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Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Makarfi: Stop victimisation in Benue

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant and former governor of Kaduna State Senator Ahmed Makarfi has objected to what he described as the victimisation of defectors to the party in Benue State.

    He said those victimising Governor Samuel Ortom and his supporters are trying to truncate democracy, adding that the governor’s defection was in accordance with freedom of association  guaranteed by the constitution.

    Makarfi said in a statement by his media aide, Mukhtar Sirajo, that two-third of the 30-member House of Assembly was denied access into the chamber while seven lawmakers were given police protection to plot the impeachment of the governor.

    He said: “It is an unlawful, disgraceful and undemocratic act, which portends a danger of monumental proportions to the country and its institutions. The freedom of association is the inalienable right of every Nigerian as enshrined in the nation’s constitution and all international conventions. The  impeachment of a state governor is a legal and constitutional function, the process of which is clearly spelt out in our constitution, with no ambiguity.

    “It therefore, smacks of hypocrisy and a brazen disrespect for fundamental human rights for the same party to now deny people the right defect from it for whatever reason(s). It is imperative that  people’s rights and freedoms of movement and association and all other rights should be respected fully by the state and its agencies; and that both the APC and its government brace up for more people exercising these fundamental rights and respect same”

    Makarfi urged the people of Benue State to, even as they resist this callous assault on their freedom, remain peaceful and law abiding and be assured that Nigerians are with them in this trying moment.

    He enjoined  Nigerians to, within lawful means, stand up to attempt to stifle the democratic space by a party that was the biggest beneficiary of defections, which is now jittery and clearly uncomfortable at the prospect of getting a dose of its own medicine.

     

  • Uneasy calm at NASS over defection saga

    The alleged threat of breaking into the Senate chamber by some senators as claimed by the caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives failed to materialize yesterday.

    The Deputy Minority leader of the House, Chkukwuka Onyema, with about 10 members at a press briefing on Wednesday evening vowed to keep vigil on the Senate chamber to prevent the senators from forceful entrance into the chamber with a view of snatching the mace.

    According to Onyema, the snatching of the mace was to be followed by reconvene of the senate that will eventually lead the impeachment of Senate President Bukola Saraki, who recently decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC)

    On Wednesday evening, Onyema said: “The aim of their invasion while other senators are on recess is to come and sit illegally when everybody is on recess to impeach the senate president.

    “We also have it on good authority that they are planning to come back this night and tomorrow morning aided by security forces; our own security forces whose job is to protect the lives of Nigerians.

    “They are the ones leading these dissident senators to come and truncate our democracy. We might think they want to take over the senate; that’s not what they want to do.

    Read Also: NASS approves N45b for ex- Nigeria Airways workers

    “They want to truncate this democracy of ours. But we the PDP caucus have decided to stay here to keep vigil and wait to s what’s going to happen tonight and tomorrow night”.

    “We also have some information that some policemen have arrived. We want to find out what they are doing here,” he added. However, the situation at the National Assembly and the lobby of the White yesterday did not suggest any plan to cause a breakdown of law and order within the complex.

    Workers were seen going about their duties without apprehension while a detachment of a   mobile police force said to have been an accomplice of the senators was nowhere to be seen.

    The caucus members that also vowed to keep vigil over the senate chamber could not be seen around the lobby of the White House till the time of compilation of this report.

    When The Nation put a call through to the Deputy Minority Leader Onyema to shed light on the latest development on the night vigil, he replied saying, he was unavailable for the moment, “I am sorry my brother, as you can hear noises from the background, I have some people with me. We are into a very serious discussion. But you can call me back later when I am done with the meeting”.

    Calls to other members of the causes were also not returned.

  • Excitement as Saraki, Tambuwal, Ortom, Kwankwaso, others attend PDP NEC

    There was excitement on Thursday at the Abuja national secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki attended the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

    It was the first NEC meeting Saraki would be attending since his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP last Tuesday.

    Also in attendance were the Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Samuel Ortom of Sokoto and Benue States respectively. Similarly, former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Senator Barnabas Gemade who returned to the PDP last week, also attended the meeting.

    Speaking at the opening session of the meeting, Saraki attributed events of the past week to the “mercy of God”, saying that it was beyond human wisdom.

    Saraki said, “Anybody that believed this could happen based on the wisdom of just human beings does not know or is not being realistic. It is by the mercy of almighty God that this has happened.

    “So, today, as we thank the Almighty God for allowing us to be alive to witness this, for allowing those that are able to be here today, those of my colleges who had a long journey, tough journey, tortuous journey to be here, those on the side of PDP who made it possible for it to happen, it was because of the intervention of the almighty God.

