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  • Why APC national leaders should resolve Ogun crisis

    Why APC national leaders should resolve Ogun crisis

    Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is embroiled in crisis. State Correspondent Ernest Nwokolo examines the issues at stake.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), a formidable opposition party, entered the nation’s political firmament late last year following its official registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It is a conglomeration of democrats and progressives who espouse politics of ideas and peace as opposed to that of violence, thuggery and the machiavellian-like principle of might-is-right.

    This image is what the party at the national and state levels has been striving to protect since its emergence as a registered political party. To certain extent, this has endeared it to the teeming progressive – minded Nigerians, particularly the youth, who are desirous of change from the much maligned and lack – lustre outing of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) at the centre in the last 15 years.

    But in Ogun State the story is becoming different. Discordant tunes and in fighting within the APC in the state are not only disturbing but also an early pointer to the problems ahead of 2015. The recent development suggests that there are some elements within the party that believe in violence and arm twisting tactics to advance their political agenda.

    In the last couple of weeks, Ogun State APC is embroiled in a crisis that bears semblance of the type that had afflictedPDP preparatory to the April 2011 general elections. As a result PDP lost the governorship election and majority of other elective offices to the then Action Congess of Nigeria(ACN). Since then, PDP in Ogun State is yet to recover and put its house in order. The crisis in the state chapter of the PDP was stoked by the struggle for the control of the party structure between former Governor Gbenga Daniel and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    All attempts made by the National PDP to resolve the crisis failed. The party ended up with two parallel congresses held to pick candidates for the April 2011 polls in the state.

    Daniel who lost out in the struggle, herded his supporters and candidates into the Peoples Party of Nigeria(PPN), a political party he floated at the eleventh hour.

    Three years after, APC seems to to be treading this destructive path and with speed.

    Analysts are worried that the silence of the national leaders on the crisis could have adverse effects on the party. They call for immediate intervention of the party’s national headquarters before it gets out of hand.

    The crisis has been there since 2011 albeit in a smouldering form even though the party leaders had been pretending that crisis did not exist. But on January 9, the bubble burst when hoodlums stormed the secretariat of the APC on Leme, Abiola Way, Abeokuta and sacked its Harmonisation Committee meeting convened by Senator Gbenga Kaka.

    Journalists at the venue for coverage of the proceeding were assaulted while the Harmonisation Committee members comprising National Assembly members from the state fled the troubled spot and later addressed reporters at the Oke – Ilewo Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    Senator Kaka(Ogun East), Senator Akin Odunsi(Ogun West), Senator Gbenga Obadara(Ogun Central) and other members of the House of Representatives were at the APC secretariat to inaugurate and announce membership of the state Harmonisation Committee.

    The Committee was expected to work in harmony with party leaders to midwife the stages leading to the planned membership registration exercise as well as congresses at the wards, Local government and state levels.

    The crux of the matter is that while the National lawmakers are gunning for return tickets, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on the other hand is desirous of cornering the same tickets for his loyalists. Hence, his alleged overt and covert moves to scuttle the chances of Obadara and his colleagues by scheming to foist only his loyalists as members of the Harmonisation Committee members.

    The implication is that whoever gains the upper hand between the Governor and the national lawmakers in the formation of the committee would determine who votes at the congresses and ultimately, who emerges as party’s candidates in the coming 2014 general elections.

    And barely two weeks later when the dust over the violence that witnessed the inauguration of the Harmonisation Committee was yet to settle, hoodlums wielding guns, machetes and clubs invaded the venue of a sensitisation andempowerment programme organised by Senator Obadara at Wasinmi in Ewekoro Local Government Area. They unleashed terror on party members. Many were wounded and taken to hospital for treatment Thus,the programme billed to take place ahead of the party’s planned registration exercise ended abruptly as people scampered to safety.

    By the time the dust finally settled, Senator Obadara’s Police orderly, Sergeant Sunday Akinbode was wounded at the thigh near the pelvic region following gunshot from the thugs .

    Since the outbreak of the violence, there has been accusations and counter – accusation between the State government/Governor Ibikunle Amosun camp and that of the members of the National Assembly from Ogun State on the ticket of the APC who see themselves as victims of the governor’s high- handedness orchestrated to muzzle them, and the desperate move to highjack the party structure for personal political agenda.

    Senators Kaka and Obadara in separate fora accused the Governor Amosun of sponsoring political thugs to intimidate and harass them.

    The duo in conjunction with their colleagues at the National Assembly, also faulted the recent endorsement of the Governor for a second term in office, dismissing it as “sham and an exercise in futility.”

    The law makers accused the governor of planning to perpetrate a wave of political violence in the state and blamed it on them, ostensibly to achieve his political end.

    But the Interim Chairman of the Party in the state, Alh. Tajudeen Bello, who described what is currently happening in the party as “a great surprise” and handiwork of few elements who are desirous of disrupting the peace of the state, alleged that the hoodlums were brought from Lagos by the National Assembly members.

    In Bello’s reckoning, the state harmonising Committee initiated by Senator Kaka (Ogun East), Senator Akin Odunsi (Ogun West), Senator Gbenga Obadara (Ogun Central) and other members of the House of Representatives was a “charade.”

    Bello who addressed reporters on account of the violence at the party Secretariat and festering crisis, blamed the occurrence on the former Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, whom he advised not to destroy a house he has built at a time he is expected to play the role of a “mediator.”

     

     

     

    He argued that what was expected to be done according to the directive of the APC National body is preparation for membership registration and not Harmonisation Committee.

     

    Bello said: “it was a great surprise that a new dimension is being introduced to politicking in Ogun State. Moreso from the so called responsible politicians that the people give very high regard. We got a report from my administrative staff at the Secretariat that some hoodlums came to attack them for no just cause and in the process, they wounded some of our staff there and I had to phone them to quickly vacate the office.

     

    “This is a party that does not believe in violence and you would see the approach of the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on the issue of curbing violence and since he has been on the saddle of governance, you will bear me out that violence in all forms has been reduced to zero level.

     

    “And everybody is now sleeping with his two eyes closed. It is so unfortunate that this sort of things would be happening in the days of progress, an era that we have never witnessed in the history of the state.

