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Tag: PDP governors

  • PDP Governors kick against relocation of election tribunals from Rivers, Taraba, Akwa Ibom

    PDP Governors kick against relocation of election tribunals from Rivers, Taraba, Akwa Ibom

    Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have kicked against the relocation of election tribunals from Rivers, Taraba and Akwa Ibom to Abuja.

    The governors, who met in Abuja Tuesday night up till the wee hours yesterday said, “We condemn in very strong terms the relocation of election tribunals in Rivers, Taraba state and Akwa Ibom states to Abuja.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu also announced the election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as the new chairman of the Forum. He replaced former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who served out his term on May 29.

    “The PDP governors’ forum unanimously elected Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as chairman of the forum”, Ikpeazu stated.

    The Forum congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his election as the President and also commended former President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of peaceful disposition in the 2015 general elections, which the governors said had stabilised the political landscape.

    “We equally congratulate Senator Bukola Saraki, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Suleiman Lasun on their election as the Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. We specially congratulate our own Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on his emergence as Deputy Senate President”, Ikpeazu added.

    Also speaking after the meeting, Mimiko said the governors would do everything in their powers to engage the presidency and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in very constructive manner.

    “We have also agreed to create formal and informal mechanisms of pair review, all for the development of our nation”, Mimiko said.

    Governors at the meeting were attendance: Mimiko, Capt. Idris Wada (Kogi);  Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

    Bayelsa State Deputy Governor John Jonah represented Governor Seriake Dickson  at the meeting.

  • PDP governors’ meeting in Lagos

    PDP governors’ meeting in Lagos

    LAST week’s PDP governors’ meeting was epochal for two reasons. First, the formerly reticent or waffling governors of Niger and Jigawa States, Babngida Aliyu and Sule Lamido respectively, have suddenly found their voices. Previously reluctant to frontally confront Gen Buhari because of his cult following in the North, the two governors have now abandoned all pretext and have begun to rail fulsomely against both the APC presidential candidate and his party, the APC. Perhaps, both governors now feel President Jonathan has a fighting chance of winning the March 28 poll. Good luck to them.

    Governor Aliyu, who has made himself a repository of one-term presidential pacts, disclosed to his fellow governors that Gen Buhari had foresworn a second term if elected in March. Convinced he told the truth to his animated listeners, he warned that the North should be prepared to be shortchanged. He offered no substantiation to a story the APC has described as a notorious lie. On his own, Governor Lamido accused Gen Buhari of offering no opposition to the financial and murderous atrocities committed by the late head of state, Sani Abacha, but instead cooperated with him. The APC’s anti-corruption and democratic credentials were therefore defective, he concluded. He said nothing about whether Gen Buhari was himself found guilty of corruption or not, or whether he connived at murder.

    Second, the leitmotif of the PDP governors’ meeting is the same recurring theme that drives and undergirds President Jonathan’s government. They have little or nothing to say about their performance in office, but have preoccupied themselves with either assailing the attributes of Gen Buhari and his principal backers, or telling horrendous, egregious lies, many of them so barefaced it is a wonder how such men got into office in the first instance, and once there, how they continued remorselessly to stoop so low. They are of course at liberty to undermine the strengths of their opponents, but to lie so shamelessly for that purpose, interpret events so mischievously and callously, and resort to abuse so scandalously, must reflect their own abysmal standards and lack of ethical core. Such men in high office explain why Nigeria is bankrupt of everything.

  • PDP governors: we won’t push for polls shift again

    PDP governors: we won’t push for polls shift again

    •’Nigeria needs transformation, not change’

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday said they will not push for the postponement of the general elections. But there must be an assurance by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that no registered voter will be disenfranchised, they said.

    The governors, under the auspices of Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), said the onus was on the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led INEC to ensure the resolution of the concerns raised about the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) before the polls.

    However, the governors urged Nigerians to reflect on the exercise before choosing between President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), who they insisted is too old for the rigours of the highest office.

    The Chairman of the PDPGF, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who delivered a keynote address at an interactive session with the media and civil society organisations in Lagos, said the ruling party was now prepared for the elections. The theme  of the parley was: “Sustenance of Democratic Values and National Development. The session, which held at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, was witnessed by the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Akinwumi Adesina, and his Power and Works counterparts, Prof. Chinedu Nebo and Mr. Mike Onolememe.

