Jonathan Storms Out Of Reconciliation Meeting; Accuses Obasanjo Of Being Behind PDP Crisis

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo

Abdulrahman Abdulmalik

President Goodluck Jonathan lashed out at former President Olusegun Obasanjo, accusing him of being the mastermind of the intractable crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, reliable presidency sources have said.
“Obasanjo created the problem, he should go and solve it,” Mr. Jonathan was quoted as saying at a meeting he held with leading members of the Abubakar Baraje’s faction of the party on Sunday night.
The reconciliation meeting was called a day after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seven state governors, and some other party top guns walked out of the party’s national convention in Abuja and then announced the formation of a parallel faction.
Mr. Obasanjo was not at the meeting but both men had worshipped together at the Aso Rock chapel earlier that day.
Sources at the meeting said after the “dissident” governors, led by Kano State Governor, Musa Kwankwaso, tabled their grievances; a livid President Jonathan fumed about how opposition elements within his party were trying to blackmail him to submission.
He then suddenly rose from his seat and stormed out of the meeting saying, while going away, that he was no longer in the mood for any reconciliation talk and that Mr. Obasanjo, who created the mess in the party in the first place, should be allowed to clear it.
“We were shocked when the president walked out of the meeting in anger saying he had grown increasingly frustrated by Mr. Obasanjo’s destabilizing antics,” one of our sources said. “He pointedly accused the former president of being behind the crisis.”
Another source said as the president hurried away, the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Tony Anenih, ran after him pleading with him to return.
He eventually returned.
The president’s adviser on political matters, Ahmed Gulak, as well as his senior special assistant on public affairs, Doyin Okupe, did not answer or return calls to their mobile telephones when PREMIUM TIMES sought to get their comments for this story.
Mr. Obasanjo could also not be reached.
Reports of the president’s comment and behaviour at the closed-door meeting came shortly before a pro-Jonathan group, Media Network for Transformation, circulated a statement in Abuja accusing Mr. Obasanjo of destabilizing the PDP and asking him to call his associates to other.
“Apart from being their sponsor, the rebel governors draw their inspiration from him,” Goodluck Ebelo, Coordinator of the group, said in the statement. “Apart from numerous clandestine meetings, President Obasanjo started his public romance with the rebel flank when he became unavoidably absent at this year’s Democracy Day celebration in Abuja, but vigorously participated in the day’s activities in Dutse, Jigawa State.
That was followed by the rebel governors’ visit to his Abeokuta home.”
Mr. Ebelo was not done. He continued, “Then came last Saturday, and Chief Obasanjo’s mischief literarily flew over the Eagle Square venue of the Special Convention. Unavoidably absent, again, he was to turn up the next day in Church, at the Presidential Villa. Made a few platitudinous remarks on the need for a peaceful resolution of the crisis and thereafter called a meeting. His meeting failed and will continue to fail.
“Chief Obasanjo cannot continue to be hands of Esau and the voice of Jacob at the same time. No arbiter, who is the guiding light of the rebels can make peace. Peace, in this matter, will continue to elude President Obasanjo because his activities are the very antithesis of the conditions precedent to peace.
“Unfortunately, his eight years in office provides no road map to resolving a political dispute. All that can be gleaned from the debris of his time in power, are abuse of institutions of State in shutting down dissent, hounding political opponents into prison and forcing a party chairman to resign at gun point. Little wonder that such baleful legacy dogs his attempt at making peace.
“President Obasanjo has to come out publicly to renounce his ties with seven governors who are trying to impose their will on the remaining twenty nine states and the Federal Capital Territory or acknowledge them and be treated like them. The governors are welcome to contest the PDP primaries, individually or present a candidate. That’s democracy. But for persons, who themselves, stood for elections for their second terms to demand that Mr. President cannot avail himself such amenity is not only rude but feudal.”
Our sources said before the president’s brief walkout at the peace meeting, the aggrieved governors had accused Mr. Jonathan of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to hound governors and other party chiefs considered opposed to him.
Specifically, the governors, according to our sources, accused the president of having masterminded the recent investigation of Senator Bukola Saraki and conviction of a son of Governor Sule Lamido for under declaring the amount of foreign exchange he was taking abroad.
The governors also reportedly asked the president to keep his promise to run for only one term and jettison his 2015 presidential ambition.
In response, Mr. Jonathan reportedly denied being behind the investigation of anyone by the EFCC, saying most of the investigations commenced long before he came to power.
O
n the request that he shuts down his presidential ambition, Mr. Jonathan was quoted as saying he would not surrender his right to vote and be voted for.
 

