why Mu’azu, the Minister of the Federal capital territory Bala Mohammed and Governor Isa Yuguda – all from Bauchi State –  failed to deliver the state to President Jonathan. But Mu’azu responded: it’s the people that vote.

    “I have repeatedly reminded many that I, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, have been in the PDP since 1999 as a matter of principle and strong ideology,” he said.

  • Mu’azu fires back at Fayose

    Mu’azu fires back at Fayose

    … Says, Governor’s allegations baseless, unfounded

    The National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu, on Thursday took a swipe on Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for alleging that he betrayed the party during the March 28 presidential poll.

    Fayose while calling for the sack of all PDP leaders who failed to deliver their territories for President Goodluck Jonathan in the last election, had claimed that he had evidence Mu’azu worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Embittered by the Governor’s outburst, the Chairman who recalled Fayose’s pre-election claim that he had evidence Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, was dying, said hopes Fayose wasn’t telling another lie.

    In the messages posted on his twitter handle, @muazuaa, the PDP chairman challenged Fayose to provide the evidence that he (Mu’azu) worked against his party.

    The PDP chief described Fayose’s claim as baseless and unfounded, noting that he did his best for President Jonathan.

    According to him, those clamouring for change in the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) were the same people who contributed to the party’s defeat through their insincerity and praise-singing.

    He said: ” Fayose: I have evidence that Mu’azu worked for APC. We hope it’s not the kind of evidence he once said he had that Buhari was dying?

    “We challenge Governor Fayose to come out with the evidence that shows that the National Chairman worked for APC during the elections.

    “On Governor Fayose’s allegations, they are baseless and unfounded. We will continue to support him and the good people of Ekiti State.

    “We must provide a responsible and credible opposition to the incoming government. Together Nigeria will be great.

    “I am willing to work with all members and organs of our great party to begin a new journey of trust and sincerity with the Nigerian people.

    “In our desire to correct all wrongs and negative impressions about our party, I am calling on Nigerians to partner with us.

    “But things will change now. Power truly belongs to the people and we are giving it back to them.”

    Debunking speculations that he may dump the PDP for the APC, Muazu said the incoming ruling party has nothing to offer him, adding “I am too principled to betray my party. I have been here since 1999.”

    He explained that the PDP lost in the north because the perception about President Jonathan and the PDP had been at all time low.

     

  • Mu’azu, others must go – Fayose

    Mu’azu, others must go – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has launched an attack on the Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), insisting that they must go.

    The governor in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, accused Mu’azu of selling out to the opposition at the last general election.

    Fayose wondered why PDP heavyweights like Mu’azu, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed and Governor Isa Yuguda failed to deliver their home state of Bauchi to the party despite the enormous resources at their disposal.

    He argued that Mu’azu must quit his position as the National Chairman on account of the crushing defeat suffered by the party at the general election, likening the party chairman to a war commander who lost a battle and must give way to another commander.

    While demanding evidence of the funds the national leadership of the party claimed he collected, the governor said he only received N30 million for last general election which he delivered to the party.

    Fayose maintained that his demand for Mu’azu and others’ resignation was done in good faith and in the overall interest of the party saying, “I have no apology on my position on the NWC because their responsibility as a party does not take away their failure in the last general election.”