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Tag: nPDP

  • Adamu to APC: Ignore antics of nPDP

    A former governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Thursday asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ignore the antics of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP).

    Adamu said that the group’s claim of marginalization and insistence on meeting with President Muhamadu Buhari was to blackmail, intimidate and ambush the President and the party.

    Adamu who is also chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture stated this in a statement issued in Abuja ahead of the national convention of the APC.

    He commended President Buhari for refusing to interfere in the nPDP issue, which, according to him, was receiving the attention of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the leadership of the party.

    He insisted that it was time the party ignored what he described as “the deliberate attempts by some persons in the APC to distract President Buhari’s focus on governance.”

    He noted that his admonition was against the backdrop of the recent decision of some people to resurrect the platform of the defunct new nPDP to fight their personal battles.

    Adamu said, “I belonged to the nPDP; and, as I had said before, there was nowhere we held a meeting to resurrect the group for the purpose of protesting alleged marginalization of our former members by the APC-led federal government. Apart from that, the basis of the group’s allegation is tenuous.”

    Adamu, who also north central zone’s coordinator for Buhari’s presidential campaign, said that the latest media report of President Buhari’s resolve not to interfere in the APC’s leadership meeting with the nPDP was a welcome development.

    He said that Buhari’s position that Vice President Osinbajo and the party leadership should interface with the nPDP was salutary to the supremacy of the APC.

    Adamu stated, “While the antics of the so-called nPDP to portray the Buhari administration as being unfair to the group in its appointments are reprehensible. I commend the President’s governance style and his litany of progressive decisions that are in tandem with the collective aspirations of our party.”

    He commended Buhari signing the 2018 budget into law despite its shortcomings and about 200 days after the presentation of the fiscal estimates to the National Assembly due to its tardy consideration and passage of the money bill.

    Adamu who said that it was disingenuous for the nPDP to create the impression that the Buhari administration had been partial in its appointments, noted that nothing could be farther from the truth.

    According to him, “If, however, the group’s ultimate agenda is to prepare the ground to pull out of the APC at the national convention or thereafter, I have good news for our teeming members nationwide: it is a notorious fact that some of the people concerned have already started jumping from one side of the aisle to the other in the chamber without a formal declaration of defection.”

    He said, “Time shall tell whether or not these persons actually count for something in the bigger picture of Mr. President’s bid to have his presidential mandate renewed by Nigerians who are enamored by his anti-corruption war and his integrity in government.”

    On the national convention, Adamu underscored the need for party members and leaders to keep their eyes sharply-focused on the ball, saying “our goal is to strengthen our party ahead of the crucial 2019 general elections and, therefore, all hands must be on deck to achieve this important feat through excellent management of the convention.”

    Adamu commended the Convention Planning Committee for a good job that it has done so far and urged all candidates and delegates to cooperate with and support the committee to deliver on its assignment.

    He wished the party a successful convention and expressed belief in the capacity of the party, under the leadership of President Buhari, to organise a convention whose outcomes would be acceptable to both winners and losers.

  • nPDP as sword of Damocles

    DESPITE appearing to be the antitypical Nigerian politician, what with his coldness, truculence and terseness, President Muhammadu Buhari has shown himself somewhat deft in political manipulation and showiness. He has turned the All Progressives Congress (APC) inside out, played ducks and drakes with the affections of the party’s leading lights, used carrots and sticks against whomsoever he wills, kept caucuses of his kitchen cabinet at daggers drawn, and now seems set at disembowelling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its renegade faction, the new PDP (nPDP), infamously embedded in the ruling party.

    No one in the APC can fail to see the nPDP as the sword of Damocles poised to decapitate both the president and his party. But tired of watching the party suffer nights of agonies, unsure when the sword would come crashing down, the president and his close aides have taken the battle to nPDP, especially its chief priest, Senate President Bukola Saraki. In the early tentative days of the Buhari presidency, Dr Saraki faced the growling Code of Conduct Tribunal, which tried amateurishly to impale him upon their sharp anti-graft spikes. But that seemed nothing but mere practice.

