The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Peoples Democratic Party

  • Inside PDP presidential aspirants’ camps

    The search for the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gathering more steam. In this report, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu and Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, attempt to uncover the behind-the-scene moves in the camps of the leading aspirants for the party’s ticket

    THE race for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party is gathering momentum with the declaration of the immediate past National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Until recently, the aspiration of the two has been a matter of debate. Now that they have formally made their interests known and have moved into the field to contest for support, it is observed that all the other aspirants have, as a result, also upped their game. The behind-the-scene negotiations and consultations have been intense in the last two weeks.

    Dankwambo

    Though the Gombe State Governor’s presidential ambition started on a low key with very few people seeing him as a serious contender, even for the presidential ticket of the opposition PDP, not to talk of winning the general election in 2019, his political camp today is a beehive of activities across the country as pundits say he has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the PDP ticket.

    To underscore the seriousness attached to the presidential race by his team, the Dankwambo Presidential Project has been opening state chapters across the country to further take the message to Nigerians. It inaugurated the Enugu State chapter few weeks back. National Coordinator of the group, Deacon Zach Okoronkwo, speaking at the event, said “what we are saying is that right now, there is failure in governance. We need a real alternative and we have found one. What we are focusing on now is good governance.”

    Dankwambo’s growing visibility in the race, reliable party sources said, may not be unconnected with the uncertainties that now shroud the likely decision of PDP governors on the choice of the party’s eventual presidential candidate. The Nation gathered that currently, the governors are still unable to reach an agreement on who, among the aspirants currently seeking the ticket, best suits the job of defeating APC and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Nation also learnt that contrary to initial assumptions that Dankwambo will find it difficult to convince his fellow governors to back his aspiration, there are indications that the Gombe State Governor may have succeeded in winning to his side some of his colleagues. Recently, it was rumored that the PDP Governors’ Forum was set to endorse him. Though the endorsement never took place, the story is yet to be officially refuted till date.

    “Dankwambo is one of those looking good in the race to the presidential ticket of our party. He may not come across to many analysts as a leading aspirant, but from feelers within the party, and considering many factors, the young man may just be the surprise candidate Nigerians are not talking about yet. And to his credit, he is taking his aspiration to rule Nigeria very seriously.

    “Unlike some other aspirants, he is not waiting for some people to endorse him. His team is all over the place seeking the cooperation of party chieftains and chapters. Recently, he was here personally with his people to talk to us. He is not a stranger to us in PDP and we know what he has done as governor for eight years. Within the party, he has contributed immensely to PDP,” a chieftain of the party from Oyo state, told The Nation.

    Associates and aides of the governor also claimed that the choice of Dankwambo is now being supported by many serving and former PDP governors, ministers and other bigwigs who see in him the combination of competence and capacity. They claimed the decision of the party to field its very best candidate against Buhari is working in favour of the Gombe state helmsman.

    Chief Raphael Ukauku, a politician from Abia State, collaborated this claim when he told The Nation, during the week, that “Governor Dankwambo has made great impression as PDP’s likely choice to contest against Buhari. From what we hear of him and the accomplishments that have been associated to him, he is an achiever. As you know, he is also fresh and young. That seems to be part of the advantages he is enjoying against all the other aspirants. Nigerians are eager to see real change and I think Dankwambo for presidency suggests that change.”

    Atiku

    Former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, according to sources within his campaign team, recently received some soothing assurances from some leading chieftains and groups within the opposition party concerning his 2019 presidential ambition. This, The Nation gathered, is responsible for the upsurge of activities in his campaign efforts of recent. Atiku, as part of efforts to buoy his aspiration, is currently on a nationwide tour to propagate his ambition.

    According to a close female aide of the former Vice President from Taraba State, Atiku is optimistic of clinching the ticket of the opposition PDP. He is more determined than before to help the PDP return to power and he now has the support of those that matter within the party. Before now, there were clouds of uncertainty over the chances of the former APC chieftain in the race for the PDP presidential ticket.

    Talks about some forces being opposed to his clinching the ticket largely because he newly returned to the PDP after dumping the party and helping the APC to displace it from the presidency in 2015, had reportedly worried his team and kept activities at the lowest ebb for sometimes until recently when Atiku officially declared his presidential ambition and kicked off the tour.

    One of Atiku’s latest supporters, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, representing Bayelsa East, has hailed him as the choice to get the country working again. Atiku has also announced former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as the Director-General of his campaign amidst talks that he has also enlisted the support of both Senator Buruji Kashamu and Hon. Ladi Adebutu to deliver the delegate votes from Ogun State and propagate his ambition across the Southwest.

    Reliable sources also claimed there had been talks between Atiku’s camp and Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State on a possible working relationship between the two aspirants. Fayose, The Nation reliable gathered, may be eyeing the Vice Presidential slot in an arrangement that will see him work for the emergence of Atiku as the flag-bearer of the PDP in 2019.