    With Akpabo were governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), James Ngilari (Adamawa), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Shehu Shema (Katsina), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Loyel Imoke (Cross River), Saidu Dakingari(Kebbi), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and the deputy governor of Nasararawa State, Bamisi Barau.

    At Akpabio’s request, a minute of silence was observed in memory of martyrs of democracy, including the late Chief Moshood Abiola, his wife, Kudirat,  and Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua.

    Akpabio and Aliyu clarified that the governors were not in Lagos to discuss the formation of a new political party. But, the Niger State governor also fired salvos at Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha, saying that he peddled the rummour that they stormed the state to finalise defection talks with the opposition party.

    Akpabio said the PDP was ready for the rescheduled polls because it has the confidence that it will win.

    Reflecting on the polls shift, he said: “INEC was ill-prepared for the 2015 elections. Twenty three million registered voters have not yet collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the election was postponed. It is more than the population of five countries in West Africa. Jega said the postponement was a blessing in disguise.

    “Three weeks after the shift, INEC was just testing the card readers. Going by the failure of the card readers, it is certain that INEC is not prepared. Our concern is that nobody should be disenfranchised because of the failure of the card readers. We don’t want elections to be postponed, but we don’t want any person to be disenfranchised.”

    Akpabio described the PDP as a mass movement, adding that Nigeria has a chance of survival under President  Jonathan. He decried what he described as the politicisation of the anti-graft war by Gen. Buhari, saying that he has the history of taking over the government through anti-corruption campaigns.

    The Akwa Ibom governor also said that, although he is worried by Gen Buhari’s age, his age of ideas is a matter of concern.

    He said: “PDP has done a lot in fighting corruption, The PDP government established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). We, the PDP governors, want to say that we abhor the politicisation of the corruption by military veterans. When the military toppled the government, it accused the civilian leadership of corruption. Gen. Buhari did worse things to Shagari, Dr. Alex Ekweme and Ajasin. The military veterans are trying to win power by branding the PDP as a corrupt government.

    “Who are the people talking about corruption? Who are the financiers of the opposition? How did they make their money? There is nothing wrong with Gen Buhari’s age, if he thinks he can withstand the rigour of the office. But, we are worried by the age of his ideas.”

    Akpabio said that, when Gen. Buhari was the military Head of State and Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), he was never in charge, adding that he often delegates all duties to his lieutenants.

    He stressed: “He was not in charge. The regime was called Buhari/Idiagbon regime. He is using 50 year-old trick of anti-corruption to deceive Nigerians. If we must move forward, we must move forward with President Goodluck Jonathan.”

    Akpabio highlighted the achievements of the Jonathan administration, pointing out that the President has ensured freedom of expression; created an atmosphere for free and fair elections; refrained from arresting and detaining media practitioners and political opponents and congratulated opposition governors who defeated PDP candidates at the polls.

    He added: “What we need in Nigeria today is transformation, not change. Change is an amorphous term. It could be positive or negative. Any change that is not planned will lead to disaster.”

    Akpabio accused the APC of fuelling insurgency in the North, stressing that states affected by the menace are controlled by the APC.  He also said that the two most poorest states – Zamfara and Yobe – are ruled by APC governors.

    He said: “There is a correlation between insurgency and poverty. Those who ruled those states have contributed to insurgency. The opposition is behind Boko Haram. The Senate has passed a resolution praising the Federal Government and the military for its success in the anti-Boko Haram war. But, APC has only praised the military. The Federal Government and the military deserve commendation for fighting insurgency.

    “They are behind Boko Haram. Lai Mohammed said that it is unconstitutional to deploy troops to fight Boko Haram. Gen. Buhari described Boko Haram as our people on a television programme. When they wanted to negotiate, they said Gen Buhari should negotiate for them. I call on the United States (U.S.) and the United Nations (UN) to help Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram, now that the group is associated with the ISIS.”

    Akpabio thanked the President for convoking the National Conference and promising to implement its recommendations.