    In recent months, the police have proved a far more potent tool to put the senate president’s nose out of joint by accusing and investigating him for sundry crimes, including sponsoring killer cults. When that seemed a little far-fetched, the now famous April robbery incident in Offa, Kwara State, has come in handy as a battering ram. That robbery was perhaps the bloodiest in Nigerian history, with about 33 people shot dead by the robbers, among whom were some nine policemen. A few of the robbers were discovered by the police to be connected in one way or the other with Dr Saraki. Against the protestations of some of the victims of the April 5, 2018 robbery, the police have sworn to pursue Dr Saraki to his last warren to prove that the so-called connections, no matter how tenuous, are more real and substantial than they first appear.

    It is clear that neither the president nor his party is willing to stay interminably, sweatily and tremulously, under the nPDP sword of Damocles. But whether they are going about lifting the threat, or siege, with considerable legal and institutional decorum is a different matter entirely. What is important is that the president and his party are tired of the threat, and they are more than willing to confront their worst nightmare, decorum be damned. Dr Saraki himself, not to say his co-travellers, know that the nPDP and the APC are in an endgame. The only problem is that no one knows, or perhaps cares, how the chips may fall. For the APC, it should end fittingly in the total annihilation of Dr Saraki, especially. They wait for him to dare execute his defection plans. And for the nPDP and Dr Saraki, they can’t wait for the much foretold implosion in the APC. What is certain is that both combatants have crossed the Rubicon. Something’s, therefore, got to give; and someone’s got to lose. And it won’t be long, alas.

  • nPDP suspends talks with presidency, APC over persecution of Saraki, others

    Following persecution of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and withdrawal of security aides of the principal officers of the National Assembly, the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) has suspended reconciliation talks with the presidency and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The nPDP said it was also angered by the decision of the APC leadership to go ahead with the ratification of all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zones where many of its members had complaints.

    It alleged that the Presidency was not interested in the talks and might have been negotiating in bad faith.

    It described the prevailing political environment in the country as “fouled and toxic.”

    “Based on the alleged infractions, the nPDP said it might not be available for talks unless good faith returns to the discussions.

    The scheduled session of all the parties in Abuja on Monday was aborted because of the protest

    The decision of the nPDP was contained in a statement issued by its chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

    The statement said: “The public may recall that there have been ongoing talks between members of the former nPDP, the APC and the Presidency in recent days.

    “Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and four others, were to meet with the Vice President, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo today.

    “However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general elections, it  appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.

    “We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice President last week, the presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.

    “Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the Congresses from ward, local governments, states and zonal where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.”

    The nPDP said it was unfortunate that its members were being persecuted with state security apparatchik.

    It faulted the implication of Saraki and Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, in the armed robbery attack in Offa.

    The statement added: “The persecution of our members using state security apparatus have continued unabated.

    “We recognize the powers of the police to conduct criminal investigations but by rushing to the public with the issue even when they have unfettered access to the leadership of the National Assembly suggests an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the legislature.

    “It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks given the unfolding events in the last 24 hours, where the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice President on Monday 28 May, 2018, have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the police under the directives of the Presidency.”

     

  • APC National Chairmanship Race: Why I am not re-contesting – Oyegun

    Barely 24 hours after his decision not to seek re-election, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun said the interest and future of the party, rather than personal gains informed his decision not to re-contest the position of national chairman of the party.

    He dismissed speculations that he may have been intimidated out of the race to retain his position in the party leadership, saying he believed that it was in the interest of the party that does not add to the existing problems.

    Oyegun also dismissed speculations making the round that members of the nPDP were plotting to leave the party, saying the may have chosen this time in the nation’s polity to present their complaints in other to get a good bargain and not necessarily because they want to leave the party.

    The APC Chairman who spoke on the two issues for the first time at an interactive session with Journalists at his residence said those fronting former Edo State state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for the position may have been doing so based on the resolution of the National Executive Committee of the party to regain the current zoning formula in the party.

    Oyegun said: “I wasn’t intimidated out. I took into consideration and I was influenced by my own consideration of what is in the best interest of the party. I have relatively been stubborn and I have been through intense pressure. You are in the media and you know how intense it was that Oyegun must go. I held to the point of principle.