    Atiku, who had met most of the PDP governors to discuss his ambition, according to close aides of his, is also holding talks with some northern groups and elders with a view to enlisting their support against Buhari and the APC across the north. “Talking about PDP being serious about defeating APC in 2019, everybody within the party now know it is only Atiku that can make that happen and we are sure they will give us the ticket to send APC packing from Aso Rock,” a source said.

    In the Southeast, sources said the former Vice President has been reaching out to his old supporters, even as insiders said he is probably the most popular and acceptable aspirant. “Atiku is well accepted here because of his pedigree and what he did when he was in power as vice-president but the issue of who should be the vice presidential candidate has remained a thorny issue. Here in the Southeast, it would be difficult to contemplate not presenting the vice presidential candidate in 2019. That is the issue both Atiku and the other aspirants are still battling with here,” a source from Enugu State said. We learnt, most of the aspirants are dodging the topic and as a result, some stakeholders are also being careful before making commitments.

    Datti Baba-Ahmed

    Last April, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed officially expressed his intention to contest in the forthcoming 2019 Presidential Election on the platform of the opposition PDP. The 48 year-old ex-lawmaker, according to a statement signed by the Chairman of the Datti Baba-Ahmed Campaign Media Committee, Ibrahim Biu, wants the ticket of the PDP and is ready to contest with others for it.

    “Senator Datti Baba Ahmed’s (DBA) political journey started when he was first elected in April 2003 to the Federal House of Representatives for the Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State. He ran on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). In the April 2011 elections, Baba-Ahmed polled 366,398 votes in the contest to represent Kaduna North Senatorial District, beating his closest rival, Senator Ahmed Makarfi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the incumbent, who polled 365,043 votes.

    “At the age of 41, he had worked for the Security Printing and Minting company in Lagos, obtained two different Masters degrees and a PhD, served as elected Hon. Representative, Distinguished Senator, and established one of the top ranking private universities with two other companies which employ over 600 people drawn from every state in the country,” Biu said while selling the candidacy of Baba-Ahmed to reporters back then.

    But aside the announcement and a few visits to party chieftains in Abuja, nothing much has been heard about the aspirant’s strategy towards clinching the ticket of the opposition party ahead of more established political names like Abubakar Atiku, Sule Lamido, Dankwambo and others. Not much is also known about the people supporting his ambition within and outside the PDP.

    His ambition also suffered a serious setback few days ago with the defection of one of his most visible supporters, Chief Mrs. Remi Adiukwu, to the ruling APC. The leading female politician has been Baba-Ahmed’s most visible supporter in the southern part of the country. But all that ended last Tuesday as she ceremoniously announced her return to the APC, citing the unserious approach of the PDP to leadership and politics.

    But former Commissioner for Environment in Enugu State, Mr. Chijioke Agu, insists Baba-Ahmed is still in the race to win. According to the politician, the young presidential aspirant should be supported largely because of his sound leadership qualities in private and public sectors. He added that he is optimistic that an aspirant with sound leadership qualities would not be ignored by a nation genuinely craving for growth and development.

    Engr. Okechukwu Onwuama, a youth activist in Owerri, Imo State, also said Baba-Ahmed’s candidacy will likely attract the support of the youths. “As a young man, he is one of the aspirants we are interested in although, we know very little about him,” he said, adding that some of the so-called established candidates would be disappointed by the actions of the youths in the coming elections.

    Makarfi

    After months of speculations about his rumored presidential ambition, former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, finally threw his hat into the ring of the contest for Nigeria’s presidency in 2019. The immediate past National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists in Kaduna last Sunday.

    But reliable party sources say Makarfi’s first official declaration of his presidential ambition is coming at a time his support base within the party has been seriously weakened by events and some crucial factors. Few months back, the ex-governor was the undisputed front-line aspirant for the PDP ticket given what was then a consensus among majority of the party’s governors to support him for the ticket.

    “But the situation is no longer the same and Makarfi knows too. He has done a lot of underground consultations before declaring his aspiration publicly. He is aware of the change in the situation and he is not a politician you can underrate. If he says he is still in the race, then it simply means that he has added up all the facts and figures and he is ready to give it a fight,” a source told The Nation.

    Makarfi also confirmed to reporters that he consulted widely before arriving at the decision though he had not received endorsement from party members. He however added that the consultation gave him an opportunity to feel the pulse of Nigerians. Aides close to the former party boss revealed that he will be banking on the many connections and contacts he made across the country as party leader to win the PDP presidential ticket.

    “The consultations have been quite positive and I believe it is fair enough to come to the conclusion that one should join other equally capable party men and women who have shown interest in seeking the party’s nomination for the 2019 presidential election. At this stage, it is to seek for the party’s nomination. The successful nominees will become the candidates that will stand for the election. If one’s party does not put him forward, you can’t say you are contesting for presidency yet,” he said.

    The Nation also learnt that the former Governor’s camp will, in a matter of days, announce his campaign team which may be headed by a former governor from the eastern part of the country. “We are putting finishing touches, not just to the campaign team list, but to a whole lot of other things and modalities, before we launch out fully. And when we do, there will be no stopping this train,” an ex-Minister from Osun State, who is part of the team, said.