    Aliyu, who spoke after him, refuted the allegation that the 16 years of PDP’s rule has been a waste. He also denied that the PDP governors were in Lagos to negotiate with APC. Aliyu said, out of seven aggrieved PDP governors, two of them stayed back in the party to correct the anomaly in the ruling party.

    He said: “If I could enter the party through the front door, why should I now come through the back door? These people who are behind Gen. Buhari have looted the states. Now, they want to move to the centre. Gen Buhari was made a candidate through financial inducement because he promised to do one term. In their states, they are taking bond and incurring debts for the future generation. The election is not about sentiments. It is about the future of the country.”

    Lamido flayed the PDP governors who defected to the APC, saying that they are dregs. He said: “How comfortable are Wamakko and Amaechi in the APC? APC is a contraption, an organisation of hate, envy, anger and confusion.”

    The Jigawa governor berated Gen. Buhari for contrasting personality, stressing that, while high-profiled murders and bombings starred the country in the face, he kept quiet.

    He added: “APC has as members former PDP governors and senators. But, because they lost out in their states, they connived with the APC. The question we face in Nigeria is how to banish poverty. Nigeria must be refocused. It must re-unite. There is corruption everywhere. It is in the boardroom. It is a Nigerian phenomenon. We should think of how to deal with it. APC has no plan for Nigeria. They are dregs of the PDP.

    “They came to Jigawa to talk to me. They said they are saints. I asked them: why do you want me, a member of a party of rot and rogues? If two APC leaders die today, the party will perish. But, PDP is solid and organic. The challenge is how do we preserve Nigeria, salvage Nigeria, reconcile Nigeria and promote understanding.”

    Ngilari, who said the sustenance of democratic value should be anchored on security, said that insecurity is not an invention of the PDP.  The governor lamented that in one household, 120 skulls were found, following attacks by the Boko Haram sect. He added: “It was like watching a film in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. People go through the carnage. But, with what the Federal Government and the military are doing, we will cross the bridge.”

    He chided his Borno State counterpart for not giving enough support to the military in the fight against terror. Ngilari, a lawyer, said: “If the Borno governor has collaborated with the military, as we have done in Adamawa, much success would have been achieved. In two weeks, the sect will be wiped put in Adamawa.”

    Fayose urged the North to exercise patience, saying that power will shift to the region after President Jonathan has completed two terms. He said: “The North must have patience for four years so that we will not regress to the past. Jonathan should conclude his assignment.”

    Fayose maintained that Gen Buhari is too old for the job of the President, adding that he lacks the physical and mental requirements. He said: “My mother is 74. Gen Buhari is 73. I want you to reconcile this.”

    The Ekiti governor said the certificate issue should not be discarded, urging Nigerians to take interest in Gen. Buhari’s academic qualification.

    Fayose added: “Gen. Buhari is too old. Sickness, ailments and problems come with age. This is not a replacement for Jonathan. If this is the change they want, they are making a mistake. Throughout his tour of Nigeria, Gen. Buhari spoke for 57 minutes. Why is Gen. Buhari afraid of a presidential debate. I don’t have a death wish for Gen Buhari. It is reality wish?

    “The Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum said that he has no problem with Buhari’s age. I disagree. A judge must go at 70. Permanent Secretary retires at 65. Pilots have retirement age. Nigerians must not vote for people who have the capability and mental ability to do the job.”

    The governor also rejected the notion of performance in Lagos State by Governor Babatunde Fashola, stressing that the resources have not been judiciously used. He said Lagosians are groaning under the tax law.

    Fayose said: “Ekiti gets N300 million. Lagos gets N30 billion. N30 billion will take care of 12 states. Fashola is not performing.”

    At the interactive session were Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Mr. Bisi Olatilo, Mr. kehinde Ogungbe, Mrs. Aniko Briggs, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Mr Monday Mbani, and other members of the civil society groups.

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko said Jonathan has entrenched democracy with his accommodation of what he described as “the intangibles” of democracy.

    According to the governor, democracy is not just about building roads and others but in ensuring the entrenchment of democratic values.

    He said the president has ensured separation of power by not tampering with the other arms of government.

    Mimiko commended the President for convoking the National Conference, saying he is the man in best position to implement its outcome.