Saharareporters

Taraba Crisis: Danjuma in secret meeting with Suntai…shuns Ag Gov, Umar

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North & John Mkom
Former Defence Minister, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, yesterday, held a secret meeting with recuperating Taraba State Governor, Danbaba Suntai, at the Government House Jalingo, in a renewed bid to douse the political crisis in the state.
The return of Suntai, who is regarded as Danjuma’s political godson, has created ripples in the state’s political circles and split the loyalty of the leadership and members of the state House of Assembly between the governor and his deputy, Garba Umar.
While majority of the members, led by the Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa, are in support of Umar to continue to act as governor pending when Suntai will be fit enough the take over the mantle of leadership, the minority, spearheaded by the Majority Leader, Joseph Kunini, want Suntai to resume work without further delay.
The minority group insists that the ailing governor could lead by proxy even if he is not fit enough to run the state on a daily basis.
But apparently fearing that the fragile peace in the state could further slip, Danjuma flew into the state yesterday and went straight to the Government House, Jalingo, where he held a closed-door meeting with Suntai, who has been indoors since returning to the state on August 25, 2013.

Governor Danbaba Suntai and Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar

Although Danjuma described his visit to Suntai as private and declined to talk to journalists, it was learnt that he threw his weight behind Suntai and pleaded that the law should be allowed to take its course regarding the crisis in the state.
He is said to have listened carefully to the position canvassed by Suntai that he had assumed duties in earnest having transmitted a letter of resumption and fitness to the House of Assembly, as stipulated by the law and wondered why there was a furore over the matter.
Danjuma, who was received by Suntai’s wife and led to the governor, said he was in the state in a private capacity and did not visit the acting governor, Garba Umar, after meeting briefly with Suntai, even though the latter was in his office at the time.
Attempts by journalists to talk with him or follow him to see Suntai were rebuffed by security agents, who claimed  the visit was a private one and did not require public attention.
But minutes after meeting with Suntai and his wife, Hauwa, Danjuma came out. Hauwa was sighted beaming with broad smiles, something that had been very rare since the return of her husband from the U.S.
From the governor’s office, Danjuma went straight to the TY Danjuma Foundation Office in Jalingo, from where he left for his private residence.
However, there were fears that the majority of the members of the House of Assembly, who feel that Suntai was unfit to govern the state, might move to impeach him, having secured two thirds of the signatures of the members.
It was learnt that the move by the pro-Umar lawmakers was responsible for the rejection of the peace deal brokered by the PDP and released by the Senator Hope Uzodinma-led Fact-finding Committee, which visited the state on Tuesday.
Vanguard

PDP Crisis: Why we fight Tukur, by Kwankwaso, Aliyu

KANO — Two of the ‘rebel’ governors in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano and Babangida Aliyu, yesterday, opened up on the crisis in the party, saying their agitation is ultimately aimed at purifying the party and saving it from self-destruction.
Speaking to stakeholders in Kano,  Kwankwaso accused the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of the party of insensitivity to complaints of party members even as he disclosed that the G-7 had concluded plans to reform the party.
Governor Aliyu, who spoke in the same vein in a lecture he delivered at the Lagos Country Club, yesterday, described the internal crisis in the party as a discussion that will ultimately lead to purification of the party.
Kwankwaso disclosed that party members had, under the Tukur leadership, been subjected to various forms of intimidation in a bid to satisfy the wishes of “microscopic individuals” at the expense of the interest of the overall majority.
He said: “Going by the antecedents of the Bamanga-led group, we consider it appropriate to move against him and you would agree with me this is the right time to bring changes and reform the party so that it can serve the interest of the masses.”
The Kano State governor argued that the nPDP governors had concluded plans to make PDP a better party, pointing out that the birth of the new PDP is a good omen to millions of party members, particularly, those at the grassroots.

*New PDP: From Left, Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amechi , Niger State Governor Aliyu Babangida , Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar , New PDP National Chairman Abubakar Kawu Baraje and Kano State Governor Rabiu Kawankwazo at Press conference announcing new PDP  leadership in Abuja.