     

    “However, immediately after the attack, we learnt that our revered leader Chief Olusegun Osoba also came with members of the National Assembly and addressed the press that he was spoiling for a fight, that he was ready for a fight.

     

    “ I would not believe that he said so because he happened to be a builder of this party and we say what you build, you don’t destroy. As an elder statesman, every expectation is that he should always play a mediatory role in case of any issue whatsoever.

     

    “The people can bear me out that the attack was carried out by hoodlums that came to invade the Secretariat. Generally we all believe that they came in through Kobape. You would agree with me that the vehicle came in through Kobape and we believe that they were brought by people who came from lagos, who had ulterior motive.

     

    “Governor Amosun needs encouragement, he has been performing well and he is well received by the majority of the people. What then is the hue and cries about any issue that would distract the attention of the Governor from the laudable projects he is doing in Ogun State.

     

    “This is a party that Nigerians want, a very matured party

    Who ever that is a bad element in the party in the state and so far as they are exposing themselves, we leave them to the judgment of the people.

     

    “We were peaceful in our state. Suddenly we woke and came under attack, I would not know the motive of the people that came. Thank God there were no serious casualty, they have been defeated, the Governor is moving well and charting the progress for the state.”

     

    But the matter took a worrisome dimension during the week when in published letter by Governor accused Obadara and his group of plotting to destablise the state with an implication to undermine the party and stall the progress being recorded in the state by the administration.

     

    Amosun made it explicitly clear that he was neither in competition with past leaders of the state nor members of the National Assembly from Ogun on the platform of the party, as every body’s duty is “clearly defined and distinct,”

    said he had tried in vain to court the cooperation and support of the lawmakers.

     

    Curiously enough, while the Governor attended Obadara’s mother’s burial last year and Senator Kaka’s function when he opened his Senatorial Office in Ijebu – Igbo, none of the Senators had attended any state event organised by Ibikunle led administration since inception.

     

    The lawmakers in turn, fired back, accusing him of intolerance and plot to high-jack the party from the founding fathers.

     

    In a personal letter addressed to him, the National Assembly members comprising three senators and seven House of Representatives legislators reminded him that the Ogun “APC is not his personal estate” that should be administered the way he deemed fit.

     

    They reasoned that it was the intolerance of the Governor that sent party members, including former Deputy Governor of the state, Alh. Rafiu Ogunleye, away to another political party.

     

    They also faulted his claim that they belonged to a group within the party, saying they have neither been involved in factionalisation nor operated outside the APC structure unlike his SIA’s group.

     

    They accused Amosun of practising political harlotry as well as always striving to destroy any party he courts since his days in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to Congress for Progressives Change to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and finally to APC.

     

    The letter reads in part:”why do you always destabilize any political platform you join – PDP, ANPP, CPC, ACN and now APC? Why do you like politics of intolerance and exclusion?

    Why do you like to disregard party supremacy anywhere you go?

     

    “Could the above be the reason why you change party platforms always? You should please note that a political party belongs to all. APC in Ogun State is not your personal estate, where you can do whatever you want.

     

    “We know your intolerant disposition . That is why your threat to deal with the leaders, who SELECTED you above others aspirants is now coming to pass. Your intolerant disposition made people like Alh Rafiu Ogunleye,a revered party leader and former Deputy Governor to leave the party.

     

    “You claimed we are romancing the opposition. That is in your dreams. But If you think you can chase us out like others, you are greatly mistaken. That will not work with us. We are born progressives.We are known progressives.We have NEVER change political platforms in our lives.

     

    “We are ardent believers of our late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo.We are ardent followers of all our current leaders in the progressive family like Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Segun Osoba,Gen Mohammed Buhari,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu etc and shall ever remain so.Long Live APC.Long Live the progressives.”

     

    But beneath the crisis, according to analysts, is the hidden but the fuelling hands of Chief Osoba, who is believed to be using the Ogun indigenes at the National Assembly to prosecute a proxy war against Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

     

    Many are of the conviction that the lawmakers are only acting the script of the former Governor and hinged the argument on the fact that the Akirogun of Egbaland had never rebuked his foot soldiers either privately or publicly.

    It is being said that he never wanted Amosun to fly the party’s ticket in 2011 but was prevailed upon by the National leader of APC and its Interim National Chairman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande.

    No fewer than nine aspirants including renowned journalist and publisher, Mr Kayode Soyinka, were jostling for the then ACN governorship tickets when Amosun appeared from the blue and clinched it.

    .However, anxiety is rife in the state that the Presidency has started digging into the APC crisis in Ogun state ostensibly to deepen it and then precipitate its collapse while overture to Amosun is also being contemplated, but how far the APC can go with the crisis, only time would tell

     

  • ‘Judiciary must avoid being used by politicians’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi has urged the judiciary not to allowed itself to be used by politicians to scuttle democracy.

    He said the recent court injunction obtained by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prevent the change of the leadership in the House of Representatives was a strategy by the party to buy time.

    Olusi told The Nation at a graduation ceremony of artisans organised by the Apapa Local Government Area, that if the court becomes a ready tool in the hands of politicians, the country’s democracy will suffer.

    He said: “The court injunction obtained is part of the effort of people who do not want democracy to thrive in our country. The judiciary must resist the temptation of people who tried to use this arm of government to slow down the progress of democracy in our country.”

    The APC chieftain maintained that the constitution has spelt out the roles of the judiciary and the legislature, stressing that one should not usurp the functions of the other.

    “I know that it is stated in the constitution of the country that the court has no jurisdiction over the business of the House or the proceedings in the House. It has no business on how the House elects its officers. By this action, it is getting out of its jurisdiction. That being the case, the court should avoid the temptation of being used.

    He called on party faithful to take part in the registration exercise in enable the party effect the necessary change that will move the country forward.

    “The registration is a must for those who believe in change for Nigeria. It is important for those who want Nigeria to advance and those who want democracy to be entrenched in the country. People should go out and register as members of this progressive movement.”