  • Jonathan, PDP governors meet on 2015 polls

    Jonathan, PDP governors meet on 2015 polls

    … We’ll win elections – Akpabio

    President Goodluck Jonathan, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state governors and its governorship candidates in the forthcoming elections on Monday night brainstormed on how to ensure victory for the party in the general election.

    The Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting.

    He said: “The party is strategizing on how to not just win election but ensure that we win peace. It is very clear now that the opposition is in disarray. I am sure you have all seen that.”

    “Propaganda can only take you up to a limit after which the reality becomes the norm. Today, Nigerians are much more aware of what the PDP administration under President Goodluck Jonathan has been doing.

    “I want to commend not only the President but also members of the Federal Executive Council who have opened the eyes of Nigerians to know that so many things have been done in the different sectors of the economy.

    “It was as if people did not know these things because the opposition took over and they kept saying PDP was doing nothing. Yet, in four years of the President’s tenure, he has achieved far more than any President had ever done in the history of our country.

    “We are very proud of the achievements of the PDP, not just at the federal level but also at the different states. If you want to assess state-by-state, pick the opposition’s best state in Nigeria and compare it with the best state of the PDP, you will see that we tower above the opposition in all ramifications.”

    He noted that the next elections, particularly the presidential elections of March 28 will be about performance and issues.

    “Nigerians have since gone above the level of tribalism and ethnic or religion differences. God put us together in this country and He knew that we are a multiplicity of religions and tribes.

    “God brought us together, so we believe in the unity and oneness of this country. The same way we came together in 2011 and voted for President Jonathan, that is the same way we are returning him based on the fact that he has performed creditably and that the PDP has discharged its responsibilities to Nigerians to the best of its ability based on available resources.”

    He said they also met with incoming governors to explain to them the essence of mobilising their subjects to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “Because every vote must count and it is important that we don’t get short-changed by the fact that we do not mobilise our people to go and pick their voters cards.”

    The governor also said the meeting also dwelt on internal reconciliation in the party.

    “After the major primaries that we had, we need to reconcile people so that everybody can move in our accord. I can tell Nigerians today that the party is poised for victory. The PDP is very ready to win. I am happy that the people are listening because in those days, I kept telling them that their propaganda cannot win a war. The propaganda has reached a point.”

     

  • Nigeria in a bad situation – Obasanjo

    Nigeria in a bad situation – Obasanjo

    … Meets PDP governors

    A meeting between  former President Olusegun Obasanjo and five  Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governors at Obasanjo’s residence, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, has ended with the former President  saying Nigeria is in a “bad situation.”

    Obasanjo, who addressed reporters said the situation of the country is bad, but added  that it is “not irretrievably bad if there the will and courage to do the right thing at the right time.”

    The former president said he deliberated with the governors on “issues affecting the country- the security and the economy among others.

    He added that as Nigerians, “we have no other country except Nigeria.”

    Obasanjo said one does not have to be World Bank economist or the International Monetary Fund(IMF) expert to discern that the nation’s economy is ailing and require the will and courage by the managers not only to tell the nation the truth, but also the way out.

    The five governors who met Obasanjo – Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliu (Niger) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

    The governors were led to the meeting by Akpabio, who is the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

    They arrived Obasanjo’s  Presidential Hill -Top Estate by 12:40pm, and met for  over three hours with their host.

  • PDP governors, Reps pass vote of confidence on Tukur

    PDP governors, Reps pass vote of confidence on Tukur

    The Peoples Democratic Party governors and House of Representatives members have passed a vote of confidence on the party`s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the governors and the House members took the decision during series of meetings which ended in the early hours of Friday in Abuja.

    NAN reports that Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom led PDP Governors Forum had earlier held a close-door meeting with Tukur.

    The meeting, which took place at the Akwa Ibom government lodge, also had in attendance Tukur`s Deputy, Mr. Uche Secondus.

    Tukur consequently moved from the meeting with the governors to meet with the party`s House of Representatives members at another venue.

    However, journalists were not briefed on Tukur`s meeting with the governors.

    Meanwhile, the Leader, House of Representatives, Mulikat Akande, told journalists that the meeting with Tukur was at the instance of the House.