He accused the Tukur-led PDP of disregarding the constitution and manifesto of the PDP and, according to him, “having realised the weaknesses of the party, we decided to rescue it and make it a better party.”
Kwankwaso listed the grievances of the nPDP to include crises in Rivers and Adamawa chapters of the party, the stalemate in the election of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, among others.
He said: “We did all we could to make them know the truth, but it didn’t work. We have been drawing the attention of PDP national headquarters to Kano, especially, in the area of appointments, but to no avail. Party politics is about interest and upholding the virtues of internal democracy.
Speaking further on the crisis, Kwankwaso said:  “We are calling on our party at the national headquarters to do the right thing, we cannot fold our arms to witness the drifting of leadership in our great party.”
He said it was because of the undemocratic antics of the Tukur-led PDP that made the seven governors to converge on the Musa Yar’Adua Centre and elect “the authentic party executives led by Kawu Baraje.
“We want to ensure that there is justice and equity in the party. This is the right time to bring necessary changes and reforms to ensure the success of the party. You have to come out and defend justice and fair-play. Kano has been in the fore-front of political revolution in the country. Go back to your constituencies and sensitize the people on what is happening.”
Also speaking at the event, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Gambo Sallau, commended Kwankwaso for carrying stakeholders and party elders along in all that has been happening in PDP at the national level and promised that the PDP caucus in Kano State House of Assembly will remain loyal to the cause of the new PDP.
Kano NASS lawmakers behind nPDP
Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa who spoke on behalf of PDP members in the National Assembly said all PDP House members from Kano State and two PDP Senators are solidly behind the vision and mission of the new PDP. Doguwa noted that Kano State had been denied political patronage at the PDP national leadership for a long time, pointing out that nominations for appointments which ordinarily should have been coming from the governor of the state are being diverted through the back door.
Discussion for genuine democracy
Speaking in Lagos at the Business Lecture Series of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Governor Aliyu said Nigeria cannot have genuine democracy when the PDP that is supposed to preach democracy lacks internal democracy. He nevertheless affirmed that he would not leave the party except he is dismissed.
The lecture convened by Lagos Country Club and entitled “The marriage of 1914: A curse or blessing” had Vanguard publisher, Mr. Sam Amuka, as special guest of honour.
Noting that what is happening is a discussion for genuine democracy, he said: ”PDP is not at rest at the moment. It is the most democratic party. What is happening now is discussion after which we will bounce back stronger. I will never leave the PDP unless I am dismissed.
“I have not jumped the gun. Our people should appreciate robust debates. We can’t have genuine democracy in our country when our party that is supposed to be the source of democracy lacks internal democracy. You can’t have democracy when that channel is undemocratic.”

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan and Bamanga Tukur at the PDP Convention in Abuja