    Already, the PDP in Nasarawa State had pledged to back Makarfi to pick the 2019 ticket of the party. Hon. Francis Orogu, Chairman of the party in the state, said this at the state’s party secretariat when Makarfi visited the party. Orogu said the former governor of Kaduna State deserved their support based on the role he played in, according to him, making the party formidable.

    Explaining why he wants to be the president, Makarfi told The Nation in an interview: “For me, I have known governance for sometimes at state level. I served Kaduna for three years as Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning. I came in from the private sector. I have private sector experience, especially banking. I governed this complex state for eight years. I have legislative experience, having been in the Senate for a two term of eight years. I got a bonanza when the party leadership fell on my laps, to know about managing political party. If you cannot manage your party, even if you are elected, you will have problems governing. If you can’t manage the legislature and build cordial relationship such that key legislations that can take this country forward are passed, then governance becomes complex for you. If you cannot manage complex society such as Kaduna, which is a mini Nigeria, you cannot manage Nigeria. God has so designed that one has passed through all these processes.

    These, to me, are advantages but of course it does not mean that it is a forgone conclusion. Somebody who may have not prepared himself in governance at all may find himself in government but the country will pay a price for that. I believe I have these advantages. Others may have their own advantage but at the end of the day, the people will decide,” he said.

    Lamido

    Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who was the first chieftain of the PDP to declare his interest in the 2019 presidential ticket of the party, has always made it clear that he was not desperate for the position of Nigeria’s president in the 2019 General Elections. This declaration seems to be guiding the pace of his efforts towards securing the PDP ticket ahead of the polls.

    The former minister, according to close aides, though hopeful that he will get the PDP ticket, is also not oblivious of the firm hold on the party by a clique, and he has complained bitterly about this. “He wants to run and he can only run on the platform of the PDP. Defection to any other party is not on the card for him. But he is worried that some people within the party will not allow for a free and fair process.

    “This is largely his only concern for now. And that is having effect on his campaign as he is currently working with others to ensure a level playing field. It is only when we are sure that the process will not be skewed in the favour of any particular aspirants that we can say we are ready to go all the way,” an aide to the former governor told The Nation while explaining the lull in political activities within the aspirant’s camp.

    The increased tempo in the camps of the five aspirants is a sign of the things to come before the primary election.

  • Oyo APC crisis: Members of splinter group already returning – Party Chieftain

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Hon. Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, has revealed that many members of the splinter group, Unity Forum, were already returning to the party without making noise about it.

    Abass-Aleshinloye, who is the Chairman, Oluyole Local Government and a member of the party’s National Convention Committee, revealed this in a chat with The Nation.

    When asked if the APC would go to the convention as a healthy party, the politician revealed that several members of the splinter group who made overtures to the party had been reabsorbed, adding that the reconciliation efforts initiated by the party at all levels in the state have also created an open door for many others that have been returning.

    He said: “There are some people, very few of them, who actually caused this crisis because of their inordinate ambition. They don’t want things to be brought under control but I am telling you about 70 per cent of the people are already coming in. Nobody will go to any party, which party will they go to? Which party in Oyo State will they go to? They are coming in because they have not gone anywhere. They are in for reconciliation. There is nowhere in the whole world where you run this kind of presidential system of government where the president or governor will not be recognized as the leader.

    Read Also: 2019: APC in make or mar convention

    The President at the national level is the leader of the party. At the state level, the governor is the leader of the party. So whether you like it or not, like his face or not he is the leader of the party. And he has signified his intention to reconcile everybody. The work of the reconciliation committee is already yielding fruits.”

    Abass-Aleshinloye explained that in spite of the pockets of crises in some states, APC still fares better than the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    According to him, the APC is going to the national convention as one healthy party unlike the PDP which once had parallel national conventions.

    He said the crises in the APC are mere disagreements that are being blown out of proportion, pointing out that they will be fully addressed before the convention.

    The council chairman said a big, governing party like the APC can not run away from such crises because most politicians are driven by interests. He emphasized that all interests can not be addressed every time.

  • No endorsement for any presidential aspirant – Bayelsa PDP

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday said it had no preferred presidential aspirant for the 2019 general election.

    The party said all PDP aspirants were free to visit the state to seek support from the members and leadership of the party.

    The party made its position known following the Tuesday’s visit of former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, to consult the state Governor, Seriake Dickson over his presidential ambition.

    The state Chairman of the Party, Chief Moses Cleopas, said in a statement that the position of the party on presidential aspirants was endorsed by Dickson.

    He said is that the party would receive all aspirants and accord each of them the respect, hospitality and the courtesy they deserved.

    He stressed that while it was the position of the party to receive and hold consultative talks with all aspirants, the party in the state would not endorse any particular candidate before the convention.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill three soldiers in Bayelsa

    Cleopas explained that after receiving all the aspirants the party stakeholders would collectively take a decision on endorsement at the PDP convention.

    He said: “The Bayelsa State chapter of the PDP will receive all presidential aspirants under the platform of the party. The party in Bayelsa will ensure that all presidential aspirants are treated fairly with the respect and courtesy they deserve.

