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Tag: Tukur

PDP splits as Atiku, others sack Tukur

•Baraje emerges new PDP National Chairman
•Berates Tukur for lack of democracy
•Cites Presidency for conspiracy

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not have got a more bizarre birthday present yesterday.

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of its emergence, the ‘largest party in Africa’ as its leaders are fond of referring to it, broke into two under a long –predicted implosion.

And it all happened before a large crowd of leaders, including President Goodluck Jonathan, and party supporters from across the nation.

The occasion was its Special Convention primed to take crucial decisions ahead of the 2015 elections.

Some influential members, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seven governors, three former governors and federal legislators who had been complaining about the way the party was being run by the Bamanga Tukur-led National Executive Committee, walked out of the convention and proceeded to address a press conference where they announced the sack of the party’s embattled national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and the replacement of his national executive committee with a new one headed by Alhaji Kawu Baraje, a onetime acting national chairman of the party.

The faction also named former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as National Secretary, the same position he occupied before a court ruling forced him out, and Dr. Sam Jaja as Deputy National Chairman

Other members of the new National Working Committee are expected to be announced tomorrow.

Amidst backslapping and liberation songs, the PDP leaders said there was no going back in putting a new leadership in place for PDP.

Those at the session were Atiku, Oyinlola, Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Abdulafatah Ahmed (Kwara); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

Others were the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari; Deputy Governor of Niger State, Musa Ibeto; Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari; ex- Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Adamu (a former Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the PDP); and ex- Kwara Governor Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi.

Also in attendance were some members of the National Assembly, including the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Abdulmumini Jibril; Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mohammed Zakary; Dakuku Peterside; Senator Magnus Abe; and all statutory delegates and members of the National Assembly from the seven states.

As the presence of each of the political heavyweights was announced, shout of “Chanji dole 2015’ (Change in 2015 A Must) filled the hall.

The confidence radiated by all the governors suggested that some notable leaders of the party were pulling the strings to effect change in PDP.

Baraje, a former National Secretary of the party, spoke of “increasing repression, restrictions of freedom of association, arbitrary suspension of members and other such violations of democratic principles by a faction of our party led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.”

He said all efforts to draw the attention of critical stakeholders within the party to the dangers inherent in the course being charted by that leadership came to nought and “it has become very clear that the desperate permutations towards 2015 general elections have blinded certain people from the consequences of their actions.”

He added:”Not only has the constitution of the party been serially violated by Alhaji Tukur and fellow travellers, all the organs of the party have been rendered virtually ineffectual by a few people who act as though they are above the law.

“Unfortunately, it is obvious that they get encouragement from the presidency, whose old calculations are geared towards shutting out any real or imagined opposition ahead of the party’s presidential primaries for the 2015 elections.

“As leaders of our great party, we consider it a sacred responsibility to save the PDP from the antics of a few desperadoes who have no democratic temperament and are therefore bent on hijacking the party for selfish ends. While the list of their violations of the tenets of our great party is long, we will highlight just a few:

*The National Executive Committee of the PDP at its belated meeting of 20 June 2013 approved 20 July 2013 for the conduct of a special national convention. However, that date was changed to August 31 without reverting to NEC (the only authority vested with such powers) by a few people, apparently acting on the authority of the presidency.

*Notwithstanding the fact that INEC had noted that the PDP congresses in nine states were not presently conducted, the illegal delegates from such states are being paraded at the so-called convention being held today (yesterday) in a cynical attempt to circumvent the law and further bring the name of the party to disrepute.

*In gross violation of the PDP constitution which stipulates that the NEC meeting must hold at least once in a quarter, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and a few people have been running the party like a personal fiefdom without recourse to that important decision-making organ of the party.

*The NEC of the party accepted the resignation of the former members of the NWC whose offices were affected by INEC observations based principally on the agreement that the affected officers would be returned to their respective offices at the convention. However, against the decision of the NEC and in a not-so-clever bid to exclude some perceived opponents of the few powerful members who are trying to hijack the party, these positions have been made to some Yes-men within the party.