    “We will have a day for speeches; we will have a day to say many things. But for me, I am happy to be back to the political party where I started my political journey. For me, I am back.

    “I am happy to see some of my colleagues here who have given me faith in this country, who have made me believe there are still men of character, that there are still men who are still ready to make sacrifices for this country”.

    The Senate President explained that his defection was a sacrifice he had to make, saying he did it for the sake of the country.

    Continuing, Saraki said, “This sacrifice that we are all making, is just the first part because we are doing this for Nigerians and that exercise will not be complete until we make a better country for our people.

    “So, I want to appeal to all of us, all of you who are here, to please receive us from the bottom of your hearts not only here but down to our local government and wards, many people who will join.

    “Because what we are learning in the history of politics is that everybody is important, everybody is important in this journey we are embarking on and no sacrifice is too much for us to make to reach that promised land.

    “It is only when we reach that promised land that this sacrifice we are making comes good, when we see a better tomorrow for our people. Because it is easier here in Abuja.

    Read Also: APC to Saraki: resign now

    “But when we get back to our constituencies, please, let us continue to open our arms and receive the numbers that will give us victory come February 2019 because it is for a better tomorrow for the lot of Nigerian people.

    “Once again, on behalf of all of us that just joined this party, those who we have met, we are so happy to be back here. And I assure you on behalf of all of us that we will work tirelessly and courageously to do what is right to put this country in the right place where it should be and we will not stop.

    “I offer myself to ensure I continue to play my part, to continue to ensure that we defend our democratic principles in this country, we provide security and good leadership and good governance for everybody. But that is only possible if we are all united because not any one man or two or three can do it alone.

    “The message that I will like to leave here with is a message of let us all work together so that these sacrifices will really be worth it in the interest of our people”.

    Speaking earlier, the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus assured Saraki and others who defected to the party recently that their efforts would not be in vain.

    Describing Saraki as key in the renewed struggle to “free” Nigeria, Secondus commended the defectors, saying history would be fair to them.

    Said he, “The bold steps you took to return to the party where you truly belong, is a sacrifice not for yourself but for Nigeria and history will be fair to you.

    “Today is the beginning of the great journey to freedom, the great journey to free our people and rescue this country from the damage done to it by the APC in the last three years”.

    The party chairman expressed regrets that agencies of government established to protect the people have been deployed by the government to assault institutions of democracy.

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku also expressed dismay over the recent killings in some parts of the state, saying that situation in the county has continued to deteriorate and that Nigerians are worse off today.

    Ishaku said, “It’s time Nigeria is free or move 100 years backward. Defectors to the PDP saw tomorrow and they decided to change the situation.

    “Some of us wake up crying every other day because you see pictures of your people being killed in their homes because they don’t have AK-47 rifles. I cry more than I celebrate.

    “We must change this government because with the defectors, the PDP will do better for Nigerians. Corruption is not about stealing money alone. Killings, nepotism and allowing killers to go free are also corruption”.

    Governor Ortom on his part said he left the APC worse that he joined the party in 2014, stressing that he lost everything he brought into the APC.

    Others at the meeting include the governors of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

    Also at the meeting were past party chairmen, past and serving members of the National Assembly and others.

     

  • Scores of youths hail Saraki’s defection to PDP

    Scores of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s supporters and youths on Thursday held solidarity rally in his honour in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.

    The supporters hailed his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    They insisted that Saraki would always win any election in the state notwithstanding the political platform he chooses to use.

    “In Kwara, Saraki is our political party and we shall always vote for his party and candidates”, spokesman for the youths, Yakub Haruna

    Kannike told newsmen at the entrance gate of the Government House where the over three hours peaceful rally terminated.

    Kannike added: “He (Saraki) has been tested and trusted by the good people of our dear Kwara state. In fact, he does not need to be in any political party to win elections in the state. The people of the state have said it in many fora that our political party in Kwara is “Saraki”.

    “The simple interpretation of the above is that the people of the state are always ready to vote for any party that our leader belongs to, at any point in time. There are so many instances to buttress this assertion.

    Read Also: Saraki’s defection won’t affect APC’s fortunes in 2019’

    “The 2015 election is still very fresh in our memory. Since 2003 when he was elected the governor of the state, Saraki had been provided a purposeful leadership for the people of Kwara state.”

    The processors challenged Saraki’s opponents on the need to show more commitments to the well-being of people of the state, saying it is not vote-catching to be seasonal politicians.

    Said he: “If we may ask, where are the political opponents of the Senate President when he was and still attending to the needs of the good people of Kwara state? Those antagonizing Saraki to selfish interest are all seasonal and absentee politicians with no record of assisting their communities not to talk of the entire state.