    “This will ensure that the party is firmly established and in order to ensure that the party towers in 2015. By doing so, the change that will route out the present PDP government in our country will be accomplished.

    We are all aware that PDP is a party of retrogression, it a party that has not been able to give us power and light which is important for industrialization. For over a decade the country has been crawling from one problem to another, it is time the change that the people want come and I urge our members to register,” he said.

     

  • 2015: ‘INEC should convince Nigerians of sincerity’

    2015: ‘INEC should convince Nigerians of sincerity’

    •Ohanaeze, PDP react

    The governorship candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) in last year’s election in Anambra State, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should convince Nigerians of its sincerity to conduct a free and fair poll next year.

    He spoke yesterday in Awka, following the release of next year’s election timetable by INEC at the weekend.

    Ezeemo said people were yet to get over the inadequacies of Anambra poll, which was marred by logistic problems.

    “What happened on November 16 was terrible. INEC should prove its sincerity by being committed this time, by ensuring a free and fair poll and a level-playing field for candidates,” he added.

    The PPA chieftain said sensitive and non-sensitive materials, computers and other equipment needed for credible elections must be on ground, adding that politics of money and inducement should be discouraged.

    He said people should be made to see why leaders should be elected, based on performance, noting that INEC could set up a committee to cross-check preparations as an assurance of its sincerity.

    Ezeemo said the early release of the timetable was commendable.

    He said the commission should embark on an aggressive political education to enlighten the people.

    “It is not just enough to draw a timetable and release it to the people, it should be backed with actions.”

    Anambra State Chairman of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze, Dr. Chris Eluemunoh, hailed INEC’s early release of the timetable.

    He said it was a proof of its readiness to conduct a credible poll.

    Eluemunoh said INEC had a task of ensuring that the poll became the best, adding that politicians should complement its effort.

    He said the electoral body should be independent and ensure that the structures needed for a credible poll were in place.

    State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Kenneth Emeakayi, said INEC had shown its commitment in enthroning democratic structures by its early release of the elections schedule.

  • Mu’azu and challenge of reconciliation in PDP

    Mu’azu and challenge of reconciliation in PDP

    Reconciliation of various groups within the troubled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a major challenge for the new helmsman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to contend with. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the crises and its implications on the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2015 elections.

    The new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has promised to reconcile various factions within the party. From its inception, the ruling party has been grappling with crises. Chieftains have often fuelled the tension in the polity through internal wranglings, which the party leadership has always failed to resolve, owing to the absence of a strategic crisis resolution mechanism and what observers describe as defective reconciliation.

    The crises are largely due to its size , lack of internal democracy and poor management by the party’s leadership. In the last one year, the crises have soared geometrically, resulting in the exit of some of its foundation and influential members.

    Analysts believe that the intractable crises are fuelled by the ambitions of the party leaders, who consider themselves as tin gods whose decisions must not be challenged.

    The party has in the last 15 years set up various panels to resolve crises among members and save the party from total disintegration. But rather than achieve reconciliation and cohesion, the party has sunk deeper into trouble.

    Unless the multiple crises are resolved, Analysts are of the view that the efforts of the chairman to rebuild and unite the dissenting groups within the party would fail, unless the crises are resolved.

     

    Jonathan versus Obasanjo

     

    The crisis between the former President olusegun Obasanjo and the incumbent President Jonathan climaxed with the 18-page letter in which Obasanjo alleged Jonathan of training snippers, placing 1,000 politicians on watch list and anti-party activities among others. Though Jonathan has denied most of the allegations but the content of the Obasanjo’s letter is still causing ripples within the party. The President has sent the letter to the National Human Rights Commission to investigate the allegations. The diatribe launched by Obasanjo has earned him series of attacks in the media by the President’s aides and kinsmen . Irked by the reactions Obasanjo wrote the former Chairman of the PDP , Alhaji BamangaTukur, informing him of his decision to withdraw from party activities until further notice. The implication of Obasanjo’s decision to step aside is that he may not take part in the campaign programmes of the party for general elections holding early next year. Observers say given Obasanjo’s status, his involvement in the party’s preparation and his physical appearance at campaign rallies would boost the party’s electoral fortunes in 2015 polls.

     

    Jonathan & G5

     

    Former five governors of the PDP have defected to All Progressives Congress (APC). They are Governors Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and AbdulFattah Ahmed (Kwara). Their defection was premised on what they desribed as high handedness, lack of internal democracy and transparency in the management of party affairs. Despite the removal of Tukur as party chairman , the governors have vowed not to return to PDP. Can the new Chairman bring them back to PDP?

     

    PDP versus Oyinlola & others

     

    The sack of the PDP national officers loyal to Obasanjo triggered the crisis between him and President Jonathan.The affected officers sent packing by court order are the National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Vice Chairman, Southwest zone, Mr Segun Oni, National Auditor, Bode Mustapha and former Southwest Zonal Financial Secretary, Chief Ireti Oniyide. Oyinlola appealed against the ruling of the Federal High Court. The Appeal Court in its ruling declared Oyinlola as the authentic national secretary and ordered his immediate reinstatement. The Ogun State chapter that challenged the appointment of Oyinlola at the lower court has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court. Thus, Oyinlola had been prevented from resuming work as directed by the Appelate court. Would Muazu allow the rule of law to prevail by abiding with the court ruling and allow Oyinlola back to office?

    Oni and Oniyide have filed suits at Ado Ekiti High Court challenging their removal from office. The case is still pending. Both Oyinlola and Oni were former governors of Osun and Ekiti States respectively. PDP stands to lose their electoral values in these states if reconciliation fails.

    There is no geo-political zone where the PDP is crisis-free.

    The Southwest zone of the PDP is at a crossroads. The reconciliation embarked upon by the former Caretaker Committee led by Chief Ishola Filani has failed to restore peace and trust. The Southwest zonal congress has not been held because of the leadership tussle and selfish interest of the leaders. The existence of caretaker committee, instead of a democratically elected zonal leadership is a proof that the zonal chapter is in crisis.