Shut up, Anenih tells warring factions
The lingering political crisis rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took yet another turn yesterday, as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, urged warring factions in the party’s crisis to stop making “pre-emptive statements”which he said are not only disrespectful to the President, but also to the party’s leadership.
“To make pre-emptive statements while the process of reconciliation is still on, is disrespectful not only to the President but also to the party leadership. Such statements undermine the party and the enormous efforts being made under the transformation agenda of the Mr. President. I, therefore, call on all members of our great party to exercise restraint throughout this trying period.”
However, elders in the party, under the aegis, Congress for Equality, however, fired back at Chief Anenih, saying it was wrong for him to say some of the governors that stormed out of party’s last special national convention had genuine complaints.
The party elders, including Chief Edwin Clark, ex-Senate President, Senator Ameh Ebute; former Minister of Police Affairs, General David Jemibewon, and former Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, General Ibrahim Haruna, therefore, urged Chief Anenih to join hands with Tukur and President Goodluck Jonathan.
Members of the new PDP in the House of Representatives have also described Bamanga Tukur as a drowning man over his threat to declare their seats at the National Assembly vacant.
This came as the national leadership of the PDP has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw recognition of newly registered People Democratic Movement, PDM.
We must avoid open confrontation —Anenih
Chief Anenih, in a statement he issued in Abuja entitled: “A Call for Caution” said: “Following the walk-out staged by some aggrieved members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the special convention of August 31, 2013, there have been genuine efforts by the leadership of the party, including the president himself, to reach out and reconcile with the aggrieved members, using the numerous mechanisms for conflict resolution that exist in the party.
“A series of meetings have been held and more are scheduled to hold in the next few days.
“It is unfortunate that while the reconciliation efforts are being made, some of our members are making inflammatory statements, intimidating one another and issuing threats of court actions.
“Such actions do nothing but harm the efforts at reconciliation. Like a good family, we must avoid open confrontation and allow the leadership of the party to effect genuine reconciliation.
“Conflict is not new to the PDP and, as in the past, I am confident that, in spite of the differences, the current one will be resolved, with the party coming out even stronger and more united than ever.
“To make pre-emptive statements while the process of reconciliation is still on, is disrespectful not only to the President but also to the party leadership. Such statements undermine the party and the enormous efforts being made under the transformation agenda of the Mr. President.
“I, therefore, call on all members of our great party to exercise restraint throughout this trying period.”
Clark, Jemibewon, others berate Anenih
Meanwhile, elder statesmen, Chief Edwin Clark, Gen. David Jemibewon, Ameh Ebute and Gen. Ibrahim Haruna have urged Chief Anenih to distance himself from former Vice President Atiku and the aggrieved governors who stormed out of Eagle Square, venue of last Saturday’s Special National Convention of the party.
Chief Clark and others made their position on Anenih under the aegis, Congress for Equality, after a meeting at the Asokoro residence of Chief Clark.
According to the statement which was signed by its chairman and former Senate President, Ameh Ebute,  it was wrong for Anenih to say that the aggrieved  governors had genuine complaints, just as Chief Anenih was asked to join hands with Tukur to support the party and President Goodluck Jonathan.
The statement said: “Chief Tony Anenih should distance himself from the demands of these so-called ‘aggrieved governors ‘ and join Tukur to work for the party in truth and spirit.”
The group alleged that part of the demands of the aggrieved governors were that President Jonathan should denounce his 2015 ambition and restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from harassing them.
…back Jonathan for 2015
Reiterating its support for 2015 presidency for President Jonathan, the group, however, said every past Head of State or President had weaknesses, but such weaknesses were not sufficient to deny them their constitutional right to vie for a second term. The group, however, did not say that President Jonathan has any weakness.
Anenih had, Tuesday, explained why the peace talks with the aggrieved PDP governors that began Sunday night and ended Monday morning could not continue after the party leadership and presidency had resolved to continue their talks with the aggrieved governors that day.
He said the aggrieved governors had sought for more time to consult more widely, explaining that the party leadership and the presidency too were disposed to more time for wider consultations.

Baraje and Tukur

You‘re a drowning man, nPDP Reps tell Tukur
Also, members of the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the House of Representatives, yesterday, described as unfortunate, threats of arrest attributed to the national chairman of the old PDP, Alhaji Tukur, over their defection to Abubakar Baraje’s camp, calling the chairman a drowning man.
Qualifying Tukur as erstwhile national chairman of the PDP, they called on the relevant authorities to call him to order and wondered when political disagreements within a political party became a state offence such that the chairman should ask the security agencies to harass and arrest his opponents.
In a statement entitled: “Our response to Bamangar Tukur’s uttrances” signed by Hon. Sekonte Davies on behalf of the members, they said it was such utterances and dispositions that prompted their action in the first place, stressing that they will contend with those who were bent on destroying the party.
The statement read: “It has been brought to our attention the statements credited to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the erstwhile National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.  Indeed, it is unfortunate if he really made the comments credited to him.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we state that it is this type of garrison attitude that has brought the PDP to where it is today and that is why we shall spare no effort to redeem it from those who are bent on destroying it, like Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
“You know, it is easy to destroy a thing and since Bamanga Tukur was not a founding father of the party, he does not understand the underlying principles and reasons why it was founded in the first place.
How Jonathan can overcome PDP crisis—Jibril Aminu
Meantime, founding member of the PDP, Prof Jibril Aminu, yesterday, advised President Jonathan to play down on his re-election bid and face the task of tackling the nation’s mounting problems, as a means of winning the support of Nigerians against those rebelling against him.
Aminu, who was reacting to the formation of a parallel PDP by the former vice president and seven PDP governors, noted that the undue attention being given to the re-election bid by the president and his handlers was responsible for the revolt by Atiku and his group.
He said: “President Jonathan appears to be too concerned about his second term and there are some persons who are making a capital out of that obsession, which provides a very good menu for others to capitalise on.
“If Mr. President continues to put too much emphasis on the 2015 election, he may lose focus on the job he was elected by Nigerians to deliver.
“My advice to him is to concentrate on the work that Nigerians gave him to do. He will certainly get his second term if he does the work well.