    “They always come around few months to election period to get patronage from their sponsors and attempt to deceive the electorate.

    But thank God, the Kwara electorates are very wise and had always rejected them whenever they came around.

    “We are therefore using this forum to sensitize the people of the state to the antics of opposition elements and political spent forces who are jittery over Saraki’s defection to the PDP.

    “They do not have anything to offer you as they will soon desert you as soon as they loose the 2019 general elections. Saraki is our God chosen leader who is always around to share in our happiness and grief. He deserves our support and we shall never cease supporting him.”

  • I’m still in APC – Kano deputy governor

    Kano State Deputy Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar has denied rumours making the rounds that he defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

    Speaking with newsmen on Wednesday night, Prof. Hafiz  Abubakar said he is still the deputy governor of Kano State.

    Read Also:PDP welcomes Tambuwal, Kano deputy governor

    “I have not resigned; I am still the deputy governor of Kano State. I am currently in Abuja attending an official function, that is the National Council of Education meeting,” he said.

    The Nation observed that the rumour gained more prominence as the said defection of the deputy governor was announced on the PDP twitter handle welcoming him and Sokoto state governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who defected on Wednesday.

    He noted that he would take decision on his political future at an appropriate time, after consultations.

    “I will take decision on my political future at an appropriate time after due consultation with my political leaders,” he added.

    He therefore blamed “some agents” of the state government for spreading the rumour.

    On July 30, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar petitioned the police and State Security Service, SSS, over threat to his life and plans by the state government to stage rally against him.

    Abubakar, an ally of former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, has been at a crossroad with the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, for romancing with Kwankwaso in the political impasse in the state.

    The Nation gathered that Abubakar may likely contest for the PDP governorship ticket upon his defection.

  • PDP Reps to keep vigilance on NASS to prevent Saraki’s impeachment

    Following the formal defection of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki from the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the caucus of PDP in the House of Representatives has vowed to resist the impeachment plot against him.

    The caucus said it is currently keeping vigilance over the Senate Chamber to prevent it being forcefully accessed by APC Senators.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed an alleged plot to impeach Saraki by some APC senators said to have perfected plans to force their ways into the chamber with the connivance of security agencies.

    The National Assembly is currently on a two-month annual recess.

    The Deputy Minority Leader of the House Chukwuka Onyema briefed reporters at the National Assembly yesterday evening where he said PDP lawmakers in the House would scuttle the plot by watching over the National Assembly.

    Read Also: Saraki, Senators, Reps’ defection immature – Cleric

    Onyema, who was flanked by about 10 members alleged senators, Abdullahi Adamu, Ovie Omo-Agege and Ali Ndume as being the arrowheads of the forceful takeover of the Senate chamber and the impeachment plot while the federal lawmakers are on their annual vacation.

    He said: “The aim of their invasion while other senators are on recess is to come and sit illegally when everybody is on recess to impeach the senate president.

    “We also have it on good authority that they are planning to come back this night and tomorrow morning aided by security forces; our own security forces whose job is to protect the lives of Nigerians.

    “They are the ones leading these dissident senators to come and truncate our democracy. We might think they want to take over the senate; that’s not what they want to do.

    “They want to truncate this democracy of ours. But we the PDP caucus has decided to stay here to keep vigil and wait to s what’s going to happen tonight and tomorrow night”.

    He however said it was time for Nigerians to rise up and defend the nation’s democracy, “This is not a rape on the National Assembly, it’s a rape on democracy which concerns all of us.

    “If we allow this to happen, then we can as well go back to when we use to have a military junta.

    “We also have some information that some policemen have arrived. We want to find out what they are doing here,” he added

     

  • I am not ready to dump APC – Kalu

    …..Says crisis in party will be resolved

     

    Former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu on Wednesday said he is not ready to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), because it is not moral for politicians to move from one party to the other preparatory to every election circle.

    He said people who are afraid of losing election in Abia State are responsible for spreading falsehood about loyalty to the APC.

    Kalu, however spared a thought for the ongoing EFCC trail, affirming that he will challenge the “No Case Submission “, at the Court of Appeal.

    He said he remains in the ruling party to deepen democracy, because only politicians who see politics as a do or die affair, that move from party to party

    Speaking to reporters at a private terminal at the international wing of the Lagos Airport, Kalu described as ‘capital naked fallacy’, insinuations that he was returning to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    He however described the gale of defections from APC to PDP, as an unhealthy development that is though driven by choice, but not good for democracy.