    Read Also: Breaking: I will not seek second term – Oyegun

    “What makes me so glad today is that in all the virility of the attacks and the intensity of the attacks, it was easy to locate it.it was easy to see that by and large, the top leadership of the party were on my side. That is the thing that gave me the most intense satisfaction.

    “So, I wasn’t intimidate out. I just felt we should let somebody else bring some different Air into the system. That was all. It is in the interest of the party that I do not become the problem or the major part of the problem for the party to solve.

    “As for anybody coming in, the contest is open. The man you mentioned has indicated his interest and it is left to the party. There is nothing to dialogue about. You offer yourself for service because you think you have fresh ideas or a new sense of direction or whatever is legitimate. It doesn’t matter where you come from.

    “Again, if you go back to the NEC decision, it said, to the greatest extent possible, the existing zoning should be maintained. What that meant is that since the chairmanship is located in Edo State, the high possibility is that they will also be looking for somebody to replace him from Edo State.”

    Chief Oyegun also said he does not feel betrayed b6 the fac5 that the APC governors who initially stood behind him suddenly dumped him and jumped into the Oshiomhole project.

    He said “As a matter of fact, the reality is that I felt very proud that most of the structures of the party had lined up behind me. But when the reality changed, it is only legitimate that people should make fresh assessment of the new development, decide and act accordingly.

    “For me, if I didn’t make a fresh assessment, I probably would not he saying the things that I am saying right now. It is only normal that in a situation of change, things should change especially when you are faced with new realities. In that situation, the governors and myself, the affected party had to do a fresh rethink.

    Speaking on the crisis in the party at various levels as a result of congresses already conducted, he said “Maybe the so called tenure elongation would not have been such a bad thing afterall. Let us face it. We have finished the congresses and now going for the convention.

    “At the end of the convention, we are also going to have a series of contests in terms of primaries, terminating with the presidential. It is not an ideal situation to confront an election.

    “But what has happened has happened. What any leader must do now is to best manage the realities that exist and out the party in the best possible fighting shape for the 2019 elections. That is something that we must undertake. It is not a matter of choice, but a matter we must undertake.

    “The next few weeks and months will be time for reconciliations, times for consensus building, times for taking care of aggrieved parties within the fold. It does happen with every political contest. It is after that, that you start the fence mending.

    “The APC is one of the most incredible parties in the country today. It is a progressive party and I want you to look around the world. All progressive parties, their hallmark is the contestations of views and approaches to how thing should be done.

    “It is like that all over the world, whether it is Democratic Party, the Labour Party or any other party. That does not mean that the party is constantly in a state of crisis. What is important is that you truly don’t get major blocks within the party that say they want to head out inspite of what has happened.

    “Instead, we are still getting influx of members, including serving members of the national Assembly that are coming in. So, it is a life party, it is virile party and a party where ideas are strongly ad hotly contested and that is healthy. You can’t wish for anything better.”

    He dismissed reports credited to Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha that he (Oyegun) was witch hunting him (Okorocha) because he opposed tenure elongation, the APC Chairman said “Well, the processes are still on, so, it is not good to answer you in detail.

    “But the answer lies in one fact which is the fact that he is not the only one who opposed the so called tenure elongation. How come he is the only one who is being witch hunted? He wasn’t even the strongest proponent or force behind the objection to tenure elongation. So, why is his case different?

    “That is the question that you ask yourself. I don’t think it is necessary to go into the details. When you look at the totality of the event in that state, I think you can get a clearer picture of what is going on because there is a united voice calling for a different way of doing things.”

    Oyegun also spoke on the decision of party leaders in the south east to endorse the three members of the National Working Committee from the area to return, saying “the party constitution allow you two terms just like it allows me two terms.

    “But I have exercise my option by not offering myself for a second term. As a matter of fact, when the details comes out in the next few days, you will see that most of the states in the north returned most of their executives because they have only had one term and that one term has had its issues.

    “Also, we did not want to create a situation where we will lose most of our experienced hands who worked for victory in the first term and are still available to work for victory for the second term. At the end of the day, you totally don’t throw away the winning team.”

    Also speaking for the first time on the demands of the Kawu Baraje led nPDP, Chief Oyegun said “The process is still ongoing and until we reach understanding with them, it won’t be right to comment. But I think that we tend to have read too much that is negative into their act.