    She added that it was meant to create a synergy between the House leader, PDP House of Representatives members and the party leadership.

    She further said the decision to pass a vote of confidence on Tukur was to show that PDP was one strong family.

     

     

  • Presidency, PDP governors in a fix over Tukur

    Presidency, PDP governors in a fix over Tukur

    In the last few days, calls for the removal of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, assumed a new height, with the Presidency and some of the party’s governors singing discordant tunes on the issue, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    Despite his stoic mien, suggesting that all is well, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur seems to be ruing the day he agreed to take the job of the National Chairman of the self-acclaimed largest political party in Africa.

    Like most of his predecessors who were eased out of the exalted office principally due to the complex internal dynamics in the party, Tukur’s reign as the party’s supremo may soon come to an abrupt end if the feelers and body languages of PDP governors and party stalwarts are anything to go by.

    Hours before the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, travelled to South Africa a few days ago to witness the burial of the country’s former President, Nelson Mandela, he presided over a flurry of meetings, which sources say were ostensibly aimed at stemming the seemingly intractable crisis in the party.

    One of such meetings had the President making a last ditch effort to convince two of the former PDP-elected governors, Aliyu Wammako and Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to the party. But to the President’s consternation, the two governors reportedly vowed never to return to PDP.

    For the President and some of the party’s bigwigs, including his deputy, Namadi Sambo; Board of Trustees (BOT) boss, Chief Anthony Anenih and about 15 governors in attendance, anxiety and frustration quickly set in of what future awaits the party in the run-down to the 2015 general elections.

    To halt the party’s descent into further crisis, a large number of its governors, The Nation reliably gathered, are secretly working on a plan to ease Tukur out. This opinion, according to sources, bodes well with Chief Anenih, who was once alleged to have broached the idea with the President.

    Some months ago, Anenih had, after having embarked on a fence mending tour across some troubled PDP-controlled states, reportedly advised the President to ask Tukur to resign as a way of putting an end to the crisis in the party.

    While the President was said to be non-committal on the advice, the development, it was learnt, created a crisis of confidence between Tukur and Anenih, with the former reportedly confiding in some of his associates that the BOT chairman was aiming at supplanting him from his position.

    A source quipped, “Anenih pointedly told the President that Tukur’s continued stay as the National Chairman will spell doom for the PDP. That was the feelers he got from the aggrieved governors who have now left the party. But it was apparent that the President had other ideas.”

    Findings also revealed that shortly before the parley between the President, Wammako and Kwankwaso, governors under the aegis of the PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF) met at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge at the Asokoro area where the preponderance of opinion among those present suggests clearly that Tukur must step aside for peace to reign in the party.

    Quoting Governor Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the meeting, the source said, “It is obvious that the National Chairman (Tukur) has to leave in the interest of our party. But how do we convince the President to agree to this?”

    Other governors who spoke strongly on the matter included Liyel Imoke of Cross River State; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta and an unnamed South East governor. They were said to be of the opinion that with Tukur remaining on the saddle, the PDP risks the exodus of more of its prominent members in the next few months.

    Curiously, while most of the Southern governors called for Tukur’s exit, The Nation gathered that their Northern counterparts, including the Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda; Katsina State’s Ibrahim Shema and Gombe State’s Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, tactically kept silent on the heated subject.

    The governors, sources disclosed, are calling for an emergency session of the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) where it is expected that crucial decisions affecting the party, particularly Tukur’s fate, can be resolved once and for all.

    But the governors are in a dilemma of sorts. None of them has had the courage to tell the President to his face on why Tukur should be eased out without further delay. And the reason, according to sources, is not far-fetched. “They (governors) are aware that the President is not presently in the best of mood and are wary of how he will react to any suggestion of that nature.”

    To find a way around this challenge, the governors are alleged to have penciled down Anenih; the Senate President, David Mark and one of the President’s most trusted aides, Oronto Douglas, to convince the President on the urgent imperative of dealing with the “Tukur challenge.”

    Jonathan may rebuff pressure

    Pending his return from South Africa, strong indications have emerged that the President may not yield to the request of his party men to get rid of Tukur.