    Kalu said: “I am not leaving the APC. That is what l will call a capital naked fallacy; l am not going back to PDP. I left PDP  since 2006 and l have never been back, l have been a member of Progressives People’s Alliance  before l  joined APC when l found out that Nigeria has gone to two party systems. “Honestly going back to PDP is not really an option for me. I will rather go to my farm in Igbere and farm. I don’t think there is any truth in the rumour. It is just people who knew that they are already losing Abia because they no they will lose Abia with me standing.”

    Kalu, however, spared a though for the gale of defections hitting the ruling party, saying the development calls for caution, by the leadership of the party.

    He said “We are in trouble. Anybody saying APC is not in trouble is not saying the truth but we will come out of it,  but you see the President has remain like a true leader and father of all that he is, you have not seen him abuse  anybody. Defecting and not defecting is a question of choice.  We acknowledge we have a problem and we are going to fine-tune a strategy to resolve it.”

    We are in trouble of political business because we are in political business and we are going to find political solutions to the myriad of political business we have at hand. Every trouble has solution and we are going to find solution to the problem we have now.

    “It is the choice of the senate president to defect. You know we are all friends. He left PDP before to come to the APC. What l don’t like about the defection is that it shouldn’t be a recurring decimal whereby at any slightest thing, we jump to another political party.

    “Saraki father was my father; l was like his first son. I cannot speak ill of him. He has made his decision and l cannot stop him that will not stop me from going to his house to eat food. The other day l was in Atiku’s house but l am a core supporter of Buhari. People are just playing politics as if it is a do or die affair. One thing is clear, by 2019, one person must win this presidency not two people.”

    He said it is not moral to condemn the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for defecting to the PDP, because the Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is already addressing the issue.

    Kalu said “I think Chairman Oshiomhole is looking at that and he will come out policy that we will present at the national executive committee of the party. The leadership of the party is looking at the present solution. Rome was not built in a day. PDP was a party formed barely 20 years ago and APC is just 3 years old so there must be fighting just like we saw in the early days of PDP up till 2006 we were fighting.

    “People like me were deregistered from my pdp but l didn’t leave PDP, we were de-registered by Obasanjo, myself, Atiku,  Boni  Haruna and the and rest. It is a continuous thing but l want people to be patient, we would be able to get what we  are looking for but if not we wont get to our desired destination because political processes evolves over time. I keep  saying that in political development, the hardware is not the selling point, successes of any political development is  the software. The software means obeying the rule of law.”

    Kalu, said the “No Case Submission “, will be addressed at a court of higher jurisdiction.

    Read Also: Judge gets leave to conclude Kalu’s trial

    He said “You saw on Wednesday l lost the case of my no case submission in the court and l am not abusing the judge talk ill of the judge, that was the opinion of the judge and l am going to a higher court to seek appeal and even go to the Supreme court where l will seek the opinion of another jurist. This is what l preach to government, individuals, corporations that we must obey the rule of law. Unless everybody sees a lion from the same point that it is a lion. I want to advice that government at all levels and individuals should start obeying the court record. Once we obey the laws of the court and those of the land, we become freer.”

    Kalu said his interest in running for the Abia North Senatorial Seat, under the platform of the APC, is to smoothen the relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government.

    He said “My interest has always been to be relevant politically and what l am going to do for the people of Abia north and Nigeria generally. I am going to be a very strong voice in the senate by making a lot of difference like l did when l was in the House of Representatives, in the aborted Third Republic. I was the one who sponsored the bill that was passed into law for dual citizenship of Nigerians which was the only bill that Babangida signed as a president.

    “I am going to also unfold a lot of things that will first come to my constituency in Abia north so that they will now know that they have a senator representing them; secondly the Abia people will know they have a voice of a vibrant senator and then Nigerians. I will work across board in the six geo-political zones to formulate policies on education, healthcare. Education remains the most important gift any government should give its citizens.

    “I am also going to be formulating on agriculture. My duty is to work with the President and ensure a cordial working relationship with the executive and legislature. It is only when we have such relationship that progress is made. I employ today 9, 000 workers in Nigeria, l am going to bring my management skill to bear on the discharge of my duties.”

    The former Abia State Governor, however lauded government on the proposed national carrier, Nigeria Air, describing it as one of the best decisions taken by the government.

    He said “The government has done fantastically what l believe should be done. It should be replicated in the rail, waterways, shipping line and others. Govt. should just owe five percent. I must praise the minister of state for aviation and the people that put the structure that is making waves today. Those structures are solid ones and if they can maintain it, Nigeria Air will compete with other foreign carriers that dominate our airspace. I laud the good initiative for a country like Nigeria spending all our money on foreign airlines; it is good we have a strong dominant airline back up by government.