    “I just have a feeling that like all people who want the best terms for themselves, they come at a period when they think it is advantageous for them. Given the state of the polity, I supposed they choose this time not because they want to leave the APC or because they were fed up with the APC or cause trouble within the APC, but because they want a good deal for themselves given the totality of what is going on in the party.

    “So, we have accepted their protest in good faith and we are seating down with them to work out something that will be mutually beneficial to both interests.”

  • Osinbajo, nPDP to meet Monday

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday that the meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will resume on Monday, to discuss specific demands put forward by the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led group.

    APC Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Lawal Shuaibu, who spoke on the issue, however, denied that the new PDP members demanded that the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal he stopped during their meeting with the Vice President.

    Shuaibu, who is leading the party in the discussion with the aggrieved party members, said the meeting between the Vice President, the party and the new PDP members agreed to reconvene with smaller delegation to discuss specific issues brought forward by the groups.

    He said a smaller group of eight persons comprising the Vice President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Deputy National Chairman (North) and five representatives of the former nPDP members.

    According to him, Monday’s meeting which had in attendance 20 former nPDP members focused on ‘general discussions’. “The next meeting scheduled for next Monday will go into the business of discussing the former nPDP specific demands,” he said.

  • Saraki: my CCT trial not part of nPDP, APC talks

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday said his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal was never part of Monday’s reconciliation talks between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP).

    He said he was prepared to allow his trial to run its full course at the tribunal instead of engaging in any negotiation.

    Also, the chairman of the nPDP,  a bloc within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alh. Abubakar Kawu Baraje, warned against comments and disclosures that could derail the reconciliation talks within the ruling party.

    He said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has asked all parties to the discussions to avoid a media war.

    He also said the discontinuation of Saraki’s trial was not part of the talks by the Presidency, nPDP and APC leaders.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, faulted the insinuations that the discontinuation of his trial came up at the session with the Vice President.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has been drawn to the front page headline in the May 30, 2018, edition of The Nation newspaper – ‘Ex-nPDP: stop Saraki’s trial’. The body of the story was contained on Page 6 of the newspaper.

    “Ordinarily, Dr. Saraki would have ignored the story as he has done in the cases of other speculative ones concerning the on-going discussions between the new People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government published by the newspaper, but since this story specifically mentioned an issue concerning him and the newspaper is associated both in ownership and viewpoint with a section of the APC leadership, it may be perceived to have some level of authenticity.

    “The trial of Dr. Saraki over asset declaration issues which is now before both the Supreme Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) was never part of the discussions over the grievances of the nPDP leaders and all those who attended the meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo can attest to this.

    “The issues being discussed between the nPDP and the APC leaderships are beyond personal matters.”

    The Senate President said he was not interested in any out of court settlement of the case before the CCT.

    The statement added: “Saraki will want it known that he is not interested in any settlement of the asset declaration case outside the judicial process.

    “ He is confident that the court will give him justice and he will be exonerated of all charges as can be seen by the verdicts of the CCT and the Court of Appeal. In fact, he maintains his earlier position that the trial was politically and maliciously motivated.

    “The Senate President’s only concern is that all interested parties should allow the judiciary to freely and fairly decide on the issues before it.

    “Saraki believes in the rule of law, independence of the judiciary and ability of the court to adjudicate on all matters.

    “The Senate President has consistently exhibited a strong belief that nobody should compromise national interest with personal issues.

    “And this has guided his actions, conduct and utterances in the performance of his official duties in the last three years, despite the persistent persecution and intimidation directed at him.

    “While urging Nigerians to ignore the speculations contained in The Nation’s story, Dr. Saraki maintains that there is no reason for him to depart from his avowed principle that the nation is greater than any individual, including himself.”

    In a statement  from his media office in Ilorin , the Kwara State capital, Baraje said there was no mention of anybody’s case at the said meeting .

    The statement said: “I want to warn that if this is the way we want to handle the issue by creating bad blood against our group, through the media, it will not augur well for them and we are therefore warning that blasphemy and arrant lies cannot resolve the matter  at hand.

