The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senator Walid Jibrin

  • 2019: PDP begins search for presidential flag bearer

    2019: PDP begins search for presidential flag bearer

    Key stakeholders and power blocs within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have begun the covert search for an acceptable candidate that will fly the party’s flag in the 2019 presidential election.

    The party has also renewed its pressure on the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, former Kano State Governor, Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso and other prominent chieftains that dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014.

    Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Senator Walid Jibrin, who dropped the hint in Abuja on Tuesday, also confirmed that the party was already weighing options regarding the suitability of the array of aspirants lining up for the job.

    Jibrin spoke at Legacy House, the party’s campaign headquarters while addressing a PDP youth group, Ward-To-Ward that paid him a courtesy visit. He, however, clarified that the search is restricted to aspirants from the North.

    “We are all doing what we can in the North with all the leaders to identify who is the best candidate to rule this country. The best person that will take away power from the ruling party because 2019 is our own. 2019 is for PDP.

    “We as a party, have agreed that the President of Nigeria in 2019 should come from the North. I enjoin you to support the North to bring and give you a very capable President; never-a-no-do-well President, a good qualitative President.

    Describing the return of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the PDP as a good omen, Jibrin said the party was expecting more of the chieftains that dump the PDP for the APC before the 2015 general elections.

    He listed Saraki and Kwankwaso as key among those expected to rejoin the PDP, adding that others being expected to return to the party include serving National Assembly members and former governors.

    Jibrin said: “We are also expecting a big return of some of our former governors, our National Assembly members and very renowned party followers. And when this is done, which will be done very quickly, then the party will now come to its stable stand.

    “We should encourage everybody who has left us to come back and reunite with us. We will not hate anyone or deprive anybody. It is a good omen for this party that we should receive people.

    “We are therefore calling on the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and all our former legislators who have left this party to come back quickly”.
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    The BoT chair also disclosed that the party has constituted a special reconciliation committee headed by a former President of the Senate, David Mark.

    According to him, the Mark committee has been mandated to mediate in grievances among BoT members that disagreed over the choice of chairmanship candidate at the December 9 national convention of the party.

    Some of the BoT members had openly taken sides with their preferred candidates, a development that Jibrin said was divisive and tended to erode the neutrality of the BoT as the conscience of the party.

    Jibrin regretted that members of the BoT had remained neutral before that chairmanship campaign, but that along the line, some members decided to give open support to some aspirants. This he said, had left the BoT members divided.

    The BoT chair commended the role played by the party’s governors in the convention in which Prince Uche Secondus emerged as National Chairman.

    He credited the governors with the success of the convention, adding that all the party’s 11 governors gave the necessary support to ensure Secondus’ emergence.

  • Breaking: Ali, Makarfi differ on zoning in PDP 

    Breaking: Ali, Makarfi differ on zoning in PDP 

    …Southwest should produce chairman, says Ali

    Prominent leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the three geopolitical zones in the North Tuesday urged adherence to the zoning arrangement agreed upon for the party’s national convention and 2019 general elections.

    Among others, the party has zoned its chairmanship slot to the South and the presidential ticket reserved for aspirants from the North.

    The party leaders, at an enlarged consultative meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, appealed to aspirants to various elective positions not to violate the zoning arrangement, saying the party paid dearly for such violations in the 2015 presidential election.

    But there was disagreement.

    While a former National Chairman Dr. Ahmadu Ali argued in favour of electing the next chairman from the Southwest geopolitical zone, Caretaker Chairman Ahmed Makarfi said the position was zoned to the South and that micro zoning is not binding.

    Ali said: “It’s either we choose our next national chairman from the Southwest or we forget about PDP”, adding that the zone had yet to occupy the chairmanship position since the formation of the party in 1998.

    “We must be ready to ensure that at the convention, the main issue, which is the national chairmanship of the party, is well handled. If we don’t vote the South-West, we can as well forget the PDP.”

    Ali maintained that the way forward for the PDP is to remain united and warned against unauthorised divisive meetings among certain members for selfish reasons.

    Makarfi restated the commitment of the party to respect the various zoning arrangements, adding however that those bent on going against the zonin arrangement should allowed to please themselves.

    Makarfi said: “The Port Harcourt convention decisions remain valid and one of the decisions taken at that convention was zoning.  But microzoning does not have a binding effect.

    “If a position is zoned to the North and you are from the North and you come to buy form, we will sell for you. Don’t forget that people will not get tired of taking the PDP to court”.

    Another former National Chairman Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, called for sanctions against members that go against the party’s zoning arrangement.

    Haliru added that going against the party’s zoning arrangement should no longer be tolerated; saying doing so amounted to disobedience and disloyalty that must be addressed by the leadership.