    “Ethiopian airlines is still own by government. I maintain all my aircraft with them so l know that they are capable of doing. Government should not event stop at that, they should allow the private sector initiative to go into the new shipping line and others.

    “Those criticizing it never knew that it is only true government that you can build a strong economy. It is only when government invests in economy manage by private sector that we can have moved forward.”

  • Defections foreknown

    To thy tents o Israel! This best describes the ongoing political defections that we have been witnessing since Tuesday, with the defection of 13 All Progressives Congress (APC) senators to the immediate past ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and one to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). At least 32 members of the House of Representatives also dumped the ruling party for the PDP; four defected to the ADC while the remaining one representative did not state which party he was defecting to. One does not need to be a political pundit to know that the defection of some PDP stalwarts to the APC in 2014 was nothing but a marriage of convenience which was bound to collapse sooner than later. That the unholy wedlock even lasted this long was due to the high degree of tolerance on both sides. But the scales are now finally falling off the eyes of the incompatible lovers.

    When politicians defect aimlessly like a rudderless ship, it is pointer to the fact that ideology or principle has fled the polity. These days, the difference between the progressive hue of politicians and the conservatives is not clear at all. Today, someone is a conservative; the next day he is in the progressive train. No qualms. This blurred distinction between both explains why these days, progressives’ votes are stolen and there are no protests, even in the very strongholds of the progressives’ camp. It is for this same reason that the Bukola Sarakis of this world would find accommodation in the APC, albeit temporarily, because he knew clearly where he was going from the beginning; and his entry into the progressive fold would be celebrated like the angels in heaven celebrate whenever a convert gives his life to Christ.  It was because Saraki knew where he was going ab initio that he ensured Ike Ekweremadu, a PDP senator, was elected his deputy! That is rare in any presidential democracy.

    Without doubt, corruption is a defining factor in all of these defections. It is its own way of fighting back. And it is President Muhammadu Buhari one has to blame. He is the one to blame for marrying their wives when he should have married their mothers. If this appears like a coded message, the president has more than enough Yoruba people around to help him untangle the knot or decode the message. Definitely, the way he opened his eyes and allowed Saraki to seize the Senate at the very beginning was the height of his political naivety, for which he is  paying and would continue to pay for probably till the end of his term, if care is not taken for, no kangaroo attempt to remove Saraki as Senate President shall prosper.This is neither a wish nor a prayer; it is just that Saraki has done his homework sufficiently to ensure it is so. Buhari has not.

    Senate President Saraki is at the centre of these defections because of his ambition to become president. Indeed, he is the face of the defectors, even though he is yet to ‘port’ from the APC for the simple reason that he has to vacate his senate presidency the moment he does that. And that will render him bare; so vulnerable because the hue and cry about whatever some people see as his tribulations becomes an issue because he is the country’s Number Three citizen. His latest trouble has to do with the confessional statements made by some of the Offa robbery suspects, to the effect that Dr Saraki is their financier.

    It is sad that some people have begun to read political motives to the police invitation to the Senate President in connection with this criminal matter. But it would necessarily be so because of the way the police are handling it. This was one robbery that the police have described as about the deadliest in the country’s robbery annals. No fewer than 31 persons were killed in the operations even as 21 AK47 rifles were allegedly snatched by the robbers when they struck in Offa, Kwara State, on April 5.

    We need to wean ourselves off this mentality that certain people, because of their exalted positions, are above the law or cannot be questioned for their suspected involvement in criminal activities. I think we should separate Genesis from Exodus; as one of my lecturers in the university used to say.

    Be that as it may, it is a weighty allegation that the Senate President could be linked with such people in the society. So, his defence that as a politician, he has too many supporters and could therefore not have known all of them, or probably what they do for a living, cannot be enough alibi to convince the police. This is much more so with the claim by the police that four of the suspects escorted Dr Saraki to pay condolence visit to the Olofa of Offa, shortly after the robbery. No fool will take this defence for the gospel truth. There is a big question mark on the integrity of the Senate President. Yet, the office that Senator Saraki occupies is not one to trivialise; therefore whoever occupies that office must, like Caesar’s wife, be above suspicion.

    Dr Saraki might not know what the people who claimed he finances their activities or buys vehicles for them, as well as gives them plenty of cash do with whatever he gave them beyond using them as political cannon fodder. He might not know they use those gifts and probably his political clout fto perpetrate crimes, including armed robbery. So, the Senate President has to give more convincing reasons beyond what he has said so far that is in the public domain about what the Offa robberies’ suspects alleged he is to them.