New PDP:  From Left,  National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, National Chairman Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido at Press conference  announcing the new PDP leadership  in Abuja.

“As long as he continues to work towards resolving the contentious issues in the education and health sectors as well as the security challenges facing the north, he will certainly be re-elected when the time comes.
“My fear is that some people are taking advantage of Jonathan’s second term ambition to cause more avoidable problems in the country and distracting him in the process.”
Actions of Atiku & co mischief—Jibril Aminu
While kicking against the action of the former vice president and the seven governors, the former Education and Petroleum Minister, said the rebel members could not be acting in the interest of Nigerians but for their personal interest.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Vanguard last night, the former Nigerian envoy also described the action of the governors and Atiku as a mischief aimed at promoting their ego and asked President Jonathan not to bow to them.
Aminu said: “I don’t support what Atiku and the seven governors are doing because I don’t think that what they have done is right. I don’t think that they are motivated by altruism but I suspect that they are just trying to protect their ego.
“I strongly suspect that what the governors and their backers are doing is a bit of political gambling aimed at settling scores, distracting the PDP or pure mischief.”
Urges Jonathan not to succumb
While advising Jonathan not to be scared by the antics of the governors and their backers, Aminu asked him to focus more on what would take the nation to the next level.
The former minister said: “Nigerians should not be jitter over what these people are doing because Nigeria can never break up on account of what is going on in the country. We have passed the worst moment in our history and none of these actions can tear it apart.”
“The provision of the constitution forbids you from forming a tribal party. As you know, there was no notice given for the application. No one was aware until it was announced by INEC. You saw the brit-bat by the action.”
Vanguard

PDP CRISIS - EDWIN CLARK BATTLES ANENIH

A major crack has occurred in the camp of
President Goodluck Jonathan as two of his
main backers in the south-south region
appear to have disagreed on the handling of
the festering crisis in the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
A pro-Jonathan group, Congress for Equality
and Change led by former federal
commissioner of information Chief Edwin
Clark, yesterday chided the chairman of the
PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih,
for admitting that some of the aggrieved
governors had genuine grievances.
Clark’s attack on Anenih came as Anenih
himself cautioned the national chairman of
the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, against
making inflammatory statements that could
undermine the ongoing peace talks in the
party.
In a communiqué signed by the chairman of
the group, Senator Ameh Ebute, the group
told Anenih to “distance himself from the
demands of the so-called aggrieved
governors and join Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to
work for the party in truth and spirit”.
Anenih had on Tuesday admitted that some
of the complaints of the governors who have
been up in arms against both Tukur and
Jonathan were genuine.
As the pro-Jonathan camp appears to be
speaking in different tones, the Alhaji Kawu
Baraje camp has threatened that Tukur
could end up in jail.
The Clark group faulted some alleged
grievances expressed by the governors: “For
instance, the claim by the governors that
President Jonathan should award the
governors, their cronies and family
perpetual injunction from EFCC and police
prosecution against corruption,
embezzlement of public funds and criminal
enrichment is condemnable; we wonder how
the President could stop EFCC from
investigating people alleged to have engaged
in corruption.
“Also, the demand that the President should
renounce his 2015 presidential re-election
bid in spite of his eligibility to contest is very
condemnable. They insisted that the call for
Tukur’s resignation cannot be a thing that
someone should liken to a genuine
grievance.”

Presidency Sponsors Fake Media Report with $250,000 to Blackmail G7 Breakaway Governors

Barely 24 hours after Abusidiqu.com brought you a report that the presidency in a desperate move to hoodwink the breakaway governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP activated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC as well as the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC to blackmail the governors into accepting to return to the Jonathan led PDP, another news item prepared and handed out to some journalists today to further paint the aggrieved governors as corrupt elements seeking for protection from the anti-graft agencies, EFCC and ICPC has been uncovered.
READ: Presidency Activates EFCC, ICPC to Blackmail Breakaway Governors…Releases Fund for False Reports