•Notwithstanding INEC’s instance that Senator Any Uba is the duly elected candidate of the party in Anambra State and against the background that he is so recognized by majority of our party members, the Bamanga Tukur-led Executives announced a purported suspension of Senator Uba and some other members close to him in defiance of subsisting court orders.

•Despite that the PDP Constitution is very clear that the state chapter of the party cannot discipline a national officer, the Deputy National Chairman, Mr. Sam Jaja, has reportedly been dismissed by some renegades who have hijacked the Rivers State chapter of our party with the connivance of the Bamanga Tukur leadership.

•The persistent change in the list of the party’s delegates in many states as part of a deliberate attempt to rig the party’s nomination of candidates, especially at the presidential and gubernatorial levels, with a view to foisting on the PDP some unpopular candidates who are bound to lose at the polls.

•The suspension without due process of the Governors of Rivers and Sokoto states. Even when the illegal suspension on Sokoto State Governor has been lifted, the Rivers Governor remains purportedly suspended for no just cause.

•The illegal dissolution of the Adamawa State chapter of the party is a clear abuse of power by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur thus causing confusion in his home state.

“Given the foregoing, it is very clear that the Bamanga Tukur leadership cannot guarantee for our millions of party members democracy anchored on free choice and the rule of law. We have therefore taken it upon ourselves to rescue the party from their dictatorial leadership.

“It is indeed noteworthy that from 1999 to date, Nigerians have constantly voted the presidential candidates presented by our great party but not only does such trust come with enormous responsibility, we recognise that we cannot continue to take the people for granted.

“From now, the new leadership of the party under us will strive to build a fairer as well as a more transparent and accountable PDP that will put that interest of members and indeed all the people of Nigeria above that of one single individual.

“For all the members of our great party who may have become disillusioned by the anti-democratic tendencies of the Bamanga Tukur leadership, there is a new lease of life in the horizon. It s a new day for the Peoples Democratic Party.

“As we take over the leadership of the PDP, our immediate priority is to revive the culture of robust debate of all contending issues while providing a level-playing field for all our members. These were the ideals that differentiated our party from others and endeared us to Nigerians.

“We are not, and have never been, a political party where one man would be taking decisions for all members and where once you do not kowtow before the presidency, you are deemed a rebel that must be crushed. That is not the PDP bequeathed to us by our founding fathers. That, I dare say, is no longer what PDP under our leadership will represent from today.”

September 1, 2013
Taraba crisis: Suntai supporters accuse Tukur of taking sides

• Islamic, Christian leaders call for peace

THE camp of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State yesterday accused factional chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, of siding with dissidents in the state and warned to resist any injustice against the governor.

President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP and a retired General from the Middle Belt are said to have launched a peace initiative to stop the state from sliding into chaos after the governor sought to regain power following his return from medical treatment in Germany and the USA and the resistance by Deputy Governor Garba Umar and Speaker Hassan Tsokwa to cede power.

They believe the governor has not yet fully recovered to perform his constitutional duties and should return abroad for rehabilitation.

The governor has already dissolved his cabinet and appointed a new Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government, a move the deputy governor said was made by a cabal bent on hijacking power.

However, in a statement on behalf of Suntai camp yesterday, his associate and the immediate past commissioner for information, Mr. Emmanuel Bello, said to Tukur:

“As he moves to wade into the Taraba crisis, he must make the nation’s constitution his guide.

“The country is guided by our constitution, and we cannot afford to be lawless.

“The people perpetrating illegality are those saying they have no regards for the constitution.

“The speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, has said he is not interested in what the constitution provides. In his rejection of Suntai’s letter, he keeps saying as far as he is concerned, he is entrenching a strange thing in our national life.

“I believe he hasn’t read the constitution. If he has, he doesn’t understand its provision.”

And to factional chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the Suntai camp said: “If Tukur takes side in the ongoing imbroglio, we shall vehemently resist him.

“We also deny in the harshest terms Tukur’s assertions that Suntai is running a government by proxy” and accused the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, of trying to run a parallel government by countering and questioning Suntai’s dissolution of the state cabinet.