    One must confess though, that the way the Buhari presidency has been handling the Saraki matter leaves much to be desired. And that is one thing many people do not understand about the government’s style. If truly the robbery suspects made such claims about Dr Saraki; that is enough to keep him busy with the police asking him to report to their office at intervals since the allegation was made. But to wait until the week that Saraki and his friends had perfected defection plans from the APC to move against him is what has given room to insinuations in many quarters that the whole thing was politically motivated. In other words, the ruling party is ready to shield or tolerate Saraki for as long as he is ready to remain in APC. If people who are adept in political maneuverings had handled this matter, it is the Senate President who by now would be begging people to help him beg the government for safe landing. But, the Buhari presidency is about bungling this again.

    It is because President Buhari had left undone what he ought to have done, or had done wrongly what he ought to have done that many of the people whose mouths should be in ‘permanent position of shut up’ are still having their voice. Those of them who had lost it before have found it. Even Olisa Metuh (remember him?) the master actor whose ‘lying-in-state’ on stretcher was well recorded in the media has suddenly resurrected. Add this to the drama in the defection of Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to the PDP, then you get a clear picture of the kind of game that is playing itself out. First, it was youths in the state who were putting pressure on the governor to leave the APC. Then, they removed the APC stickers on the governor’s vehicles. Only God knows what next they or some other characters would do in some other places to make their political godfathers look like they are being forced to do something that is against their wish. Yet, to me, the APC might have expressed surprise over Ortom’s exit, he appears to have a good reason for his action. His state has been the centre of herdsmen’s killings, with his government having to provide mass graves for the victims. But the way the governor has painted the whole scenario, the only thing I can say to him is that when next he and the other defectors who are pretending to be angry with Buhari’s dictatorial tendencies go to the supermarket, they should not forget to buy bibs for the rest of us so we put on our necks in order not to soil our clothes when eating.

    Again, whether the N-PDP or whatever contraption they ultimately form  will last is a different matter altogether, given the sheer number of presidential aspirants that will flock the party. I do not see many of them willing to gift the ticket to another without a fight. So, it might yet only be the end of a scene, with another scene in the offing.

     

  • Kano 2019: The battle ahead for Ganduje, Kwankwaso, Shekarau

    Following Monday’s defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and about 13 other Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kano State Correspondent, Kolade Adeyemi, recalls the political rivalry between former Governor Kwankwaso and his successor, the incumbent Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and reports on the likely effects of Kwankwaso’s defection in the intricate politics of Kano State ahead the 2019 General Elections

    SINCE last Wednesday’s political drama at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, when about 14 senators defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) there has been speculation that the development would go a long way in shaping or re-shaping political calculations ahead the 2019 general elections.

    To keen observers of Nigeria’s current politics, it was however not a surprise in the real sense of the word, though everyone seem to agree that the development would affect the politics of various states and zones differently. The Nation observes that hours after the defection of the senators, the effects have started to manifest, especially in the states where stories of political alignment and re-alignment had been heard loudly.

    In Kano, for example, the battle has been centred on three major political gladiatorsthe incumbent Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; his immediate-predecessor as governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and another former governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. Though there may be other political leaders that could also spring surprises, there is no doubt that they are bound to queue behind the political lineages of these three.

    At the inception of the fourth Republic in 1999, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on a twin-ticket with Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, won the Kano State governorship election under the banner of the PDP. As at that time, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office. His disposition over Kwankwaso’s style of leadership which was extremely critical did not go down well with Governor Kwankwaso, who in many occasions, openly showed his anger to the senior civil servant.

    Kwankwaso and Shekarua’s rift grew stronger by the day so much that at one point, Kwankwaso ordered his immediate redeployment out of cabinet office and later demoted him to a class room teacher. This development prompted Shekarau’s resignation from the civil service. He went in search of greener pastures with the Dantata Foundation.

    Free from the ‘bondage’ of civil service under a perceived antagonist governor, Shekarau in 2002 re-energised his plot of sacking Kwankwaso out of Kano Government House. Using aggressive propaganda, Shekarau who was respected for his pious lifestyle, particularly, within the religious circle, endeared himself into the heart of the Kano masses. In the build-up to the 2003 general elections, Shekarau aligned with the populist Muhammadu Buhari (now the sitting President), who was the presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP). With the influence of Buhari, Shekarau clinched the APP governorship ticket and defeated incumbent Kwankwaso, in a historic election that has continued to beat the imagination of pundits. Shekarau held sway as Governor of Kano State for consecutive eight years, breaking the jinx in Kano politics. For these eight years, Shekarau tackled Kwankwaso, notwisthanding the so-called Federal might which he enjoyed as the Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    In 2011 general elections, at the expiration of Shekarau’s tenure, Kwankwaso staged an aggressive come-back and defeated Shekarau’s choice candidate, Salihu Sagir Takai of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). At this point, Ganduje remained Kwankwaso’s deputy. Kwankwaso and Shekarau had another open political clash at the advent of the legacy party that later transmuted into the All Progressive Congress (APC). In fact, Mallam Shekarau, who came from the ANPP bloc of the legacy parties, was said to be one of the brains behind the APC merger arrangement. At this point, Kwankwaso, engrossed with his presidential ambition, became a major player among the PDP rebels that formed the nPDP.