    “However, it is the position of the state chapter of the party that there would be no endorsement of any particular candidate before the convention.

    “The position of the state would be decided collectively and expressed at the convention ground.”

    Cleopas said that it was encouraging that people of integrity with the requisite political clout were aspiring to run for the Presidency in the 2019 election on the platform of the PDP.

    He said that the PDP had the strength to wrest political power from the APC in 2019, with its vast spread and visible presence in all the 774 local government areas and every ward in the country.

    The party chairman who stressed that Bayelsa is a PDP State thanked the leaders and members of the party for turning out en mass to receive one of the Presidential Aspirants,  Atiku Abubakar at a very shot notice and encouraged them to do same for other aspirants.

  • Ekiti PDP lawmaker joins APC

    The gale of defection hitting the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has spread to the House of Assembly as the lawmaker representing Ise/Orun Constituency, Mr. Adeniran Alagbada, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Alagbada is the House Deputy Leader and Lands and Housing Committee Chairman.

    Announcing his defection to the APC at a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, Alagbada said the people of his constituency are in support of his decision to dump the PDP.

    Alagbada explained that APC represents a better platform to give the people of his constituency a better and effective representation.

    The legislator who also announced his resignation as the House Deputy Leader of the Assembly said he was moving to APC.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Tinubu, Oyegun, others storm Ekiti

    He also said the people of Ise/Orun are aggrieved that Governor Ayo Fayose reneged on his promise to cede the governorship slot to the zone in 2018.

    Alagbada said: “I’m aware and it is an historical fact that during the 2014 PDP primary, Governor Ayo Fayose promised my constituency, Ise Orun, the governorship after his tenure.

    “We were therefore very hopeful when two of our illustrious sons, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi camevout to show interests to contest for the PDP gubernatorial candidate.

    “My constituency was therefore shocked and surprised when non of the two aspirants from my constituency was found worthy of support by the governor.

    “Not only did he disdain them but worked ruthlessly to ensure their manipulation out as candidate of the PDP in preference for the Deputy Governor, Prof Kokapo Olusola who was no where when we risked everything to ensure the victory of the governor both at the primary and General Election.

    “Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Barrister Owoseeni Ajayi have since left in protest to join the APC. My constituency too who elected me into the House of Assembly are also aggrieved and have directed me to follow suit with my leaders.

    “Consequently, in accordance with the directive of the good people of Ise/Orun constituency of Ekiti State House of Assembly, I hereby resign as the Deputy Majority Leader of Ekiti State House of Assembly and my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party due to irreconcilable breaking into factions of the PDP in Ekiti state following the rancorous gubernatorial primary.

    “I also use this opportunity to announce my defection to the All Progressives Congress forthwith.”

    The PDP had earlier lost the lawmaker representing Ikole Constituency 1, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, to the APC.

  • Kwara: PDP governorship aspirant laments disunity of the party

    A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kwara state, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Ajia has lamented over existing internal division, wrangling and acrimony in the party in the state.

    He warned that the current seemingly irreconcilable differences in PDP in the state would allow the party secure victory over the formidable ruling  All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections.

    Ajia said this in Ilorin yesterday at an event to commemorate Sallah celebration where he distributed bags of rice and souvenirs to party faithful across the 16 Local Government areas of the state.

    The PDP gubernatorial aspirant noted that there was no way the party could embark on a war fragmented and expect to defeat the ruling party.

    He challenged party chairmen in local government areas to reconcile aggrieved members and work with unity of purpose and sense of direction.

    Read Also: 2019: Obtain your PVCs now, Gov. Ahmed tells Kwarans

    Ajia also called on party faithful to work as a team ahead of the primary elections and ensure that the best candidate emerged to fly the flag of the party in the polls.

    Said he: “I urge you all, let us know that the unity of this party is the first thing that can give us victory. For those of you who are enjoying peace in your own local governments, you need to tell others and teach them how you have done it so that when we have a one party we can face the war. You can’t go to a war with a divided house. This thing is giving me a lot of concern.

    “I think the elders are ready now; they have shown concern that they want this party to be united. So, party chairmen across local governments, the time is now to work together. Let us kick start.

    “From now on, everybody will take a responsibility. Let us be talking on how we can make sure that we have a successful primary election and a united political party to face the problem of the state.

    “The war before us is not a small war, and here again, we are fragmented. So, this is the thing that gives me concern from time to time. Let us go into partnership, let us sign a social contract, so that we can have a new Kwara, where a son of nobody can become somebody, where you don’t need to know somebody before you can buy forms and say you want to represent your people anywhere. This is the Kwara of my dream.

    “A Kwara where a local government chairman can live in his local government headquarters, a Kwara where a commissioner on Friday will be eager to close from work and go back to his local government.

    “It is time for us to tidy up our trousers. We need to put politics aside. We need to identify the potentials in all the individuals that are out.”