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Council in Taraba yesterday called for peace in the state in the wake of the political impasse.

The religious leaders held a meeting in Jalingo and resolved that they would not allow the political crisis affect the cordial relationship between adherents of the two religions.

They advised politicians not to exploit the situation to disunite Christians and Muslims resident in the state.

They said they are also praying for the crisis to be over soon.

Present at the meeting were: Chairman of the Muslim Council of Taraba State, Alhaji Inuwa Mafindi and CAN Vice Chairman, Rev. Ben Ubeh.

Mafindi and Ubeh also appreciated the love and patience exhibited by Christians and Muslims for refusing to allow the political skirmishes snowball into a violent religious crisis.

September 1, 2013
Tukur: Convention to deepen democracy

•Anenih: Crises in PDP exaggerated

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the embattled factional national chairman of the PDP, said yesterday that the party’s convention would deepen democracy within its ranks and the country generally. Speaking at the party’s convention which was marred by a walk out and a formation of a rival faction, he said the PDP had triumphed over opposition parties in the past and would continue to do so in future.

But in what appeared to be a belated appeal, he asked party members to eschew bitterness and divisions, stressing that the party needed the correct mindset to achieve genuine reconciliation.Also speaking, chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, dismissed as often exaggerated, reports about crises in the PDP.

He said: “As you all probably know, a lot has been written about conflicts and crises in our party, almost on a continuous basis. Let me assure you that a great deal of what is published is exaggerated.”

While it cannot be denied that there are differences and disagreements, now and again, our party has a very effective arrangement for conflict resolution.

I want to take this opportunity to assure you that the PDP is one great family and appeal to all those who have one reason or the other to be aggrieved to take advantage of the abundant opportunities for conflict resolution in the party.”

His focus, according to him, has always been on reconciliation, party cohesion and discipline.He added that given the enormous size and spread of the party, there are bound to be challenges in its organisation.

”However, you will agree with me that recent challenges of problems of indiscipline are weighing heavily and affecting the smooth operations of the party in nearly all of its chapters.”According to Anenih, members should work to put their house in order so as to retain its dominant position in the political sphere.

September 1, 2013
Suntai to Tukur: respect the constitution

Taraba State governor, Danbaba Suntai, yesterday asked the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, to adhere strictly to the provisions of the constitution in his intervention into the crisis between him and his deputy, Alhaji Garba Umar.

In a statement by the former Commissioner of Information, Emmanuel Bello, Suntai asked Tukur to avoid personal sentiments in the reconciliatory effort.

According to him: “The National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, should respect the Nigerian constitution.

“As he moves to wade into the Taraba crisis, he must make the nation’s constitution his guide”.

He added: “The speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Haruna Tsokwa, has said he is not interested in what the constitution provides.

“In his rejection of suntai’s letter transmitted, he keeps saying as far as he is concerned, he is entrenching a strange thing in our national life.

“I believe he hasn’t read the constitution. If he has, he doesn’t understand its provision”.

Suntai warned against any attempts to take sides in the crisis, saying: “if Tukur takes side in the ongoing imbroglio, we shall vehemently resist him.

“We also deny in the harshest terms Tukur’s assertions that Suntai is running a government by proxy”.

Suntai accused Umar of attempting to run a parallel government, saying he is wrong to reverse the dissolution of the cabinet.

September 1, 2013
Tukur, Nyako renew battle as PDP holds convention today

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Murtala Nyako of his home state-Adamawa-have taken their battle for the soul of the party in the state to the PDP special national convention opening in Abuja today.

Each side wants only its own supporters accredited for the convention.

The dispute was the major challenge facing the party last night ahead of the convention opening.

But Tukur appeared to have an edge with the party leadership insisting on accrediting delegates identified by Chief Joel Madaki-led faction of the party, which is loyal to the national chairman.

A member of the interim National Working Committee (INWC) said: “We have made our position known that we will only recognise delegates presented by Joel Madaki Executive Council in Adamawa State .

“We will not allow any delegate from Minjiyawa Umar Kugama faction to be part of the National Convention.