    “I want to also disclose that at the last meeting, the vice president requested and appealed to us that we should all keep our mouth shut until we reach the final stuck, that’s why we are  not talking  to the press. “

    According to him, if the media houses concerned did not stop this blasphemy, particularly, The Nation newspaper , the issue will be very difficult to solve.

    Baraje threatened that he or the group will take any news media to court for what he called blasphemy .

    Baraje also said that he read in an online publication where they quoted an individual that he (Baraje) was occupying a juicy position of a parastatal and vehemently declared that he had never occupied any position in any board under the present administration or paved the way for any position for that matter as the thinking of the man in question is an assumption from his own end.

    “I have been existing and living in accordance with my own legal means for the past three years and I’m not complaining. The complaint we are raising is that all the issues we raised when we left PDP  are now resurfacing, particularly lack of rule of law , and that there is total anarchy that the government does things as it likes against anybody which was happening in PDP when we left.”

    Baraje said that the group was “not fighting for themselves or for the selfish interest of some individuals among them but rather for members of the public.

    “Some people should not turn it to be a personal fight but that of the Nigerian masses and for good governance, against anarchy, arrogance.

    “We are also fighting against poor economy where an average Nigerian is hungry and government seems to be doing nothing and we are also fighting against insecurity where lives and property of Nigerians are in jeopardy.

    “If a section of the media is trying to make it personal and want to see it as if we are fighting for our own sake, it will not augur well for the peace of the APC.”

  • We can’t confirm whether we’ll stay in APC, says nPDP

    Members of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said it is too early to say whether they will remain members of the APC.

    The spokesman of the group, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, told reporters after they met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, that” there is an understanding that is developing. There will also be further consultations”.

    The nPDP members recently wrote to the APC, protesting alleged marginalization and victimisation of its members.

    Copies of the letter were sent to the President and the Vice President.

    Baraje said: “So the party has invited us earlier on and now it is the turn of the Vice President, probably the next one will be the President.”

    Asked  if they were satisfied with the discussion with the Vice President, Baraje said: “So far so good. We are looking forward to some of the promises. There will be other meetings because we have been put into subcommittees and then we will identify specific and general problems and then we will proceed to see Mr. President. But it was a very good meeting.”

    Asked if they will no longer quit the party, he said: “It is too early to say.”

    Osinbajo led the government delegation. Senate President Bukola Saraki led the nPDP delegation.

    Others in the government delegation are: APC Deputy National Chairman (North) Lawal Shuaibu, Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President Ade Ipaye and National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno.

    On the nPDP side House of Represnetatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, Senator Barnabas Gemade, Senator Danjuma Goje and some members of the House.

  • nPDP members’ marginalization claim false – Ganduje

    Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Monday dismissed claim of marginalization by some members of the nPDP in the All Progressive Congress (APC), saying all of them have benefited tremendously from the present administration.

    Ganduje, who is also a member of the nPDP caucus that dissolved into the APC, said he was astonished by such claims.

    He insisted that all of them are being carried along by the present administration.

    Ganduje, who stated these during a media parley at Government House in Kano, said people like the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have no reason to complain about anything.

    He said: “Some few members of the nPDP  (which is not even a group in that nomenclature, because now we are one in the APC) went to the party’s national secretariat and presented a paper that they were marginalized.

    “The majority of the defunct nPDP (which I am a member) also went to the national secretariat to mention that those that were there earlier in the name of nPDP were not the true representatives of the nPDP. Also, we indicated that we are not part of those who are being marginalized.

    “I will give you an analysis that will show that they are not being marginalized. First of all, the Senate President is from the defunct nPDP, he is now the Senate President. He controls very important Committees in which he singlehandedly approved chairmen of 30 committees. That is not marginalization.

    “You have the governor of Kwara State who is also a member of the nPDP. He has a whole government. How can he say he is marginalized?

    “You have the Speaker of House of Representatives who is a member of the nPDP and a Speaker under the banner of APC. How can he say he is being marginalized? He controls lucrative committees. He appoints the chairmen and membership of the Committees singlehandedly without interference from the executive. How can he say he is being marginalized?

    “So, if you take this issue one by one, you can see that the issue of marginalization is not there. Therefore, we the majority of the nPDP are disclaiming the allegation and we believe that we are not being marginalized.