  • Ekiti 2018: Osinbajo, Tinubu, Oyegun, others storm Ekiti for mega rally

    … Fayemi takes campaign to more communities

    All is now set for the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag off mega  rally in Ekiti State ahead of the July 14 governorship election.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other key party figures are expected at the rally scheduled for Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

    Members of the APC National Campaign Council headed by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu, National Working Committee, governors and ministers are also expected at the rally.

    Security has been beefed up at the venue with riot policemen stationed within the vicinity of the arena. The stadium was being decorated ahead of the rally.

    Osinbajo is expected to hand the party’s flag to the governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his running mate, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi.

    Meanwhile, Fayemi on Monday took his campaign to communities in Ekiti West and Ijero Local Government Areas urging the people to reject the continuity agenda of Governor Ayo Fayose which he said was aimed at keeping them perpetually in poverty.

    Communities visited include Aramoko, Erio, Ido-Ile, Okemesi, Ikoro, Ijero, Ijurin, Iloro, where more leaders and members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC.

    The defectors promised to ensure victory for Fayemi in their various localities saying they were rejecting the PDP in protest against Fayose’s alleged “deceit, wickedness, lies and greed.”

    In Aramoko, a stronghold of PDP where the visits kicked off Monday, no fewer than 30 of its top leaders led hundreds of supporters to defect to APC while in Ido-Ile, residents said they would vote for Fayemi for the water project, roads, schools rehabilitation and social security for the elderly people he provided in his first term.

    Fayemi expressed delight that it was mainly those giving APC headaches that defected to APC in Aramoko and assured them of equal treatment in their new party.

    He listed his achievements in agriculture, schools and hospital rehabilitation, social security, appointments, education, roads and electricity, among others, in Aramoko to the thunderous applause of supporters.

    Read Also: Fayemi is the reason Ekiti is under financial burden – PDP

    Fayemi regretted that nothing had been added to what he did in the town except for Fayose to introduce payment of tax by school pupils while workers are unpaid for between six and 10 months.

    He urged the people to dismiss Fayose’s lies on debts, saying though he borrowed N25b to implement projects that are verifiable, including completing projects started by Segun Oni’s administration.

    The APC candidate revealed that he paid back N14.5b of the loan before leaving office while Fayose had so far borrowed N56b but did nothing with it except a bridge built at over-bloated cost.

    Fayemi said the road he awarded but abandoned by Fayose would be completed, including new projects that the community might request for in his budget.

    He urged the people to reject continuity of sufferings, unpaid salaries and lies that Fayose wanted to sustain by working to install Prof Eleka as his successor.

    In Erio, the hometown of Fayose’s wife, residents regretted that though Fayose is their son-in-law, they had not seen any development assistance from neither Fayose nor his wife in the last three years.

    The community presented a copy of the Holy Bible to Fayemi, declaring that APC candidate represented a soldier of Christ who will always win his battles. They said victory is sure for Fayemi on July 14.

    Fayemi expressed shock that the road he initiated leading to Erio worship centre was abandoned by Fayose, promising to complete the project and implement other ones they choose in his pre-budget meetings with the people.

    He promised to continue his pro-people schemes, including social security, free education and helping students to pay for public examinations and scholarships.

    The rally at Okemesi was dramatic, as residents in the town openly rained abuses on one of her sons in Fayose’s administration who early in the morning allegedly led thugs in knife battle to create sense of insecurity to disrupt APC rally.

    The Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, in his palace praised Fayemi for appointing indigenes, including Adewale Fapohunda, into his government, while Kayode Fasakin was a member of the House of Assembly. The monarch said they were the best to represent the town in government.

    He said the town had the best of times while Fayemi was governor, even as he praised Fayemi for constructing the abandoned road to the town’s hospital. The monarch assured Fayemi of total support of the community.

    At Ikoro, country home of the third runner-up in APC primary, Kayode Ojo, the former aspirant, who described Egbeyemi as his father’s friend, urged the people to vote for Fayemi, reminding the people that
    Fayemi’s years as governor was an evergreen experience in the development process of the town.

    Another party chief from the town, Dr. Femi Thomas, regretted Fayose’s neglect of the town despite support for him in 2014.

    He described Fayemi as a man of honour who can be trusted with his words while another former aspirant, Dr Bayo Orire, spoke in the same vein, urging residents to vote for Fayemi.

  • 2019: Mixed fortunes for Southwest PDP

    As the Peoples Democratic Party prepares for 2019 General Elections the state chapters in the Southwest zone have recorded mixed fortunes, Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan, reports

    AS the race towards the 2019 General Election continues to garner momentum in the southwestern part of Nigeria, certain developments of the past few weeks within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the states of the region are eliciting mixed feelings from the chieftains and members of the opposition party in the region.