“The party is not going to stop statutory delegates from the convention. But other purportedly elected delegates by Kugama faction should forget coming.”

The national chairman is also said to be insisting on picking those who will work with him in the national executive committee.

On this, he has the support of the Presidency, although other interests in the party are also insisting on having their elected candidates.

The most contentious is the position of the National Publicity Secretary which was vacated by Chief Olisa Metuh in June. Metuh is still in the race.

While the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, is backing Metuh for the job, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State is supporting Obi Madueke for the position.

Madueke is a brother-in-law to the Minister of Petroleum, Dieziani Allison Madueke. Also in contention is Longers Anyanwu, who is being backed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha.

Other contestants for the position include Chide Ofodile, whose chief backer is billionaire businessman, Sir Emeka Ofor, while another Igbo businessman, Arthur Eze, has thrown his weight behind another aspirant, Mr. Okey Muo Aroh.

It is also believed that some power brokers in the Presidency are supporting a neutral aspirant, Dr. Katch Ononuju, who is perceived to be free of any influence of the power brokers. Forces in the Presidency are said to be aligned with Tukur on the choice of Ononuju who is highly respected for his intellect and grasp of political issues.

About 6,000 policemen, security agents, members of the Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have been deployed in and around the Eagle’s Square venue of the convention to ensure a trouble-free gathering.

No fewer than 3,500 delegates are expected to vote at the convention where 17 national officers will stand for election.

Delegates will also vote to fill the vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC). Occupants of the positions were eased out courtesy of a report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which voided the process through which they emerged in the 2012 convention.

The Square was swept by security men ahead of the convention.

It was also learnt that those arrested in connection with alleged plot to disrupt the convention had been asked to sign an undertaking by security agencies.

A security source said: “The screening of the venue will continue throughout the night. We are not taking anything for granted at all.

“I can assure you that with inter-agency cooperation, we will provide tight security for the convention.

“We are talking of more than 6,000 policemen, security agents, civil defence corps and FRSC for the convention.”

On alleged plot to disrupt the convention, the source said: “Having identified those behind the threat posters, we have quizzed them and asked them to write undertaking to ensure peace at the convention. We are also keeping them under watch.”

Delegates are to vote for the vacant positions in the National Working Committee (NWC). Occupants of the positions were eased out courtesy of a report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which voided the process through which they emerged in the 2012 convention.

Highlight of the convention is the election of officials to fill certain positions in the national executive committee. he National Caucus of the party on Thursday night recommended that all the six geopolitical zones should come up with consensus candidates to make the poll a formality. However, moves to stop some members of the National Working Committee failed at press time yesterday. Only eight out of the affected 17 officers had been endorsed last night. Those adopted by their geopolitical National Caucus include Prince Uche Secondus (Deputy National Chairman); the Deputy National Secretary, Onwe O. Onwe; the National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; Buhari Bala (National Treasurer); Abubakar Mustapha (National Organising Secretary); Abdullahi Husseini Maibafira (Youth Leader). A source in the Interim National Working Committee said: “I am aware horse-trading is going on, but our leaders are trying to plead with some contestants to step down for the returnee NWC members. “We have mandated all the six geopolitical caucuses to try to harmonise and adopt consensus candidates for election at the convention. “One of the arguments of the National Caucus was that it is not that these NWC returnees had done anything wrong before we asked them to resign. They were elected for a four-year mandate; the leaders believe they should complete their tenure. “The party merely asked them to resign in compliance with INEC’s demand to ensure a proper conduct of election into some offices. “If these NWC returnees are stopped from coming back to office, we will be laying a bad precedent because PDP members might not obey party’s directive in future if we fall into a similar circumstance.” Responding to a question, the source said: “We are trying to make the election a mere formality. But if some aspirants refuse to step down, we may conduct election into one or two offices at the convention. “So far, it is still a matter of horse-trading.” Screening of the aspirants was ongoing at press time. Chairman of the committee, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba pledged that the committee would ensure fairness in the discharge of its assignment. It was feared last night that the late commencement of the screening might not give enough room for aggrieved aspirants to seek redress. But Ndoma-Egba said the committee would work round the clock before the commencement of voting. Chairman, Media and Publicity Committee of the Convention Planning Committee and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, said adequate preparations had been made to ensure a hitch-free congress. “There are 146 voting points where delegates will be voting at a time. This is meant to fasten the process of voting. Voting would be concluded on time because it will commence as soon as the President arrives. It is expected to be concluded within three hours, after which sorting would commence.” Ihedioha added that there will be voting to fill every vacant position, to avoid the pitfall of the past where those who won by affirmation in the 2012 convention had heir elections voided by the INEC. The expulsion of former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja, by the Rivers PDP was reversed by the national leadership of the party. Jaja described his purported expulsion as an embarrassment to the leadership of the party. “As as a member of National Executive Committee, NEC, National Caucus and Board of Trustees of the party it is beyond the state executive of the party to expel me”, he said, adding: ”I think I should be the one inviting them as a state to come and give account, and not them inviting me to come and give account. It is like the African adage where the leg is now tying the hand. “Come to think of it, I resigned in June, over two months now, so what are you inviting me for; for someone who has resigned his position to come and give account? That is assuming they have a right to invite me.”