    “The Governor of Adamawa state is nPDP and he is now a governor. I am from nPDP and I am now a governor. We have most of  us from the nPDP who are Senators and House of Representative members.

    “So, I believe that there must be something underground. You know Mr. President is facing a difficult moment, corruption is fighting back. So, you will soon see why marginalization is coming out now. This is not the issue of marginalization, this is the issue of corruption fighting back. So, you will see what will happen.”

  • nPDP lists fresh grievances ahead talks with Osinbajo

    APC, faction leaders target three-week timeline to resolve crisis

    •Kicks over conduct of state congresses •As Osinbajo gets set to meet Saraki, Dogara, Tambuwal, others •Party leaders target two-three week timeline to resolve issues

    Aggrieved leaders of the nPDP component of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have compiled a fresh list of complaints which they want the ruling party to resolve immediately.

    The additional grievances are expected to be tabled at a crucial meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and leaders of the nPDP in Abuja today or tomorrow.

    Top of the new list of complaints are grudges about the conduct of the recent state congresses of the party and alleged refusal of the party leadership to stamp its feet on parallel congresses in some states, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    The original complaint is alleged marginalization of nPDP members in the sharing of positions and patronage.

    The nPDP had, in a letter, given the APC leadership a one week ultimatum to address the issue failing which they threatened to dump the ruling party.

    The upcoming meeting with the VP is the latest of the efforts to resolve the crisis in the ruling APC.

    It is coming ahead of a two/three week timeline agreed by both parties during previous discussions to address the nPDP grievances.

    A source called it an “upscale follow up to the earlier meeting with the APC leadership.”

    Shedding light on the agenda of the planned meeting, the source said: “our grievances have increased to include the following:

    o Grudges on the conduct of state congresses

    o Alleged refusal of the party leadership to stamp its feet on parallel congresses in some states

    o In the constitution of the Federal Executive Council, (FEC) the nPDP block was generally sidelined as virtually no position was conceded to it. The only member of FEC that belongs to it comes from a state that contributed virtually no vote to the APC in the 2015 presidential elections.

    oThere has been no significant patronage and appointment to executive positions in various government agencies such as Chief Executives and Executive Directors of government agencies and parastatals as members of our block of the party continue to watch helplessly as these positions are shared to erstwhile CPC, ACN, ANPP and even APGA blocks of the party and those who have no party at all.

    o In appointments into boards of various government agencies, very few former New PDP members are patronized. These are however not commensurate with our contribution to the growth and victory of the party.

    o When members of the nPDP block showed interest in running for the offices of President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, they were subjected to a vicious and relentless political opposition as if they were not legitimate members of the APC family.

    o During the party primaries preparatory to the 2015 General Elections, most of the promises made to sitting members of the National Assembly, who belonged to nPDP in terms of a level playing field were reneged upon or observed more in breach.

    oThere has been a general lack of consultation, non-recognition and even persecution of nPDP members and leaders by the party and government. For example, some of our leaders are denied the security cover necessary to visit their constituencies even though they are elected representatives of the people in a government they sacrificed so much for.

    oHarassment, intimidation and persecution of nPDP leaders by the government, is still an ongoing affair. We do not want to over state the obvious by cataloguing names of nPDP stalwarts that are targets of this political pogrom.

    Expected at the planned session with the VP are Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara; Sokoto State  Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, ex-Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ex-Governor Murtala Nyako, ex-Chairman of nPDP,  Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, senators, members of  the House of Representatives and other top leaders of nPDP.

    A strong member of nPDP Senator Aliyu Wammako is not likely to attend as he is currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, Umrah.

    “After the engagement with the APC leadership, we were told that there will be a meeting either on Sunday or Monday with the Vice President,” the source said.

    He added: “this is a high-level session which will involve the key actors in nPDP like Saraki, Dogara, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso,Wammako, Nyako, Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    “I think ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar might not be involved because he seems to have made up his mind to foreclose any talks with the presidency and the APC leadership.

    “This is a continuation of the ongoing engagement between the APC leadership and nPDP leaders on the way forward.”

    The source explained that the two sides agreed on a timeline of two to three weeks to resolve all issues raised by nPDP.

    “The APC wanted a three-week timeframe,” the source said.