    While those in Ogun State are currently rejoicing over the reconciliation efforts that have seen the camps of Senator Buruji Kashamu and former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who buried their old political differences and promised to work together to ensure victory for the party come 2019, those in Oyo, Ekiti and Lagos have continued their political losses following the defection of some leading chieftains of the PDP into the fold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Observers of the politics of the region say PDP will need to do everything possible for it to make any meaningful impact in 2019. And with the party at the national level daily expressing its determination to return to power after the next election, not a few pundits are keenly following the happenings in PDP, especially in the southwest where it is hoping to garner votes that will help it turn the table against President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

    Fola Samad, a pro-democracy activist and former Director of Voters’ Alliance, while examining recent events within the troubled party across the region, concluded that PDP is not providing a virile opposition to the APC. “All these talks about the PDP winning the next general election to me are more of paper permutations than realistic examination of the true state of the party.

    “Here in the southwest, it has been one step forward, two steps backward for PDP. While we must give credit to the new leadership under Uche Secondus for initiating some ground-breaking reconciliation efforts like the ones in Oyo and Ogun, one is left worried by the daily news of defection from the party of prominent chieftains who would have played significant roles in the expected victory of 2019.

    “For me, the PDP is failing Nigeria by not providing the much needed virile opposition to the ruling APC, especially at a time like this when many Nigerians feel the current administration is leaving a lot of things undone to the detriment of the masses. To make the APC sit tight and work harder ahead of the 2019 General Elections, the PDP must be seen to have put its house in order across the states,” he said.

    A chieftain of the PDP in Lagos State, Sen. Adeseye Ogunlewe, while speaking on the state of the party in the region, said that there is still much work to be done if the PDP intends to do well in the 2019 General Election in the southwest. The party could not realise its objective of capturing Lagos and other states in 2019 if members are working at cross purposes.

    “The PDP members in the southwest need to work in unity to achieve our objectives in the 2019 election. Election is around the corner. This is a time for unity and not for fight or discord. Personally, I see the same people in the various camps as belonging to the same PDP. Yes, there are disagreements, which is normal in a democracy, we will sort ourselves out,” he said.

     

    Ondo and the Mimiko challenge

    Just when many PDP members and supporters in Ondo State were hoping that immediate past governor of the State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, will heed the call on him by the leadership of the PDP in the state to help in making the party stronger, he officially dumped the PDP for good last Wednesday, citing “well considered personal reasons” for his unexpected political decision.

    Mimiko revealed this in his letter of resignation to the PDP leadership in the state, informing them of his decision to leave the party. In the letter addressed to the PDP on Wednesday, the former governor explained that his reason to leave the party was personal to him. Mimiko thanked the PDP leadership and members of the party for the support he received while in the party.

    Though the letter didn’t specify the ex-governor’s next political abode, reports have it that he is headed to his former party, the Labour Party. The letter reads in part: “I hereby with utmost humility inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP with effect from today, June 13, 2018, for some well-thought-out personal reasons. It was an honour working with the many prominent Nigerians with whom I shared the PDP platform for the entire period I was there as a member.”

    Pundits say contrary to statements by PDP leaders in the state to the effect that the defection of Mimiko will not affect the party; the PDP is on its way to decline with the development. “Mimiko is PDP and PDP is Mimiko in Ondo State for now. Take away Mimiko’s structure from PDP in the state and nothing will be left. So, with his exit, PDP in Ondo State will have to start all over again,’ a source claimed.

    Earlier this month, amidst the rumour that Mimiko was on his way out of the party, leaders of the PDP in Ondo State pleaded with him  to help resuscitate the party instead of dumping it for another political platform. Party sources told The Nation that talks about Mimiko’s defection threw the PDP into disarray as it is believed that majority of the party’s chieftains will exit with him.

     

    It was the State Chairman of the party, Clement Faboyede that made the appeal. He said: “It would be in the interest of the party and the supporters of the former governor to remain and salvage the party instead of dumping it for another political platform. “Mimiko is our leader until he officially leaves the party. We are appealing to him to stay and provide leadership for our teeming aspirants. Mimiko said he is consulting and he has not finished consultation. We hope he will rescind the decision to leave the party.”

    Now that it has become official that the former governor has dumped the party, allegedly over some disagreement on the national leadership of the party between him and Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and his Rivers State counterpart, Nysome Wike, observers of the politics of the state are of the opinion that it may take the party a longer time beyond 2019 to be able to unseat the ruling APC in the state.

     

    Respite in Ogun

    But it is not all bad news for the PDP in the region. From Ogun State, where the crisis in the opposition party had been fiercest before now, some rays of hope emerged during the week with the reported reconciliation between the political camps of former Governor Gbenga Daniel and the Senator representing Ogun East, Buruji Kashamu. The duo had been at loggerheads since 2010.

    The disagreement between the two politicians left the party fictionalised ever since and contributed largely to the defeats suffered by the PDP during the 2011 and 2015 General Elections in the state. While Kashamu had managed to firmly hold on to the party leadership all the while, Daniel’s camp has consistently played the spoiler’s role at each election, leaving the PDP nothing more than a house divided against itself.

    Kashamu allayed fears of party loyalists when he publicly recognised Daniel as his political leader last Sunday in a statement personally signed by him, saying an end to the rift between Daniel and himself, would end the political wrangling in the Ogun State chapter of the PDP. Just as he called on all leaders and members of the party to come together and forge a common front in the overall interest of the party ahead of the 2019 General Elections under the leadership of the former governor.