August 31, 2013
Anambra: PDP declares Nwoye as flag bearer

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced a parallel candidate, Mr. Tony Nwoye, as the party’s candidate for the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.

The National chairman of the (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, announced Nwoye as winner of the party’s primaries held on Saturday.

The election was conducted by the Ken Emeakayi -led faction of the state’s executive committee.

The announcement was based on a report on the election submitted to the party’s leadership by Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.

Shema was the chairman of a five-man Anambra governorship congress committee set up the PDP to conduct the election.

According to Shema’s report, Nwoye scored 498 votes to beat Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu who scored 357 votes. Dr. Alex Obiogolu came third with 13 votes.

The report said 14 aspirants participated in the congress in which 916 delegates voted.

However, a parallel congress conducted by the Ejike Oguebego faction had declared Mr. Andy Uba as winner of the congress and by extension the party’s flag bearer for the same election.

The Oguebego faction is the one recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while the PDP leadership backed the Emeakayi faction.

August 26, 2013
Anambra PDP chair: Court restrains Tukur, AGF, INEC

Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt yesterday granted a restraining order on the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from recognising any other executive members of the Anambra State chapter of the party apart from the one led by Ejike Oguebego.

Those listed in the restraining order include the Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chief Austin Akubundu, a Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The Oguebego -led executive is believed to be loyal to the Chief Chris Uba faction of the party in the state.

Uba’s brother, Senator Andy Uba, is one of the leading aspirants for the party gubernatorial ticket in the primary slated for Saturday.

In an ex-parte motion brought before the court , the defendant, Prince Ken Emeakayi, sought, among other things, an “order restraining the respondents and comtemnors from further refusal to maintain status quo, that is to say from further refusal to recognise only Ejike Oguebego PDP-Exco and Congress Committee (governorship) in Anambra State., notwistansdinh anything or pronouncement to the contrary.”

In granting the order, Hon. Justice S. A. Aliyu, ordered the respondents to comply with the directive “ pending the determination of the substantive originating summons”.

INEC had earlier issued a statement recognising the Oguebego-led executive while the party’s national leadership had declared its support for another faction of the executive in the state.

The case has been adjourned to August 27 for hearing of the substantive matter.

August 23, 2013
I won’t resign as PDP chair, says Tukur

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chair Bamanga Tukur has said he is not under any pressure to resign his job.

In a statement he personally signed yesterday, the party chair said his relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan and other key party stakeholders remained cordial.

He attributed media reports indicating pressure on him to resign as the handiwork of those he described as “black legs” within and outside the ruling party.

Besides, he knocked the media for peddling inaccurate reports concerning him.

The chairman said: “I am aware of the antics of some black legs in and out of the PDP who have been funding negative media reports on activities of the party both at the state and national levels. Such antics will amount to naught because no sponsor of such reports would go far.”

According to him, national interest and cohesion are better promoted when the media report the truth at all times.

He expressed dismay that since he assumed office over a year ago, the media had made numerous failed predictions of his ouster, based on projections of those he referred to as enemies of the party.