The news item which was sponsored with $250,000 cash and contracted to a political editor with a south west based newspaper was given out to journalists in Abuja today for publication and has already featured in some online websites and blog.
The whole idea behind the fake media report is to pitch them against the public and part members loyal to them with the ultimate aim of forcing them to abandon the idea of continuing with the faction of the party they have formed and return to the Bamangu Tukur led PDP.
Read below the blackmail script obtained by one of our reporters in Abuja today:
“It emerged on Tuesday that the aggrieved governors of the PDP decided to seek a postponement of the peace parley scheduled for Tuesday as a result of President Goodluck Jonathan’s rejection of the suggestion that the government should put an immediate stop to probe of state governments’ accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Sources in the party confirmed that the aggrieved governors, many of whom attended the Sunday night meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja had expressed disappointment with the way President Jonathan waved aside the request that he should put an end to the probe of governors by the EFCC.
“Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues at the Sunday meeting said that the son of Jigawa state governor Sule Lamido was being harassed by the EFCC and that a number of state governors were under EFCC probe.
“He asked the President to intervene and ensure that the PDP governors were protected. His Kwara state counterpart, Abdufattah Ahmed also complained that he and his predecessor have been victims of EFCC probe for years now and that they felt that as PDP governors, they should be protected.
“But it was gathered that the President’s refusal to give a commitment on the EFCC angle irked the governpors who later got back to the leadership of the party that they needed further consultations before they could attend the peace parley.”
Abusiudiqu.com

PDP crisis: You are impostors – Tukur tells new PDP

By Ali Adoyi

Bamanga Tukur

Embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in what appeared like a riot act on Tuesday, described the Bareje led new PDP as impostors and renegade.
In a world press conference in Abuja this afternoon, the adamant and unperturbed Tukur said there was only one Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by his executives, adding that any other one laying claims to any leadership in the party is an impostor, urging Nigerians to see them as such.

“I want to state categorically that, the Peoples Democratic Party has no faction, the PDP has only one duly elected National working Committee under my chairmanship. I wish therefore to state that anybody parading himself as a member of any executive is deceiving himself and will face the wrath of the law. There is only one legally recognised PDP and I am firmly in charge. I wish therefore to state that anybody parading himself as chairman is an impostor.’’
He said that Nigerians and the leadership of the party will not fold their arms while some unscrupulous, unpatriotic elements destroy the party. While stressing that any person not duly elected and is laying claim to the leadership of the party, arrogating power to himself would be made to face the law.
Tukur equally noted that those who are in position of authority under the platform of the party that identified with the new PDP will have their seats declared vacant as required by the law.
He urged members to make use of the internal mechanism of the party in ventilating or channelling their grievances.

DailyPost

How IBB created states, by Omoruyi

"Augustus Aikhomu, Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Anthony Anenih, all work on same mindset from the same set agenda. Bendel state produced two military vice presidents, what is to show for it? The problems of Edo people are Edos, a sad reality of internalized racism. Sad as it may be, it is a clear representation of black man defiency with productive leadership.
You look at the unequitable distribution of political representation today in Edo State, they are the work of Aikhomu and his gangs. A nonsensical distribution where minority has more political representation than the majority. 45% have 11 seats while 55% have 7." 
 
Former Director-General of the defunct Centre for Democratic Studies (CDS), Prof. Omo Omoruyi says he stood by what he said in an earlier interview with Daily Sun concerning the creation of Edo and Delta States from old Bendel State, and how he worked with former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida(rtd) to achieve certain goals in government.

Prof. Omoruyi who was reacting to a rejoinder by Prof. Sam Oyovbaire to the said interview, pointed out that his role and that of Oyovbaire in the IBB administration were very different, adding that whereas Oyovbaire was an official of the Government as an Adviser to the then Chief of General Staff, Admiral Aikhomu, he was a friend of IBB with the objectives of helping him to advance the goal of democracy and make history.

Prof. Oyovbaire had in his rejoinder disagreed with some aspects of Prof. Omoruyi’s position on the creation of Delta State, proposed Eduwa State which was to embrace the Edo people and Itsekiris, among others.
But Prof. Omoruyi while stating that it is for Gen. Babangida to dispute any of the issues, went at length to lecture on how a military government functions, adding “it simply shows that is the way the military functions, and if you don’t like it, you don’t know it, and then you begin to use some official titles to bamboozle some people outside there.”

Specifically, on the meeting of Traditional Rulers and notable personalities of old Bendel summoned by Aikhomu over the creation of Edo and Delta as raised by Oyovbaire, Omoruyi accused the former CGS of being “discourteous to the Oba of Benin and the Olu of Warri” at the time, pointing out that Admiral Aikhomu never liked the two revered traditional rulers. TONY OSAUZO brings the excerpts

You have read the reaction of Prof. Oyovbaire to an earlier interview you granted Daily Sun. Haven read his rejoinder, what comments do you wish to make because he tended to disagree with some of the issues you addressed regarding creation of Delta State, the voting pattern in 2011, re-run governorship election in the state, among other issues?