    The ex-party chair called for sanctions against Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, who declared his intention to run for President, noting that “zoning and rotation are part of the PDP Constitution. We must adhere to them if we are to keep this party alive.

    “There are people who are bent on contesting whether the office is zoned to their place or not. We must discuss with the South, so that anybody who goes against zoning can be punished. We cannot afford to have people come to the convention and make a fool of themselves and ridicule the party”.

    Former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu described the north as one with the required number to decide who becomes the next chairman.

    “We in the North have the number and we will decide who eventually becomes the national chairman from any part of the South. We have done it before and we are going to do it again”, Ayu said.

    A former Minister of Information, Prof Jerry Gana warned against impunity and imposition of candidates to avoid a repeat of past mistakes.

    “I want to appeal to you to give to the party the very best in the positions that have been zoned to us. Let us therefore give to the party, men and women of impeccable integrity.

    “Whatever the Fayoses of this world may be doing, the party has resolved that the presidential candidate will come from one of the three zones in the north”.

    A former Special Duties Minister, Dr. Kabiru Taminu insisted that zoning was one of the principles recognised and entrenched in the party’s constitution.

    Makarfi lauded the sacrifice made by delegates to the meeting.

    Makarfi called for unity among members as the surest way for the PDP to regain power in 2019.

    The chairman announced the decision of the Osun State chapter of the Labour Party to join the PDP as part of the reconciliation efforts.

    Also present at the enlarged meeting were former Governors Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada (Kogi); ex-Governor Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

    Others include former Ministers Abba Moro, Adamu Maina Waziri Zainab Maina and Chief Fidelis Tapgun.

    A former Deputy President of the Senate, Ibrahim Mantu, former National Woman Leader, Ina Ciroma and the chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin also attended the meeting.

  • PDP hasn’t adopted any political party for 2019 – BOT

    PDP hasn’t adopted any political party for 2019 – BOT

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has denied adopting a particular newly registered political party to use as a fold back ahead of 2019 general elections.

    Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BOT), Senator Walid Jibrin who refuted the claim in a statement said, the PDP has not formed any alternative party for the purpose of the 2019 elections.

    According to the statement, “I want to make it very clear that PDP has never formed any alternative party. If it has to agree on something like that all organs and forums of the party Viz BoT, National caucus, PDP Governors forum, National Assembly caucus , States PDP chairmen forum, Former Ministers Forum, Former Governors Forum, various youth forums, elders forum nationwide, women’s forums etc will be fully consulted before such a very sensitive decision is taken”.

    He said, for now the PDP is assuring its teeming supporters that PDP accepts the judicial processes going on at the Supreme Court and is confident that the Supreme Court shall freely and independently take fair decision which will be historic in Nigeria’s democracy.

    “I want to appeal to all PDP members that we remain resolute United and absolutely loyal to the party and remain committed to following all legal process in order to redeem the image of our party as anything not built on truth will fail and falsehood will crush.

    “Any child that does not allow his mother to sleep he too will never sleep I want to further assure our members and supporters that we shall keep them informed of any development before any action is taken,” he said.

    The BOT chairman also congratulated PDP governors who won all seats in the recent various elections in their states.

     

  • PDP BoT chairman cautions Anenih on impeachment comment

    The chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Walid Jibrin has cautioned his predecessor, Chief Tony Anenih, over his statement on the alleged impeachment threat against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Anenih had in a letter to the chairman of PDP caretaker committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, urged him to warn the party members in the Senate over an alleged threat to impeach Buhari.

    But Jibrin said Anenih’s warning was misplaced, saying there was no such threat from the PDP senators.

    At a meeting of PDP BoT members in Abuja on Monday, Jibrin cautioned elders and members of the party to be mindful of their utterances, particularly about issues relating to the polity.

    The BoT chairman said the statement by the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, and other senators refuting the impeachment threat should be enough to put the matter to rest.

    He enjoined the PDP caucus in the National Assembly to play politics of issues instead of focusing on individuals.

    A former Minister of Finance, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, who hosted the BoT members in his Abuja residence, urged politicians to always pursue causes that could promote the political stability of the nation.

    Ciroma observed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is already making the same mistakes made by the PDP made and charged the party to brace up to the task of correcting such mistakes.

    He said,”Just before the last elections and when we saw the trend of event, I warned members of the PDP to prepare themselves for whatever eventuality that may come.

    “Today, PDP didn’t lose and APC didn’t win because APC has a lot to do. When you talk about politics you talk about PDP. When you talk about politics people, you talk about PDP as If APC does not exist. So far APC is not playing the right role.

    “APC will make a lot of mistakes and PDP must be ready to put things right and all of you must be ready to contribute, participate and get involved for the interests of the ordinary Nigerians.”

    The meeting was attended by a former President of the Senate, Chief Adolphus Wabara; his erstwhile Deputy, Ibrahim Mantu; and a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana.