    In the heat of the PDP crisis, Kwankwaso, with power and money at his disposal, struck a deal with the APC and cross-carpeted and the party structure was handed over to him on a platter of gold. Malam Shekarau who was relegated by the party leadership had no choice than to play to the tune of the PDP-led Federal Government, which compensated him with the portfolio of Minister of Education.

    However, the latest defection of Kwankwaso from APC to PDP has, again created serious dust in the political atmosphere of Kano State. The question many pundits continue to ask is whether Kwankwaso and Shekarau can work together in the PDP or if there is going to be a replay of the 2013 episode when Shekarau left APC for Kwankwaso.

    Also, the political atmosphere in Kano remains even more tensed following the irreconcilable political rift between Kwankwaso and Governor Ganduje, which started at the tail-end of Kwankwaso’s second-tenure. The unfolding drama that followed last Monday’s defection of Kwankwaso to PDP, forced Ganduje to cut short his official trip to London. Being one of the major point men to President Muhammadu Buhari and considering the strategic nature of Kano to Buhari’s 2019 presidential project, Ganduje, who made a short stop-over at Abuja, ensured that his political structure remained intact and solid. In fact, his immediate response to the already tense situation foiled a grand plot to divide the Kano State House of Assembly by Kwankwaso and his men. Ganduje’s underground work paid off as the leadership of Kano State House of Assembly, came out openly to puncture rumours that 22 of them, including the Speaker, were making plans to defect to the PDP. Addressing reporters on the development, the Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, dispelled the rumour of defection of some APC members to the PDP and affirmed that members of the Assembly were in solid support of Governor Ganduje and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, “the Assembly has 40 members from the 44 local government areas in the state and 33 of those members are solidly loyal to Ganduje and Buhari. Six members, who are staunch followers of Kwankwaso, as well as one PDP member, who clinched the mandate through the outcome of Supreme Court judgment, are still with us.  Ata further stressed that, “the defection of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso to PDP will not in any way affect Governor Ganduje’s victory in Kano State.”

    Also speaking on Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, his cousin, who is currently serving as Ganduje’s Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Illyasu Musa Kwankwaso, described it as a blessing to Ganduje’s 2019 return. According to him, “Kwankwaso’s return to the PDP will only succeed in capturing 60 per cent of the party’s structure. The former Foreign Minister, Ambassador Aminu Wali and the erstwhile Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, including Senator Bello Hayyatu will be left to grapple with the remaining 40 per cent.”

    Ilyasu Kwankwaso further explained that, “the implication of this is that Senator Kwankwaso will never endorse the candidature of Aminu Wali and Shekarau. He will attempt to manipulate the already existing structure for his personal gain. I want you all to wait for the next one month, after the defection of Senator Kwankwaso from the ruling APC and be on the watch out for what would happen, as there would be mass defection of numerous PDP members to the APC. Kwankwaso will neither support Wali’s candidature nor Shekarau’s candidature.”

    It is however important to underscore the fact that from the forgoing scenario, Kwankwaso’s main target is to ensure that Ganduje is not re-elected as governor of Kano State in 2019. Already, he has started perfecting his plots with the endorsement of Ganduje’s deputy, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, as a potential governorship candidate in the 2019 gubernatorial elections in the state. This plot is becoming clearer because few months ago, Hafiz openly declared that he was not interested to run as deputy governor with Governor Ganduje in the 2019 elections. Also, a fortnight ago, Prof. Hafiz and Kwankwaso were sighted in London where they held a high profile political meeting with some Kano stakeholders, where Prof. Hafiz was finally endorsed to run as a governorship candidate in the 2019 governorship election.

    Reacting to Kwankwaso’s defection to PDP, Malam Shekarau, through his spokesman, Sule Yau Sule, welcomed him to the party and only hoped that he would abide by the constitution of the party and play the game of politics according to the rules.  “I hope the PDP has received a reformed Kwankwaso. I hope it is not the old Kwankwaso I knew. I hope he will, this time around, abide by the rules and regulations of the PDP. I hope he will not repeat what he did after he joined APC in 2015. At that time, he took over everything, leaving us with empty hands. I hope Kwankwaso is not coming to PDP to repeat the injustice he did in 2015. If everybody will be allowed to play his card according to rules of the party, that will be better for him (Kwankwaso) and every member of the party,” he added.