    Jonathan’s reason to stick with the embattled PDP National Chairman is two-folds. One, Tukur’s alleged dictatorial actions, which most of the party members are up against, received his tacit backing; and second, the likely tortuous process to find a loyal and trustworthy replacement that will cover the President’s back at all times.

    The President, according to sources, is also mindful of the fact that his opponents in the party are not really after Tukur per se, but rather him (Jonathan) and that sticking to Tukur against all odds is in his best interests both in the short and long term.

    “If Tukur is removed today, I can bet that the President’s opponents will still not be satisfied, so why not stick to a man who has proved his unquestionable loyalty to the President,” said a source.

    Old names still coming up

    However, those who want Tukur out are not giving up after all. Already, several names that were touted in the past as aspirants for the PDP National Chairmanship are being mentioned within the political circles to fill the void if the President unexpectedly accedes to the demand for Tukur’s removal.

    One of the most recurring is that of Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the United States and Borno State-born Alhaji Gambo Lawan.

    While Adamu has not indicated interest in the job, those backing him argue that the fact that he comes from Adamawa State like Tukur will placate certain offended interests, the Presidency is, however, not thinking in his (Adamu) direction.

    But whatever decision the President finally takes, what is not in doubt is that tough times still lay ahead the ruling party.

  • PDP governors split over Tukur’s fate

    PDP governors split over Tukur’s fate

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are still divided over National Chairman Bamanga Tukur’s fate, it was learnt yesterday.

    Some are seeking Tukur’s removal, but most members of the PDP Governors Forum are pushing for his retention.

    Those who are pro-Tukur favour reconciliation more than outright removal.

    It was learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan may eventually determine Tukur’s fate.

    Jonathan met with Tukur last night on the various reports of reconciliation committees raised by the party.

    The PDP is expected to hold its Special Convention on August 31 amidst anxiety that some party leaders and governors may seek Tukur’s exit.

    A governor said: “I think we have not reached a consensus on Tukur’s exit, in view of the multi-faceted nature of the crises rocking the party.

    “There is a split among the governors of the party and some leaders. Removing Tukur might lead to another wrong, which may not help the ongoing reconciliation.

    “For instance, if Tukur is removed, the ‘rebellious’ five governors will claim some victory. Others, who are pro-Tukur would feel bad.

    “Some leaders are pushing for a midstream approach which could assuage all interest groups.”

    “It is this midstream option that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is working on.”

     

  • 2015: Jonathan agreed to serve only one term – Niger Gov

    2015: Jonathan agreed to serve only one term – Niger Gov

    Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State yesterday ruffled some feathers in the camp of President Goodluck Jonathan after going public in Kaduna that the President reached an agreement with PDP governors in 2011 to serve for one term only.

    But he was quick to add that talks about President Jonathan seeking renewal of his mandate in 2015 should be regarded as mere speculation for now.

    The President himself has not declared his interest in contesting although the Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who is widely acclaimed as his political godfather has said there is nothing wrong in him seeking a second term more so when the constitution allows it.

    Aliyu, featuring on Guest of the Week on Liberty Radio (91.7), Kaduna monitored in Abuja, said: “I recall that at the time he was going to declare for the 2011 election, all the PDP Governors were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind.

    “And I recall that some of us said given the circumstances of the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and given the PDP zoning arrangement, it was expected that the North was to produce the President for a given number of years.

    “I recall that at that discussion, it was agreed that Jonathan would serve only one term of four years and we all signed the agreement. Even when Jonathan went to Kampala, in Uganda, he also said he was going to serve a single term.”

    “For now, President Jonathan has not declared a second term ambition and we must not be speculating based on those who are benefiting from the campaign.

    “I think we are all gentlemen enough; so when the time comes, we will all come together and see what is the right thing to do.”

    On his own much speculated presidential ambition, he said if it is the will of God for him to contest, God himself will create the proper avenue for him to do so.

    “But I have not said to anybody that this or that is what I want to do in 2015. We will cross the bridge when we get to it,” he said.

    Aliyu reiterated his support for the merger of ACN,CPC,ANPP and APGA to form All Progress Congress (APC), saying it will engender healthy rivalry.