    The bitter struggle for the control of the party soul is also fierce among the party chieftains in the South-south and Southeast. Unresolved party matters including the politics of exclusion, winners take all and emasculation of opponents in intra-party squabbles have bothered the founding fathers in the zone. Many party elders blame the scenario on the weakness of the national party leadership and the inability of the President to restore order into a state of unrest.

    In the Northeast, local crises in Taraba, Bauchi, Borno and Gombe states fuelled by the competition for the control of the branches by party chieftains have polarized the party.

     

    Ogun

     

    In Ogun State PDP is divided alongside many factions. There is a faction loyal to former President Obasanjo. The Buruji Kasamu group is in control of the party machinery in the state. The recommendation of the reconciliation committee set up by the national secretariat of the party that the state executive be sharedbetween the two groups was rejected by the Kashamu group. The Obasanjo faction has lost out completely in the struggle for the soul of the party. Chief Bode Mustapha, a loyalist of Obasanjo lost his position as the National Auditor to the struggle.

     

    Ekiti

     

    The party is balkanized into splinter groups loyal to various chieftains including the former governors Segun Oni, Mr Ayo Fayose , the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd) and Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, who is the party chairman in the state.The crisis escalated during the preparation for the congress. Fayose succeeded in installing the majority of the executive committee members. A parallel executive supported by the camps opposed to him challenged Ogundipe to a duel.But when he fully gained control, crisis broke out between Ogundipe and his benefactor, Fayose.

    For Segun Oni, since he was removed from the National Executive as the National Vice Chairman and Southwest leader, the former governor has remained cold. His supporters have been bitter against some party leaders from the state, who claimed that the zonal congress that produced him as National Vice Chairman (Southwest) in Oshogbo, Osun State, violated the laid down rules. However, the main issue in Ekiti PDP now is the governorship election holding this year. A section of the party is rooting for a consensus candidate but others are insisting on party primaries. The opposing groups have clashed many times on this unresolved issue. Many sustained injuries.

     

    Ondo

     

    The party chieftains are bitter that they have been abandoned since 2008 when late Olusegun Agagu was removed from office as governor by the Appeal Court. To survive, some of them leaned to the Labour Party (LP) . Thus, during the 2012 governorship election, they worked against the PDP candidate, Chief Olusola Oke who lost to Olusegun Mimiko of the LP. The decision to disown Oke led to the factionalisation of the party in the state. Despite the complaints lodged by Oke, the national headquarters did nothing to whip the pro-Mimiko’s supporters in the PDP to line.

     

    Benue

     

    In Benue State, Governor Gabriel Suswan and Senator Bernabas Gemade are embroiled in war of attrition over their senatorial ambitions. The party has broken into factions at the local government level ahead of 2015 general elections. The local government congresses held last year were marred with violence instigated by different factions within the party.Governor Suswan has declared interest in taking over the senatorial seat currently occupied by Senator Bernabas Gemade. While Gemade is rooting for second term.

     

    Osun

     

    Prince Oyinlola believed certain PDP stalwarts were behind his removal as national secretary of the party. The strained relationship between him and Chief Iyiola Omisore is obvious.In Oyinlola’s view, the decision to replace him with Prof Wale Ladipo was made in bad faith at a time he was still in court to reclaim the seat. Besides, the governorship election holding this year has led to a division within the party. Apart from Omisore’s camp, there are groups loyal to Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, Hon Wole Oke, Chief Fatai Akinbade and Niyi Owolade.

     

    Lagos

     

    All is not well with the Lagos chapter. It has recorded the highest turn-over of chairmen. From the pioneer chairman Chief Olorunfemi Bashorun to Alhaji Murtala Asorobi, Chief Alaba Williams, Bayo Adebayo, Hon Setonji Koshoedo and Captain Tunji Shelle, the party has never known peace. Many party chieftains believe that the problem of the party has to do with the leadership style of Chief Bode George. Key party leaders are up in arms with the retired Navy Commodore. They have accused him of imposition of governorship candidate in the 2011 election, preventing proper congresses from holding at the ward, local government and state levels. The relationship between George’s supporters and other caucuses led by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Dr Yomi Finnih and Chief Rafiu Jafojo is frosty.

     

    Failed reconciliation attempts

    Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on assumption of office in 2007, constituted an 11-member National Reconciliation Committee headed by the Second Republic Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, to bring back the aggrieved members who dumped the party over the imposition of party’s presidential candidate for the general elections. The partial implementation of the committee’s report led to the return of former Vice President Atiku and few others but Chief Audu Ogbeh and Senator George Akume among others refused to return to the party.

    Alhaji Tukur in March 2012 set up an eight-member committee headed by Chief Graham Douglas to reconcile the feuding members in Kano State. In spite of the committee’s effort, the PDP remained factionalised until late last year when Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso defected to APC.

    Similarly, Tukur mandated a committee led by Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun to settle the rift among the members in Benue State. The report of the committee notwithstanding, the crisis in Benue still persists.

    The Sule Lamido committee failed to reconcile the Governor Murtala Nyako and Tukur factions in Adamawa. The Ishola Filani panel did not succeed in uniting aggrieved party members in the Southwest. Also, the Ibrahim Shema committee set up by the PDP Governors Forum could not assuage the loyalists of former President Obasanjo following their exit from the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    The 30-member committee headed by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state mandated by the party to harmonise interests and achieve genuine reconciliation was doomed from start. Aggrieved party members insisted that Dickson, a protege of President Jonathan, was a wrong person to be a member of the committee let a lone being the chairman.

    Analysts say reconciliation demands an impartial and neutral arbiter that would provide confidence and truce to the two contending sides, that will make it possible for both sides to sit down on the table and address their differences.