    However, though there were rumours that Kwankwaso and Ganduje are struggling to win the heart of Shekarau, the former Minister of Education however denied striking any deal yet with both of them, adding that he never sat one-on-one with Kwankwaso since 2015.

    Be that as it may, pundits have continued to doubt the possibility of Kwankwaso working together Shekarau as many of Shekarau’s lieutenants are said to have started piling pressure on the two-time Kano State Governor to dump PDP for Kwankwaso before it is too late. Come what may, as events continue to unfold in the weeks ahead, the compass is focusing on Ganduje, Shekarau and Kwankwaso as no one can predict, for now, where the pendulum will swing.

     

  • A postmortem of Osun PDP primaries

    The divergent views and actions trailing the outcome of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship election primaries in Osun State, suggest that the party could be headed for a crisis.

    If the contentious issues are not attended to,  the matter is likely to get to a monstrous level.

    This is not the time to pretend as if all is well, because doing so would only help the budding controversy to grow.

    It is no longer news that Senator Ademola Adeleke was declared the winner of the governorship primaries, a development that now threatens the party’s chances.

    Irrespective of the narrative that an Adeleke candidacy could be in sync with the power shift narrative in the state, his victory has only divided the party.

    Considering that election is just less than two months away, observers think the happenings in Osun require more than calls for calm.

    Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, who supervised the September 22, 2018 exercise, said Adeleke scored 1,569 votes.

    He saId Adeleke’s closest rival, Mr Akin Ogunbiyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Mutual Benefit Assurance, scored 1,562 votes.

    Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, a former Secretary to the State Government, scored 56 votes while Mr Nathaniel Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) scored 3 votes.

    Dickson said the expected delegates were 3,448 while accredited delegates who participated in the election were 3,246.

    He said 56 votes were voided, adding that any aspirant who is not satisfied with the result can appeal to the National Working Committee of the party.

    As a result of what other contestants described as the poor conduct of the poll, Adeleke is beign accused of not mustering the number of votes to qualify him as candidate of the PDP.

    It goes further to explain that the outcome of the election  remains a subject of concern to most party members.

    They were found to have been disappointed, disillusioned and confused by the outcome.

    It has been alleged that there are issues that  compromised the integrity of the exercise.

    Some identified factors include alleged non-adherence to the clear provisions of the Electoral Guidelines, manipulation of the accreditation, voting, sorting and counting of the votes cast by delegates at the primaries.

    Another point that had been raised is that the  document submitted by Adeleke as evidence of his educational qualification up to school certificate level did not meet the basic qualification stipulated by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The Dickson panel was also accused of allowing illegalities to reign supreme during the election.

    And a lot of instances had been cited by those privy to the inside story.

    For instance, it was gathered that during the process of sorting, a significant number of votes casted for Ogunbiyi were wrongly counted as invalid despite protest by his agents.

    To buttress that, eyewitnesses said,  all the aspirants’ votes were counted loudly and publicly, except Adelekes’ which form the basis of the first announcement of until his agent protested and demanded a recount.

    The insistence that all other aspirants’ votes, including the purported void votes  be recounted as was done in Ogunbiyi’s case was vehemently declined by the panel Chairman.

    This, however, increased the suspicion that there was a premeditated stance on the election.

    Some parts chieftains are aggrieved that contrary to Section 30 F, many unaccredited delegates were alleged to have been allowed to vote without tags or any form of identification numbers.

    So many alleged anomalies were also gathered to have shaped the exercise, a development said to have run could of best practiced, total number of ballot papers was not publicly.

    For instance, many illiterate delegates were said to have been denied the right to choose who should write the name of their preferred candidate on their behalf.

    This  may have been responsible for the large number of purported invalid votes.

    It was learned that the result sheet was not given at the conclusion of the exercise but was only received on behalf of one of the candidates  18 hours.

    That was why the candidate rejected the result, describing it as defective and  contrary to section 31 B of the Electoral Guideline.

    In the light of these, there are calls  for justice.

    In fact, most party members want a  response from the panel to prevent the APC from having the opportunity to exploit the crisis.

    Instructively, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, allows for withdrawal by candidates/substitution of withdrawn candidate by political parties not later than 45 days to the election.

    In fact, Section 35(1) of Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended)  provides not later than 45 days to the election.

     

    • Aleshinloye writes from Ikire