    He said the reconciliation was due to the mediation of eminent personalities and national political leaders, even as he described it as “genuine and long overdue.” The statement reads, “My recently publicised reconciliation with His Excellency OGD is truly very genuine and I accept that in fact it is long overdue. I thank the Almighty God for His grace over both of us, culminating into this resolution of age-long dispute to the betterment and advancement of our teeming supporters, political associates and the Ogun PDP generally. Happening in the holy month of Ramadan, as a practicing Muslim, I take it as divine and shall be permanent.”

    With the reconciliation between Kashamu and Daniel, it is believed that the multiple disagreements within the PDP in Ogun State, which have led to expulsions and counter expulsions of nearly all the prominent chieftains of the party, including Daniel and Kashamu themselves, by warring factions, will end, paving way for the much expected reorganisation of the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

     

    Uncertainty in Lagos

    Chief (Mrs.) Oluremi Adiukwu is a leading chieftain of the PDP in Lagos State. A three-time gubernatorial candidate in the state, she contested for the position of Deputy Women Leader at the party’s congress. The popular and respected socialite and astute political amazon, according to very reliable sources, may have decided to dump the opposition party and pitch her tent with the APC.

    The Nation gathered that in a matter of days, the beautiful politician of repute would find her way into the progressives’ camp where she rightly belongs. Adiukwu, it would be recalled, before joining the PDP in 2008, was one of the trusted allies of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC National Leader and the former Governor of Lagos State. Sources in her camp said she is highly impressed by the performance of the progressive government in the state for almost 16 years of the current democratic dispensation.

    So shocking is the news of Adiukwu’s planned exit from the party that many PDP chieftains are reportedly prevailing on her to forget about the plan. “Her house, since the news broke, is now a Mecca of some sort for PDP members. Not less than two presidential aspirants have visited her this week alone. A gubernatorial aspirant from Ikorodu, in Lagos State was here on Tuesday.

    “Another gubernatorial aspirant, an Ife-born prince, eyeing the governorship seat in Osun State was here with leaders of his political group. They all came to prevail on her to reconsider her decision. But I can confirm to you that she is done with the PDP. Her argument now is that all politics is local and she needs to be part of the laudable progress being made in Lagos by the progressives. Don’t also forget the cordial relationship she enjoys with Tinubu and Aregbesola among others in APC,” a source said.

    It was further gathered authoritatively that, in preparation for her grand return to the ruling party, she has been reaching out to the remaining members of her erstwhile Crystal Alliance Group within APC. Members of the group in both APC and PDP have met severally in the last two weeks and sources claim it is all geared towards the planned defection of the politician and her supporters to the APC.

    With Adiukwu and her supporters planning to leave the party and the camp of Chief Bode George unusually inactive since his botched national chairmanship ambition, the PDP in Lagos State is currently clouded by uncertainty. Many party members are so distraught that they are contemplating abandoning the party soon unless some of their leaders speak up in good time.

    Osun’s mixed bag

    The people of Osun State will be electing a new governor later this year but the Osun State chapter of the PDP seems far from being ready for the big task of reclaiming the seat it lost to Governor Rauf Aregbesola almost eight years ago. Rather, the party is struggling to assure its teeming supporters that the defection of its strongest hand since 2002, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), will not affect its chances in the election.

    Amidst speculations about his next political move after he lost control of the PDP in the state to some young Turks led by the new state chairman, Soji Adagunodo, Omisore officially announced his decision to dump the main opposition party for the SDP. Few weeks before the announcement, majority of his political aides, loyalists and supporters, including Dr. Bayo Faforiji, Ojo Williams, Bade Falade, among others, have joined the SDP.

    Eventually, Omisore in a prepared text, announcing his defection to the SDP, said, “notwithstanding my enormous contributions over the past years or so to building of the PDP, after very deep thought and the widest consultations with my God, my family, my supporters in and outside Osun State, it is with great concern that I have made a very expedient decision today, to withdraw my membership from the PDP and join SDP.”

    Describing SDP as “a party that believed in a balanced, equitable and truly functional Nigeria”, the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation declared that “on the platform of the SDP, I shall with the support of my supporters, followers, and the electorate of the state, seek the nomination to contest for, and by His grace, be elected as the Executive Governor of Osun State on September 22, 2018.”

    The development elicited mixed reactions from members and chieftains of the party. While some are rejoicing over Omisore’s exit, claiming his refusal to allow for a fresh governorship candidate has been responsible for PDP’s many defeats, others say without the former Deputy Governor’s structure and war chest, it may be difficult for the party to make much impact in the September election.

  • Abiola would have been a PDP member if he was alive

    Winner of the June 12 presidential election, Late Chief M.K.O Abiola would have been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if he were to be alive today because he epitomized the democratic ideals of the party.

    This is the position of the Special Adviser to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Political and Legislative Affairs, Mr. Ekong Sampson who spoke on Thursday during a Planet FM interview programme, “Politics Today” monitored by our correspondent in Uyo.