Tukur is worried that a section of the media would persist in reporting falsehood about the situation in the ruling party. This, he said, has exposed the inadequacies or lack of depth and professionalism of such media organisations.

The chairman said: “I had hardly settled down in office when some newspapers predicted that I would not last three months. Later, some newspapers wrote that I would resign in December.

“Another one said two days ago that I had been asked to resign. Well, I have spent more than one year in office and they still continue to write the same thing all over.

“I really do not understand whether Bamanga Tukur is really the media problem or the problem of faceless individuals who were manufacturing the miserable reports.

“It was more ludicrous that some people funded a report that I had resigned when, indeed, I was on my way to Canada for an official engagement, and yet our so called media bought the untruth without shuddering. Then I ask myself, where is the sense of fairness and professionalism by our media in this regard?

“The problem is so bad that when members of our party meet and discuss behind closed doors, the media would say Bamanga Tukur is the issue. The media do not seem to know that we have better things to discuss in our party than issue of crises.

“Let me reiterate that I am not resigning and I have no intention of doing so as an elected national chairman of PDP. I accepted to become chairman based on my conviction that I can use my wealth of experience to help my party and my country.

“I am not looking for anything at my age other than putting it on record that God has helped me, and then, I am using the opportunities he gave me to serve the rest of Nigeria to the best of my abilities.

But Tukur agreed that the PDP has challenges.

He urged “all our members to come together to face the challenges confronting us as a party”.

“If we must remain the strongest party that we are in Africa, it is high time we buried the hatchets and then begin to close ranks,” he said, adding:

“It is in our party’s interest and, indeed, in the interest of President Goodluck Jonathan to have us get back on the track while regaining the grooves that have been making us tick, unbeatable and widely accepted.

“To do otherwise is to yield the grounds to the propagandists who have been masquerading as our opponents even with the nebulous interest of getting power in 2015.”

August 20, 2013
I am not under pressure to resign – Tukur

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has stated that he’s not under any pressure to resign his position as chairman of the party.

In a statement he personally signed on Monday, Tukur said his relationship with President Goodluck Jonathan and other key party stakeholders remained cordial.

He attributed media reports indicating pressure on him to resign as the handiwork of those he described as “black legs” within and outside the ruling party.

The chairman said: “I am aware of the antics of some black legs in and out of the PDP who have been funding negative media reports on activities of the party both at the state and national levels. Such antics will amount to naught because no sponsor of such reports would go far.”

Alhaji Tukur expressed a firm belief that the Nigerian media have come of age in observing the tenets of the journalism profession anchored on fairness, thorough investigation and balancing of reports before publication.

According to him, national interest and cohesion are better promoted when the media report the truth at all times.

He expressed dismay that since he assumed office over a year ago, the media had made numerous failed predictions of his ouster, based on projections of those he referred to as enemies of the party.

August 19, 2013
Consultation: Tukur urges Wamakko, Lamido, others to brief PDP

THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has urged the five northern governors currently consulting with former Nigerian leaders on the state of the nation to brief the leadership of the party at the end of their consultations.

Addressing reporters at the party’s national secretariat yesterday in Abuja, Tukur said the PDP was waiting for the governors to conclude their consultations, adding that they would be expected to brief the party.

Apparently worried by the divisions in the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the political crisis in Rivers State, Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) have been consulting former leaders for solutions.

Some of the former leaders consulted by the governors include Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. They have also held talks with former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma.

Restating efforts by the PDP leadership to reconcile aggrieved members across the country, Tukur advised aggrieved members to comply with the party’s guidelines in their approach to conflict resolution.

He said: “In the recent past, the media have been awash with accusations and counter-accusations from some of our party members. As much as we as a party respect the constitutional right of individuals to public opinions, movement and association, such exercise should be done with some element of civility and in keeping with the norms of the society, the party’s constitution and guidelines.

“It is advisable that party faithful, who are aggrieved, should use the party’s internal resolution platform. That is, the party’s reconciliation committee or the leadership of the party.”

August 13, 2013