    “I pray for the success of the merger because I want a situation where we will have parties that will challenge one another properly so that we don’t take it for granted that because you have been winning elections you can do as you wish,” he said, adding:”There is a purpose for elections. There is a purpose for setting up government. You set up government for the competence and efficiency of running an administration.

    “You don’t set up government so that a group of people can enjoy to the detriment of the majority of the people. So for me, the success of the merger will look like what is happening in developed countries where one party does it for a period of time and another party does it for another period of time.

    “We should encourage a situation where our party becomes rational and very organised and where our party has democracy within because that is the foundation of a democracy of a nation.

    “A situation where a party is allowed to handpick candidates and put them up for elections should not be encouraged”.

    The governor described fears that Nigeria will break up in 2015 as a result of normal intellectual research after looking at the variables and concluding that if our situation continues to degenerate, there is the likelihood of a breakup.

    He told proponents of Nigeria’s break-up that : “ a break up is not going to be as neat as some people think because I recall that when we had the civil war, there were some people who said if you allow that group to go, we would also go.

    “Majority of Nigerians don’t want a break up. Only a few individuals are calling for a break up. And you don’t call for a break up simply because you have something today.

    “We have gone to Mali to help them fight off what is becoming a civil war. So if it starts in Nigeria, I don’t think the world will stand by and watch. We will ensure that we stay as one nation to enjoy the benefits of what we have been fighting for.”

    Last night, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told The Nation on Sunday he had only become aware of Governor Aliyu’s remarks within the hour, and needed more time to consult before commenting.

  • Why Tukur, PDP governors are at war

    Why Tukur, PDP governors are at war

    THE 2015 elections and alleged unconventional leadership style of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga Tukur, are responsible for the frosty relationship between him and the party’s governors, it was learnt, at the weekend.

    The cold war hit the roof last weekend when majority of the governors snubbed a book presentation to mark Tukur’s 77th birthday in Abuja.

    President Goodluck Jonathan was at the event.

    Only three PDP governors were in attendance. Those who attended were Alhaji Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Chief Theodore Orji (Abia), and Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna). Governor Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Jonah Jang (Plateau) sent their deputies.

    Party sources told The Nation yesterday that the issue of who flies the party’s flag in 2015 is at the heart of the cold war.

    A party chieftain from one of the South-South states, who craved anonymity, said from day one, many of the governors, especially those from the North have interpreted Jonathan’s insistence on making Tukur national chairman to be for no other reason than 2015.

    He said once they were unable to stop Tukur’s emergence they are not ready to allow that sole objective for his emergence to materialise.

    “It is all about 2015. The governors want one of their own, which is a tradition they want to establish in this country. Already, there are two or three governors from the region who are known to harbour presidential ambition and they have succeeded in reaching out to some of their colleagues in the South-South region to run as vice president. But in all, the issue is that the North wants to produce the president in 2015 but from all indications, the chairman is not favourably disposed toward the idea and that is the crux of the matter”.

    The source also revealed that the style of the national chairman has tended to “erect a wall that the governors find uncomfortable. They think that it was never like this, there is a visible sign of alienation or keeping one’s distance, if you know what I mean”, the source stated.

    But media aide to Tukur, Alhaji Ujudud Sheriff debunked the insinuation as untrue. In a telephone interview with The Nation yesterday afternoon, Sheriff said: “To the best of my knowledge, that is not true because, coincidentally, this morning, I don’t know whether you listened to the Voice of Nigeria (VON) or not, he was asked to comment on a similar question. So it is not true. As far as we are concerned the governors were all present because they sent representatives of theirs. Let’s face it, there is no way all the governors of the party would be there at the book presentation. They also have very pressing programmes, don’t forget.

    “Those who were available came. So it has nothing to do with 2015. But this is democracy; you must allow people to express their minds.”

    He said the chairman has always maintained that it is not time to talk 2015 and that it is time to sit down and work to satisfy the aspirations of Nigerians who voted for the governors and the president.

    Sheriff also said the issue of the manner of running the party being a source of friction is totally false as he has never heard anything like that before.

    At the presentation of the book, ‘The Global Villager,’ a biography on Tukur, written by Eddie Aderinokun, Orji apologised on behalf of his colleagues and claimed that he had their mandate to pick few copies for each of them.