    “At the last meeting of nPDP, there was a suggestion that Baraje should report back to nPDP in one week but leaders later agreed on a two-week timeline.”

    The source also clarified that the May 23, 2018 session was not attended by only nPDP members but by also aggrieved party leaders, Senators and Representatives from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The meeting was specifically attended by those who have concerns about state congresses. Some of us, who are not members of nPDP Caucus, went to the meeting because we were dissatisfied with the outcome of the congresses in our states.

    “Some of us had peculiarities in our states which the APC leadership has not addressed. It was a cocktail of lamentations over the conduct of the congresses.”

    The concerns were over the credibility of the exercise.

    “We agreed that we need to interact with the party to see whether or not it can ameliorate the situation before the next steps by the disappointed stakeholders.

    “But at the session, Baraje was asked to brief the gathering. He told us how they went to APC and were attended to by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu and the National Secretary of the party, Mallam Mai Mala Buni.

    “He told us that the engagement process was still ongoing. It was then members were trying to prevail on Baraje to report back in one week and decide on the next line of action. But the majority opted for a two-week grace.”

    Baraje, in a statement, only confirmed that he had briefed nPDP leaders at a session on May 23 on the interaction with APC leadership.

    He said: “Nigerians may recall that members of the former

    New PDP Block within the All Progressives Congress (APC) addressed a letter dated April 27, 2018 to the Chairman of APC where we informed the party of our grievances and expectations from both the party and government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Following this development, the party invited us and we honoured their invitation for a meeting. We met with the leadership of the party last week during which we resolved to report the outcome of our meeting to our members and stakeholders before arriving at any decision or proceeding with the next phase of discussions or actions with the APC and government.

    “I am glad to inform you therefore that we have briefed our members at a meeting convened in Abuja on Wednesday, 23rd May 2018 where we reviewed the state of the nation and our party, APC and constituted Committees on various issues especially on how to rescue Nigeria from economic, social, political and especially security challenges.

    “The meeting was well attended by members of the nPDP including serving and former Governors, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and other aggrieved APC stakeholders.

    “Those that attended the meeting include: Sen. Abubakar

    Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, Yakubu Dogara,

    Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Rabiu M.  Kwankwaso, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Admiral Murtala Nyako (Rtd), Sen. Mohammad Adamu Aliero, Sen. Danjuma Goje, Sen. John Owan Enoh, Sen. Emmanuel Andy Uba, Sen. Ibrahim Gobir, Sen. Rufai Ibrahim, Sen. Ibrahim A. Danbaba, Sen.  Suleman Nazif, Sen. Isa Hamma Misau, Sen. Muhammed Ubali Shitu, Sen. Shehu Sani, Sen. Dino Melaye, Sen. Suleiman O. Hunkuyi, Sen. Shaaba Lafiagi, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Sen. David Umaru, Sen. Barnabas Gemade, Alh. Abubakar K. Baraje, Chairman former nPDP, Rep. Aminu S. Shagari, Rep. Kabiru Marafa Achida, Isa M. Ashiru, Muh’d Musa Soba, Mark Gbillah, Sani Mohd Rano, Garba Umar Durbunde, Aliyu Madaki, Zakari Mohammed, Rufai Ahmed Chachangi, Razak Atunwa, Emmanuel M. Udende, Hassan Saleh, Nasiru Garo Sule, Orker Jev, Aliyu Ahman Pategi, Isah Halilu B., Rabiu Garba Kaugama, Abdussamad Dasuki, Ismaila A. Gadaka, Lado

    Suleja, Dickson Tarkighir, Babatunde Kolawole, Dr. Bode

    Ayorinde, U. Danjuma Shida, Danburam Nuhu, Sunday

    Adepoju, Sani Zorro, Ahmed Garba Bichi, Garba Ibrahim Mohammed and a host of others.”

     

  • APC, nPDP in talks to avert Saraki, Dogara, others exit

    NWC meeting with Baraje, other ex-PDP leaders ‘not to negotiate’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are to meet today with leaders of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) over their grievances.

    A group of APC members led by one-time Acting PDP National Chairman Kawu Baraje, claiming marginalisation of its members by the APC-led Federal Government a fortnight ago, gave the party a one-week deadline to meet with it and address its grievances.