     

  • Commotion in the House

    Commotion in the House

    •The uproar in the House of Representatives over leadership ought to be resolved now in the interest of democracy The House of Representatives is always in the news, with crises always defining its character since the resumption of civil rule in 1999. Lately, the delicate political equation in the House has thrown up new possibilities and threatened peace in its operations. While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has a firm grip on the executive arm of government, and has controlled the leadership of the Lower House, is unwilling to accept that the All Progressives Congress (APC) to which scores of erstwhile members of the ruling party have defected should now take control, the APC is insisting that legislative norm frowns at the minority controlling the majority. The House nearly exploded last week, as the leader of the APC, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is designated Minority Leader, referred to Leo Ogor, known as the Deputy Majority Leader, as Deputy Minority Leader. Members of the PDP, led by Ogor, frowned at what they regarded as a surreptitious move to effect a change of leadership. They argued that a court of competent jurisdiction had bound the parties to maintain the status quo in the House, pending the determination of a motion before it. But, the APC found the court’s ruling a violation of a democratic norm that forbids any arm of government from interfering in the affairs of another. The party told a press conference that the rule all over the world is that the majority should take charge of affairs. The matter is still before the court. It is gratifying that the tension was doused when the APC opted to await a motion to vacate the order, despite its reservation on its propriety. The role played by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, is also deserving of commendation. He expertly and maturely made the combatants sheathe their swords and urged all to defer to the court in the interim. He managed to bring the situation under control and ensured that the House sat to consider the business of the day. We call on all parties to the crisis to put the interest of the nation above personal and partisan interests. True, the scenario is unprecedented in the country. Since the introduction of the presidential system in 1979, the same parties have always controlled the executive and the legislature. In the Second Republic when the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), despite being the single largest party in the Senate, lacked the clear majority it needed to ensure smooth passage of executive bills, as it held only 36 of the 95 seats to the Unity Party of Nigeria’s (UPN) 28, the Nigerian People’s Party’s (NPP) 16 and the 15 shared between the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP) and People’s Redemption Party (PRP), the ruling party had to enter into an accord with the NPP that morally allowed it function as majority party. In that wise, the NPN provided the Senate President, and the NPP the Deputy Senate President. The same sharing formula applied in the Lower House. But the PDP’s attempt to block takeover of leadership by the new majority party cannot stand and it should realise this. It stands logic on its head and is a recipe for intractable crisis. This is a democracy and, while the minority could have its say, the majority should have its way. At any rate, why is the PDP now crying wolf when it had benefited from similar defection in the past, when notable members of other parties defected to it and still retained their seats? The parties and the House leadership should realise that national interest is paramount. The needful should be done as soon as possible to reflect the true status of the parties in conformity with democratic norm. It could be argued that the APC has not demonstrated its numerical strength and neither did Gbajabiamila follow established procedure. He said he made the remark in good humour since the matter was in court. But the joke seemed on the PDP counterparts who read gloomy portents in the words of the minority leader. If such a mere mention could threaten to blow the roof, what would have happened if Gbajabiamila had moved a proper motion , or seized the opportunity offered by Motion of Urgent Importance to table the matter?

  • What is Obanikoro up to?

    What is Obanikoro up to?

    In a series of media stunts, Musiliu Obanikoro, erstwhile Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana, former senator, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Lagos State and presently, a ministerial nominee had expressed concern regarding governance and popular expectations in Lagos State under the leadership of Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and All Progressive Congress (APC). I consider his thoughts driven by politics, and it behoves anyone with a conscience to write in defence of a working government. I must state that I don’t belong to any political party.

    I must give kudos to Obanikoro’s for dissecting the Lagos 2014 budget in a recent interview. It is a fact that no government, be it federal or state, has all it needs to execute its projects. The most ingenious way available to every government is to shore-up its internally generated revenue (IGR), and most importantly, go borrowing. Borrowing is neither a curse nor a bad idea; however in our clime the problem we have with borrowing is misuse of borrowed funds, because for any borrowed funds, the project(s) of its application must be attached. The criticism for borrowing is stemmed from the corrupt attitudes of our government officials and the needless open display of ostentations in the midst of a debilitating poverty.

    On the issue of Lagos budget 2014, Obanikoro told us the zero deficit claim of the government is a hoax. He is economical with the truth. Again, while it is debatable, we must look at some parameters to get an answer. Firstly is the issue of recurrent expenditures, this is an issue that virtually all states of the federation and particularly the PDP-led federal government are guilty of. In fact, the federal government budget estimates for 2014 is over 70% recurrent on personnel and overhead. The onus is on governments to reduce the costs on personnel.

    My understanding of zero deficit budgeting is that all expenses captured are justified and provided for, that is, budgets are built around what is needed for the upcoming period, regardless of whether is higher or lower than the previous one. Zero based budgeting allows for top-level strategic goals to be implemented into the budget process by tying them to specific functional areas of the government where costs can be first grouped, then measured against previous results and current expectations. The proposed borrowing of N99.74 billion in the budget is to refinance existing debt. Obanikoro should know that refinancing a debt is different from interest payment for internal loans. At any point in time, more avenues may be open to government to borrow; servicing a loan is different from refinancing a loan. That the state government will access US$200m World Bank loan in 2014 does not translate to the budget being financed from this loan.

    More importantly, that Lagos State will borrow to finance some its projects does not preclude it from having a zero deficit budget. We must know that risk assessment by professionals played an important role before loans are given to any government. More so, credit-worthiness of a state determines if such a state will even be given loan or not. The debt profile of Lagos State is manageable; if not, it is unlikely the World Bank will have made available to it the recent loan. Borrowing and debt management are risks that cannot be avoided but managed.

    In the area of healthcare, I have been to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), but for purpose this writing I will say what I saw in LASUTH can compare favourably with any teaching hospital in Nigeria. Governor Fashola should not be made to bear the brunt of choices of individuals who prefer overseas hospital as a status symbol. We need to build our capacity in the health sector, and this will require the collaboration of both federal and state governments.

    On the electoral issue involving his son, there is always the aftermath of an election, and the loser with a genuine case will approach the tribunal for a redress. Obanikoro’s son won at the tribunal, but since there is a window for an appeal, it is expected that the other person will appeal. To now accuse a sitting governor because of his legal credentials and/status as Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) of impounding the legal victory of his son is cheap politics.

    One area I least expected Obanikoro’s condemnation is the Lagos residency registration campaign. To me this a laudable effort hinged on planning for the development of the state. Headcounts inform government’s template for planning, and that the present Lagos government chose to do so is commendable. Population determination is an important ingredient in governance and infrastructure development.

