Friday 11 January 2013

PDP power tussle: Governors defy Jonathan, insist Tukur must go [DETAILS]


Akan Ido
There are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors are calling for the removal of the party chairman, Bamanga Tukur against the wishes of the presidency. Sources say all efforts by president Goodluck Jonathan to dissuade them from insisting on his removal fell on deaf ears.
The governors had yesterday met with the president for three hours to deliberate on the issue which is causing rancour and dissatisfaction among members of the ruling party.
Sources say part of the governors’ problems with Tukur was his reported meddling into Adamawa PDP politics and his unilateral dissolution of the executive council in the state chapter of the party.
The governors had earlier met in Abuja on Wednesday to call for an immediate convening of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, as well as endorse the decision of the NWC rescinding the dissolution of the PDP Adamawa State Executive.
Party chairman, Bamanga Tukur is seen as an appointee of the president and not one chosen by general consensus. The governors had at the party’s 2012 convention expressed their preference for another candidate, Dr. Musa Babayo, but the president had insisted on working only with Tukur and none other.
Observers believe Tukur is not happy with the fact that the governors did not give him the needed support and is out to take his revenge on them especially the governor of his home state, Adamawa, Murtala Nyako.
The party has, however, admitted that there is truly a crisis but said this has been settled by its Board of Trustees.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Olisa Metuh, said the PDP remained the only political party in the country where differences in the leadership of its various organs could be resolved within a record time.
He reportedly said, “In a political party as large as the PDP, divergent opinions on issues are normal but in the ability of its leaders to resolve and find a common ground on such issues, dwells the strength and dynamism of such an organisation.
“In this instance, it is only in the PDP that misunderstandings are not just resolved but done in matter of hours.
“The National Working Committee of the PDP therefore wishes to commend the Board of Trustees of the party for proving its role as the conscience of the party.”
After the crucial meeting with the president yesterday, the governors were said to have convened at another location ostensibly to further deliberate on the recommendations of the president.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio admitted that it was normal to have internal wranglings in such a big party as the PDP but assured that the misunderstanding will be resolved amicably.
He said, “You know the PDP is a very large party. The party may have its own internal challenges; of course we have our own modus operandi: ways of resolving all these issues.
“Various committees have been set up from the Board of Trustees to the National Working Committee. I believe that at the end of the day, in the next one week, all those issues will be a thing of the past.”
When confronted with the report that the PDP governors were not happy with party’s chairman, Akpabio said, “There is nothing like the PDP governors not being happy. We identify with the party; we have confidence in the party and all the internal wranglings you are hearing are normal in any democracy.”
“The governors are happy with the party and we are sure that under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, all the issues pertaining to the party will be resolved amicably and the party will come out stronger.”
YNaija.com

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