    Governor Emmanuel’s aide said that Chief Abiola committed much of his wealth towards the prosperity of Nigerians through sports, building bridges across ethnic and religious divides and paying huge sacrifices for the benefit of Nigerians.

    In his words, “the essential character in June 12 is the bridge building component of that struggle. I can say clearly that if Chief Abiola were to be alive today, he would be campaigning for the PDP because PDP represents what Abiola lived and fought for.

    The Akwa Ibom political mogul said June 12 has become a rallying cry and a signature that impunity cannot last forever, adding that June 12 should be a defining metaphor for 2019.

    Read Also: June 12: A parley with MKO Abiola

    “As we immortalize Chief Abiola we must learn lessons from the undercurrents that drive his imprint in history and defend what drove their essence. We must be able to protect the character of their struggles and, to me, the character of that struggle is embedded in the principles of democracy; that the wish of the people must be respected,” Ekong Sampson stated.

    Furthermore, “we must show that we believe in the ideals that drive June 12 and to me the bigger picture is the bridge building narrative because June 12 brought Nigeria together across the religious, ethnic and other narrow considerations. That is the Nigeria of our dream,” Sampson said.

    Sampson likened Governor Udom Emmanuel to Chief M.K.O. Abiola in bridge building.

    “I got to know Chief Abiola in my early years as a sports writer. Abiola gave humanity respect, not really minding where a person came from. Udom Emmanuel, likewise, believes humanity must be protected and that is why the State government attaches a lot of premium to health care delivery, spending a lot of money and time to make sure our people get the best medical attention,” Sampson said.

  • PDP accuses Buhari of making June 12 a Yoruba affair

    The People’s Democratic Party in Edo State has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of making June 12 a Yoruba affair.

    It said the essence of June 12 should reflect on all those who fought for the survival of democracy in the country instead of making it a Yoruba affair.

    State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke while addressing newsmen in Benin City said some persons who fought for the actualization of democracy were not short listed in the recent list of those to be honoured.

    “Today, people are talking of June 12 and nobody is talking about Prof. Omo Omoruyi. This is to me, an attempt by some group of politicians who want to make June 12 a Yoruba affair.

    Read Also: Buhari apologises over June 12 poll annulment

    “What is good for those who fought for June 12 is good for all. You do not need to come from certain section of the country to be recognized for your nationalistic contributions towards our democratic government.

    “So, June 12 is a watershed in the politics of Nigeria where people from all tribes supported that the military must be ease out of power.

    “So, the attempt to tribalize, politicize it by the federal government is quite unfortunate”, he said.

  • Ekiti 2018: Olusola will defeat Fayemi, says Campaign DG

    The Director General of Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation, Chief Bisi Kolawole, has predicted victory for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming governorship election.

    Kolawole expressed confidence that the Deputy Governor, who is also the PDP candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, will defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on the strength of the performance of the ruling party for over three years in power.

    Speaking with reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Kolawole described Fayemi’s declaration that the APC will use every power at its disposal to regain power at the July 14 election as an “empty boast.”

    Kolawole, who is also the Commissioner for Environment said Fayemi’s emergence as flag bearer of the APC, would make the PDP victory “more resounding.”

    According to the former Ekiti State House of Assembly member, he boasted that the APC will suffer another humiliating defeat with Fayemi as the candidate.

    Kolawole said: “This is somebody who held the dog with his two hands and he allowed the dog to escape. And he is now making noise. The truth of the matter is that Fayemi is a loser and ingrate. He was packaged for the people of Ekiti and the people have rejected him.”

    “Fayemi came in as an inexperienced fellow and he betrayed all those who assisted him to be governor. He is just blabbing and seeking attention.

    Read Also: Fayemi slams Fayose for owing Ekiti monarchs, workers

    “But let me say if the APC is so unfortunate to have Fayemi as it flag bearer, I can bet you the party would go into extinction in Ekiti.

    “With his declaration, Fayemi had embarked on his last political journey to perdition for that matter .When you listen to him carefully, he tried to imitate governor and he did that wrongly.

    “If you want to imitate you do it correctly. You will recall that it was Fayose who first issued a red card to APC.”

    “We in PDP don’t take him serious, because we have our people on ground, if anybody thinks there is a Federal might somewhere. The person must be deluding himself.

    “Fayemi has much baggage and he remains barred from holding public offices. He can’t spring any surprise any longer. Even, when he declared, how commissioners or other members of his cabinet followed him?

    On the gale of defections rocking PDP in Ekiti, Kolawole said it was a product of an alleged inordinate ambition of some former members.

    “Those leaving PDP are Abuja politicians who don’t want to agree that there is a new leadership in PDP. But as they are leaving, other people are coming in. We are even happy that they left because they have been making concrete resolution difficult in PDP”.

    Responding to a question on whether the non-payment of salaries could affect the chances of the party, Kolawole said the workers are enlightened and reasonable.

    He said: “They know that governor meant well for them. He would not do anything to denigrate or intimidate them. The governor has promised to clear all the backlogs before expiration of his tenure.”