    In Lagos, exemplary leadership has resulted in ambitious projects that have direct bearing on the populace, notably the BRT expansion from Mile 12 to Ikorodu; the gigantic Badagry-Marina blue light railways, Adiyan water works expansion project, Ozumba Mbadiwe-Awolowo road link bridge, Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, construction of 16 roads in Mushin local government, construction of major roads (Simbiat Abiola road, Kodesho etc) in Ikeja local government, a new modern market in Oshodi, the on-going Tejuosho modern market, new modern stalls in Agege, re-construction of major roads (Adeniran Ogunsanya, Akerele, Bode Thomas etc) in Surulere, the re-construction of 2.6km Alaba/Cemetary road in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, the remodelled Obalende and its environs. More importantly, Lagos State government must be given kudos for the environmental management of canals; the continued dredging and de-silting of these numerous canals within the state have gone a long way to save the populace from flooding issues.

    Obanikoro chose to denigrate his benefactor, APC leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the interview. I don’t think politics should be carried that far. For what it is worth, Tinubu made him a commissioner and facilitated his election into the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In an interview on NTA programme One-On-One sometime in 2004, Obanikoro himself said after God, the next person who had played an important role in his political career is Tinubu. As humans, we should always look beyond the present. Whatever might be Tinubu’s political school, a former political son addressing a political father with such odium hardly speaks well of our age-long known attributes of honour and respect.

    On the whole, the signature of development as embedded through responsible governance from the inception of democratic government in Lagos State is encouraging. We must guard against making negative political judgment on verifiable performance. Much of Obanikoro’s thoughts is political than sound economic management, and we will continue to do ourselves grave injustice if we give political colouration to every issues. While more work needs to be done, Fashola and his team deserve commendation.

    • Nurudeen writes from Surulere, Lagos State.

  • ‘We are blocking executive bills to save democracy’

    ‘We are blocking executive bills to save democracy’

    The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has explained what prompted the party’s directive to its members at the National Assembly to block executive bills and proposals. He spoke with the Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu and Musa Odoshimokhe.

    Can you shed light on this curious directive to the All Progressives Congress (APC) members, at the National Assembly to block executive bills?

    I’m surprised that you call it a curious directive. Let me give you a background to the position we took. Since February 2012, Rivers State has been a theatre of crisis. The origin of the crisis is that there is no love lost between the first lady and Governor Rotimi Amaechi and the President and the governor on the other hand. Since then, the governor has been undermined in many ways, from being deterred in performing his functions as the governor of the state or the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). Following this crisis, the rule of law has been suspended in the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in Rivers State has become the de facto governor of the state. The situation got worst to the extent that the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu stop taking directives from the governor. And very recently, when about 13,000 teachers who were supposed to receive their certificates and letters of employment at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt but they were dispersed by the police with tear gas. Other occasions were when ex-militants backed by the Commissioner of Police disrupted peaceful rallies in the state. The Ogba Local Government in Rivers State which was lawfully dissolved has become a subject of disputation with the power that be. The Police Commissioner prevented the governor from accessing his house, insisting that he must pass through a particular road.

    Things became worst when Amaechi crossed over from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Since then, every rally organised by the state government is either disrupted or dispersed with rubber bullets or tear gas. At every point, we have not been quiet in drawing the Federal Government attention to the ugly developments, even when Governor Amaechi was with the PDP, we drew government attention to it. We have maintained that this situation will not ensure the rule of law. After Amaechi became a member of APC, the persecution escalated.

    We have done everything possible to let the ruling government know that what is happening was not in the interest of democracy and we have noted all the anomalies which they have carried out against the people and our members. We made it clear to the President that the CP Mbu could not have been behaving the way he behaves if he does not have the support of the President. Let me say that out of the 36 governors and their CP in the country, it is only Mr. Mbu that behaves in this manner. We have warned that this impunity has repercussion for stability in the country. It will get to a point when the people will say they can’t take this anymore.

    The situation in Rivers State today is that everyday things are getting more difficult, people are being molested. We have drawn government attention to the situation and since government appears not to be paying the desired attention to the lives of the people, who are being molested in Rivers State, we would ask our members to stop cooperating with Mr. President until he ensures that normalcy gets back to Rivers State. Now, what we call filibustering is a normal and accepted norm in democracy.

    But critics say that with the directive, the APC is planning to cripple government. What’s your view?

    People accused us that we want to shut down government, oh yes. Because we don’t want this government to shut down the country, people have argued whether the steps we have taken is not going to hurt Nigerians more, but we say no. Government is about people, if there is no peace and stability, what is happening in Rivers State might escalate to other states. And if that is the case, what will be the importance of any budget? So, why are we putting the budget over and above the life of the average citizen in Rivers State? People called to tell us that our position is ante-people but we say no. Any government that does not believe in fairness, justice and equity is anti-people. Any government that cannot protect its entire people is anti-people. Any government that does not respect the rule of law is anti-people. So, what we are doing is a patriotic service to Nigeria.

    Apart from this measure to shut down the country, which other measures have you thought of?

    No, we are not shutting the country but the government. We have said if you don’t do this, we will do this. And people now think that the President is right, to continue the reign of impunity in Rivers State, with a total anarchy over the land? We are not just saying there will not be cooperation; it is premised on what happens in Rivers State. If Mr. President today has the political will to stop what is happening in Rivers State there will be no reason to filibuster.

    Apart from the non-cooperation with government, the APC has also adopted measure that would have achieved the same purpose…

    Governor Amaechi wrote letters to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on what happens in Rivers State. Several meetings have been held between concerned groups with Mr. President on this purpose. What else could Amaechi have done? Everyday people are being harassed, everyday our rallies are being prevented, do they want to kill our party and expect us to fold our arms? Today, if the average person in Rivers State realises that he cannot be in APC without being molested, he will go and join another party. And you want us to fold our arms? If anybody has a better alternative, he should tell us and we are going to try it. So, why has it become so difficult for Mr. President to stop what is going on in Rivers State? Why has it become difficult to stop the reign of impunity in the state?

    In view of what is happening between the APC and PDP, does the likelihood exist that there will be governance this year?