    Although another group of ex-PDP members, led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu and House of Representatives member Abdumumin Jibrin, told the party to call the bluff of the Baraje-led group, it was learnt yesterday that the leadership opted to discuss with the Baraje group so as not to be accused of lack of fairness.

    The party was said to be aware that some of the nPDP leaders had made up their minds to defect from the ruling party, but wanted to give those protesting the opportunity to air their grievances. The outcome of the meeting will be presented to the Presidency and other organs of the party for consideration, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said.

    Among those suspected to be planning their exit are Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    Yesterday in Ilorin, Baraje confirmed that his group had been invited to a meeting in Abuja today with the party leadership.

    Baraje said: “The last time we met here (Baraje’s house) in 2016, I told you that the way the party was going on we were on the road to perdition.

    “If you look at the letter  we wrote,  we never said we gave ultimatum but that we advised them;  we hinted the party because  of the ongoing  primaries of the party. Now the party has invited us, exactly on the seventh day of the letter and they  wanted us to meet  that same day but because we were speaking for several leaders across the country we told them we couldn’t meet that same day; so now they have scheduled  a meeting for tomorrow (Monday)  anytime from 2pm.”

    He dismissed the opposition to the group led by Adamu, saying the nPDP is such a large group that it cannot but have some dissent.

    “We have travelled a long way with the APC and now we are seeing things worse in APC than in PDP. If we are leaders worth the name we should be bold enough to speak about it,” Baraje said.

    The NWC member said: “We asked the nPDP leaders to come for interaction on their letter to shed more light on their grievances, collate facts and figures and get their opinions on the way forward.

    “He who alleges must prove. We want to get the facts and figures on the allegations they have put in the public domain.

    “We have also invited the nPDP leaders to give them a sense of fair hearing in order not to give them any justification for leaving APC.

    “The truth is that politics is about dialogue, shifting grounds, and finding solutions to issues.”

    Asked of the next step after today’s meeting, the source added: “We will relate the outcome to our leaders in the Presidency, the NWC and all other organs of the party.

    “At the end of the day, we will take a decision on the way out.”

    Another NWC member said: “We know some of the nPDP leaders have made up their minds to leave APC, no matter the nature of dialogue we have with them.

    “This meeting with them is not negotiation in any form whatsoever. We do not have the mandate of the organs of the party to negotiate with them. We need to clear the air before they mislead the public.

    “They are party elders and we will be fair and equitable to hear their side before briefing other organs of APC.”

    Lending credence the feeling that some of the nPDP members are already on their way out of the APC, Baraje said: “Let me warn that every politician has aspirations, either as individuals or as a group. And every politician will go to where his aspirations will be fulfilled.”

    He, however, added that the group was working for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has declared his ambition for the 2019 elections and those of us in APC are desirous of his victory. That necessitated the letter we wrote. What we are saying in the letter is that for us to win big in the election is to review and revisit all the agreements we have reached with one another in APC. We are only reminding the party.

    “We are desirous that Buhari wins, are desirous that our party wins the presidential election and the only way we can do it is to ensure that everybody is carried along. This is the right time for those of us who are aggrieved to complain so that we do not carry the grievances to elections period. It is not as if we are rebelling,” Baraje said.

    He urged the party leadership to disregard the Adamu group:

    Baraje lamented what he called the high rate of internal  conflicts within the ruling APC, which has culminated in “parallel state congresses in about 21 states”. He said contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the nPDP’s letter to the leadership of the APC was to forestall such occurrences.

    Other members of the former nPDP in the APC believed to be aagrieved and being wooed by the PDP and other political parties are Governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara). Ot

    There are also  Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso, Dino Melaye, Danjuma Goje, Adamu Aliero, Shehu Sani, Suleiman Nazif, Aliyu Wamako, Hamisu Misau, Sani Yerima and some House of Representatives members.

    Baraje is Saraki’s political acolyte.

    Former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, one of the signatories to the nPDP’s letter to the APC leadership, has resigned from the ruling party to join former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s African Democratic Congress (ADC). He was the coordinator of the Coalition for New Nigeria floated by the former President before it fused with the ADC.