    Others are – Jibrin, Senator Stella Omu, Taminu Turaki and Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd), among others.

  • PDP BoT to Sheriff: You are unsuitable as party chairman

    PDP BoT to Sheriff: You are unsuitable as party chairman

    Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) on Monday rose from a marathon meeting with a declaration that Ali Modu Sheriff is not a suitable candidate for the position of party chairman.

    The Acting chairman of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, who presided over the meeting, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, made the declaration on behalf of the trustees.

    According to him, as the conscience of the PDP, the BoT was in the best position to know the right candidate for the position, adding that the trustees were still consulting with other organs of the party, with the view to easing Sheriff out.

    “We are going to propose viable solution to this problem after we must have consulted with other organs and relevant stakeholders in the party,” Jibrin said.

    He declined further comments on the matter.

    Present at the meeting were – Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Alhaji Shuabu Oyedokun, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, Senator Stella Omu, Senator Jonah Jang, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Abdullahi Kure and Maina Waziri, among others.

  • PDP BoT backs Northeast for chairmanship slot

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has backed the quest by the Northeast zone to retain the party’s national chairmanship slot.

    The position became vacant in May 2015 when the then chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, resigned from the position following the party’s defeat in the 2015 general election.

    Mu’azu’s tenure is expected to end in March 2016.

    ‎A statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, said every member of PDP was convinced that Northeast ought to present a candidate to complete Mu’azu’s tenure.

    Jibrin added that various groups within the party have been holding meetings, with the view to resolving the matter in favour of the Northeast.

    “All other party positions should therefore give recognition to this noble decision and must not allow it go under the carpet and not to further deceive the North.

    “As for our BoT, we will soon meet to fill the vacant position of the BoT chairman with consideration for the north and south in the chairmanship and secretary positions,” he stated.

     

     

  • PDP BoT meeting postponed indefinitely

    The meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold Thursday has been postponed indefinitely.

    This is the second time the meeting is being postponed. The one initially scheduled for December 18, 2015 was called off when it failed to form a quorum.

    Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, confirmed the postponement of the meeting in a telephone chat with our correspondent on Wednesday.

    Jibrin said the postponement was to allow wider consultation among key party stakeholders, owing to the sensitivity of issues on the agenda.

    He said, “We can no longer hold the meeting as scheduled because we discovered that we need wider consultation to enable us take far reaching decisions.

    “We need time to hold consultations with our National Assembly Caucus, the National Executive Committee (NEC), the zonal caucuses, chairmen of state chapters and other key stakeholders.”

    Jibrin had in December announced a January 14 date for the meeting, when the one scheduled for December 18 failed to hold.

    The meeting was to set in motion machinery for the emergence of a substantive chairman of the BoT.

     

  • PDP BoT backs Buhari’s anti-graft war

    PDP BoT backs Buhari’s anti-graft war

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

    Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin, in a chat with journalists at the party’s secretariat on Friday, said the party would support any leader who is ready to rid the nation of corruption.

    Senator Jibrin spoke in the backdrop of the ongoing corruption and money laundering trial of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and other PDP chieftains.

    According to him, the party would support every legal measure put in place to recover funds from those who looted the treasury, adding however that the process must respect the rule of law.

    “The BoT of the PDP does not condone corruption in any form. Anyone found guilty should be dealt with according to the laws of the land. We are in support of any leader who is ready to rid the country of corruption,” the BoT scribe said.

    Senator Jibrin however cautioned against what he described as stigmatization of the PDP as a party of corrupt people and selective prosecution of the anti- graft war.

    “It is wrong for anyone to say everybody in PDP is corrupt. Corrupt people are everywhere in the country. They are in every sector of the national economy and their activities have given Nigeria a negative image in the eyes of the international community.

    “So it is the duty of every Nigerian to support the fight against corruption. But due process must be followed, in line with the laws of the land,” Jibrin added.

    The party chief disclosed that the BoT members will meet on January 14 where a substantive BoT chairman will emerge.

    The position is currently being occupied by Dr. Bello Hailru Mohammed in acting capacity, following the resignation of Chief Tony Anenih in July.

    According to him, the three months stipulated by the party’s constitution for any occupant in acting capacity and one month period of grace had since elapsed.

    He added that the meeting will also discuss the ongoing corruption trial of some of the party’s chieftains, with the view to taking a common position on the matter.

    Senator Jibrin added that other court cases arising from the conduct of the last general elections will also be discussed.

    The BoT meeting held on Friday failed to form the needed quorum. Jibrin attributed it to the inability of many of its members to connect flights to Abuja as a result of inclement weather.

    He also cited what he described as very crucial party activities going on in states like Ekiti, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers which prevented some BoT members from attending the meeting.