    If the President continues with the reign of impunity in Rivers State, we are afraid we will not cooperate with him. We have never asked our members not to cooperate with him because we just wanted it. What we are saying is that Rivers State is part of Nigeria and our constitution allows the people to belong to the political parties of their choice. You don’t use tax payers money to destroy others and protect your own interest. Nigerians should please open their eyes and see what is going on.

    Some had thought that APC should go to court?

    You know how many cases are in court already over this matter? One of the claims used by the Police Service Commission, for not redeploying CP Mbu is that the governor has already taken the matter to court. The governor has even gone beyond that. He has written about 23 letters to the NHRC explaining what is happening in the state. So, if anybody has a better option, we will take it.

    What is the response of the APC caucus to this directive?

    The statement I received from Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila which I can read to you, he reiterated the position of the party through his response. He said filibustering and non cooperation with government is normal in democracy. He said: “APC represents good governance, with respect to the directives given by the party’s NEC, urging the APC National Assembly members to block all legislative proposals from the executive. I wish to assure you that the progressive lawmakers stand for good governance in Nigeria. The progressive lawmakers will not truncate the hard earned democracy; we will ensure good governance in Nigeria. Government shut down or filibustering is not new in the world.”

    People have been talking about the passage of the budget. The one that was passed last year, what has happened to it? There has not been any good solution and development. The reason is simply because of this corruption, inequity and injustice. That is why the country is where it is today.

    So, what condition is APC now giving?

    What we are saying is that the government should abrogate the reign of impunity in Rivers State. The Commissioner of Police has constituted itself as the law and instead of protecting the people he uses force and tear gas to make life difficult for them.

    You have heard from Gbajabiamila, what about George Akume?

    He was at the party meeting where the decision was taken.

    People are saying you are heating the polity. Do you agree?

    That is on the contrary, when they started using tear gas to disperse over 13,000 people who came to receive their letters of appointment at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, what happened? When the Commissioner of Police undermines the constitution and confronts the governor of Rivers State, we are heating the polity. When the police decided to go and stop a peaceful rally with tear gas, we are overheating the polity.

    However, some political parties like APC now say ‘please let observe the rule of law’. However, we don’t have the police, the army but we will rely on the constitution to do so, from the power the constitution has given us. That is, if government does not stop what it is doing then we will not cooperate with it. So, filibustering can be used anytime in democracy.

    It always amuses us that anytime you go to the constitution, to invoke or to challenge what is not right, then you are over heating the polity. When we said the President should be impeached, they say we are over heating the polity. But we did not invent the impeachment clause? Any clause in the constitution which APC invokes, they would say we are overheating the polity.

    This is not the first time that the National Assembly will refuse to cooperate with the President, even on other issues that are not as grievous as this one. Why is it that the President normally has National Assembly liaison officers? Is it not to make sure that there is cooperation between the President and the National Assembly? This is not because there could be lack of cooperation. I don’t know whether we are the only one seeing this? All these people, who are attacking us, Labour Party, Afenifere, what has any of them done? What have they said to this reign of impunity in Rivers State? What did they say or how did they feel when some 13,000 teachers were tear-gassed in the process of receiving their letters of appointment. You can imagine what 13,000 jobs would mean in a state like Rivers. There is no state that would create 13,000 jobs that would not make impact on the economy of the state. What was Labour Party’s position? When Senator Magnus Abe was shut, what did they say? When Commissioner of Police prevented the governor from accessing his residence, what did they say? When five lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly tried to impeach the governor, what did they say? When five people try to overpower 22 people and impeached the Speaker, where were they? I can say it with all sense of humility that this rabble rousing drama, with the plan to sway emotion will not help this country. That is why we are where we are today. Our party will continue to have the courage to speak out.

    Following all these developments what are now your fear for 2015?

    Precisely, what we are saying is that if this reign of impunity is allowed to go on in Rivers State, all you need to do to truncate democracy, is to post police men like CP Mbu to other states. And that will be the end of democracy. Don’t forget that if what is happening in Rivers State today happens simultaneously across the country, it will not be easy to curtail. The luck we have is that this thing is confined to Rivers State. So, we don’t want it to spread to other states. The way we are going, will they even allow people to come and vote freely in 2015? We must not forget one thing; this is democracy, that as long as the method we are using is constitutional and legal no amount of shouting or abuse will deter us. All that we have done is to use constitutional means to get what we want. What do we want? Why are we trying to shut down government? To protect the people of Rivers State, to make sure that the rule of law is returned. What is government all about? Is it not about the rule of law and democracy? They are the one using ex-militants backed by the police, to stop peaceful rallies. So, look at it from the balance, who is overheating the polity?

    Adamu Mu’azu’s reconciliation is likely going to return the defectors to the PDP fold, do you share this fear?

    I think all the governors have responded. They are not going back to PDP. I know Senator Bukola Saraki is not going back. I know Aliu Wamakko said it, I know Amaechi said it. There is no proof that these people are going back. We have an exhaustive exco meeting of our party, there were 11 governors who attended. All the governors or their deputies were either present except for Osun State and the discussion was re-assuring.

    How is the reconciliation of APC in Sokoto and Kano?

    We believe that it is going on very well. We can see positive development on the part of the gladiators. We are leaving no stone unturned. They are all responding favourably to the reconciliation talk and we are making progress.

     

    How is the party resolving the one in Ogun State?

    At a meeting yesterday, former Governor Osoba and the governor were there. The governor stood up to inform the whole House the situation was under control. If there was political problem, it has to be resolved in the interest of the party. Governor Ibikunle Amosun was acknowledged as the leader of the party but he has to be in good stead with his leader, Chief Segun Osoba.

     

  • APC squares up to PDP

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) appears set to test the potency of her new political influence, with its call on her members in the National Assembly to frustrate all executive bills, including the 2014 federal budget, and even the confirmation of presidential nominees for military service chiefs and ministers. The step, according to the party, is to be maintained, until the rule of law is restored across the country, particularly in Rivers state. Prior to the recent political realignments, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a near-absolute political power in the country, with the control of the executive and legislature; but presently, the APC claims majority in the lower national assembly; with a strong showing in the Senate.

    As the cliché goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. No doubt, in the last fourteen years, the PDP has rode roughshod on Nigeria’s political landscape, because it controlled the federal executive and legislature; and also majority of states in the country. Now that scenario has been altered, with the birth of a contending behemoth – the APC. For this column and I guess most Nigerians, this scenario is a welcome development. While I am deeply concerned about the amalgamation of disparate forces in the formation of APC, any lone ranger in any political forest, like the PDP, will recklessly abuse the rules of gaming.

    That is why the emergence of APC satiates the appetite for fairer rules of the political game. But it appears the APC with its new strength in the national assembly, has chosen a wrong fight. While no doubt the presidency has thoroughly abused its privileges in the management of the political crisis in Rivers state, I doubt whether the answer from a potential alternative national platform as the APC, should be to also plunge itself into a counter abuse of its newly acquired privilege. The APC’s strategists may not have thought through the far reaching import of their wholesale instruction to block all executive bills and efforts; including the national livewire – the federal budget, and containing national security challenge – approval of new service chiefs.

    While the crisis in Rivers state deserves national attention, it is wrong to elevate that interest over and above our common national interest, or even equate them. Interestingly, even with the crisis in Rivers state, that state’s budget has been ‘expeditiously passed’ by the state assembly. So if the state is functioning, albeit under severe stress; how can APC justify its demand for a total shut down of the country’s economy and security? What the APC may have done which its mandate to her members is to provide the PDP an excuse should the economy continue to plummet and the security situation deteriorate in 2014, which incidentally is an election year.

    Again, the APC in choosing to block the passage of the national budget appears not to have taken into cognizance, that unlike in other countries practicing federal system of government, the tenability of most state budgets, depend on the federal budget. The implication is that if this battle over the national budget draws on for a few months, many states, including several APC’s states would be hamstrung to pay even the salaries of civil servants not to talk of executing capital projects. Unfortunately also, the states most hard hit by the security challenges in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria, are APC states; and where the situation to deteriorate, will the PDP not likely link the challenges to the blockade of the confirmation of service chiefs by the opposition party, the APC?

    Even more ominous is those to be affected most by the APC’s head butt. No doubt, it is the ordinary Nigerians that suffer most the impact of failing security and economy, more than the political elites. For me, it would have been exciting, had the APC isolated certain issues in the federal budget, like the bloated costs of eating and travelling for the presidency, among several others, and choose to shoot them down from the budget. Even more ennobling would be an audacious insistence by the APC, that henceforth, it will block budgetary provisions for members of the national assembly, approving remunerations for themselves not approved by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Committee, as clearly provided by the 1999 constitution; or even demand the abrogation of the so called security votes by the executives across the country.

    Nevertheless, the political future of Nigeria is most likely in for exciting times. With APC hurriedly barring its newly acquired fangs, the PDP will realize the death of its absolute powers. Also with this development, the PDP will no longer take political steps without consulting the opposition party, unless of course such matter will not require parliamentary approvals. Indeed, the days ahead will be interesting, as the PDP walks the APC’s mined fields, even as the party plants more mines. Also as events unfold, Nigerians will anxiously be watching to see the efficacy of the APC’s mines.

    As I have severally canvassed, it is not too late to distill a progressive agenda for APC or even the PDP, despite the present challenges. One surest way would be, for either of the parties, to agree and pursue an amendment of the constitutional landmines that provide the federal executive with excessive powers and resources. First, is to diffuse the national economy. The APC or PDP can summon courage to put forward a campaign promise to amend the constitution to guarantee fiscal federalism. If successful, such amendment will release the economic potentials of all the states, and save the nation from the daredevilry quest for federal executive power. Next, such constitutional amendment will diffuse control of security apparatuses, with states entitled to have state police. Indeed, progressive politics beckons.

     

     

     

  • Defecting governors: Court orders fresh service of processes

    Defecting governors: Court orders fresh service of processes

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered fresh service of court processes on five ex-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    The processes are in respect of the case filed by the PDP, seeking to sack the governors on the ground of their defection to the opposition party.
    The governors are – Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).
    Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the order on Monday upon complaint by plaintiff’s lawyer, Alex Iziyon (SAN) to the effect that despite being served, the defendants were not only absent in court, they have also failed to file any response to the processes served on them.
    The judge ordered that the governors be served through the national office of the APC in Abuja.
    Justice Kolawole also granted the plaintiff permission to publish the court processes in two specified newspapers. He adjourned to February 6 for hearing of the plaintiff’s originating summons.
    Sued with the governors is the Independent National Electoral Commission (listed as the 1st defendant).
    The PDP argued that the governors should be sacked from office on the ground that, upon their defection, they have forfeited their offices, which, as a result, have reverted to the party.
    In the event that the five governors are sacked from office, PDP wants the court to order the deputy governors or speakers of the states’ Houses of Assembly of the affected states, or any officer next in rank, who is still its member, to assume the office of governor.

  • Bafarawa, supporters defect to PDP

    * APC: It’s a good omen

    Former Sokoto state governor, Attahiru Bafarawa and his supporters yesterday dumped the All Progressives Congress(APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    This was hours after a meeting at his residence.

    Former Kano state governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, was also at the meeting.

    Briefing newsmen in Sokoto, Media Assistant to Bafarawa, Yusuf Dingyadi, explained that “the meeting was also attended by the supporters of the members of the three legacy parties that merged and formed the APC.

    “These parties were the defunct CPC, ANPP and ACN but those who belong to the Bafarawa’s faction of the APC.”

    He added: “The leaders of the former governor’s faction of the APC had been asked to go back to the 23 local governments for further consultations.”

    In a swift reaction, Secretary of the Governor Aliyu Wamakko’s faction of the APC and Commissioner of Health, Ahmed Aliyu, welcomed the development, saying it was a good omen.

    According to him:”It is a good omen for the APC in Sokoto state and at the national level. APC will now stand to be much stronger and united politically.”

    He noted that Bafarawa was afraid of Wamakko, saying” he had since been working for PDP. Only his body was in APC but his heart was already in the PDP.”