Let me put it this way, Sam is somebody I like very much and I wish him all the best.
Our functions during the IBB administration were very different. I wasn’t an official. I was a friend and I am still a friend of IBB with two objectives in mind. One, to help him advance the goal of democracy, then two, for him to make history. On these two grounds whatever he set out to do, I usually weighed them very seriously. It had nothing to do with whether I was in the University of Benin, or the Centre for Democratic Studies Director-General, and so on and so forth.

So, I wasn’t an Adviser. I was a friend, and if you go back to Allison Ayida, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), he said there were competing sources of influence on the military Head of State. Official one was there, his military colleagues were there, even native doctors, they were there, and so on and so forth, and sometimes you don’t know which one is more important, because it depends on what the military Head of State weighs – sometimes his classmates are more important than all these official things you talk about.

Sam was an official. He was an Adviser to an Adviser. Aikhomu was an Adviser. He was Adviser to Aikhomu. That does not mean that he didn’t have a role. Whatever happened in the final analysis, IBB would fly some documents to me in Benin. I have listed some of them in my book, all the various areas where I helped him, where we worked together and I said I was privy or party to. That still remains my position. It’s for IBB to dispute any of these things. It’s for him, it’s not for me. Creation of States, release of Shagari, release of Ekwueme – the two old people, are nice to me.

I drove all the way to Oko to meet Ekwueme. I flew all the way to Sokoto to meet Shagari and we talked. I brought back the message to the man. So, these are not things that I would have to go and be writing about, that, oh, this is what I did or did not do.

So on the creation of States, he created states on two occasions. First, he created Katsina from Kaduna and then Akwa-Ibom from Cross River. My role in these two ventures that’s for him to talk about, not for me.
On the second venture of states creation – Edo, Delta and others, again, he came to me and said look, I want to do this thing. He never said the military wanted to do this thing. That’s not an issue. Aikhomu called a meeting of traditional rulers and some people in Bendel State, but Aikhomu was an interested party. He wanted a different kind of formulation from old Bendel. We know that.

So, Babangida advised that I show no interest in all those things because eventually we would have to sit down and look at these things dispassionately, which I did. I never attended any of those meetings. I could have, if I wanted to. What he did with all these traditional rulers is part of history. I don’t have to go into that.
I know, and Admiral Aikhomu knows very well that he was discourteous to these two traditional rulers – Omo N” Oba and Olu of Warri. Why he was, that’s his own business.

I am aware too, that our Omo N’ Oba had to write a letter at one time. Again that’s not for me to debate, and I am sure Babangida never replied. So, by bringing all these here now, really it’s not important. The Oba of Benin is a revered traditional ruler, Olu of Warri is revered too– he never liked these two people. The reason, I don’t know. That’s for him to talk about.

Why do you say so?
Well, he was his Adviser, I wasn’t. I never entered Admiral Aikhomu’s house. Not once. He never invited me. Occasionally we used to meet either at the corridor of the Villa, and we would just joke and I go my way he goes his way. I never entered Sam’s office. I can’t remember when he came to my office. So, we all had our different roles and mine was as IBB’s friend. Performing these two functions for him were well spelt out in my memoir. They are two-goals of democracy. He wanted to make history. So, I was always conscious of these two goals for him and I tried, I tried, I tried, I tried.

On the Eduwa incident, it was my Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Grace Alele Williams. She came to me. She said Deputy – you know I was her Deputy. She said Deputy, I said Madam, any problem? She said ah they are killing our people. I said, ah, Madam, who would kill your people.

Again, this had nothing to do with …..maybe she knew…..because there were many other things which she had achieved through me in that setting, like the Law School, Medical School and so on. She did a marvelous job in that University through me. Sometimes, she would just take her pen, write a letter to Babangida and I would take it there, and it was approved. It had nothing to do with Ministry of Education, nothing to do with National Universities Commission (NUC) and so on. She genuinely wanted that University to move forward and I knew that very well. I helped her to achieve her goal.

So, I said Madam, what are the problems now? She said eh, your Oga would not want to see my Olu. I said ah, it’s impossible because Aikhomu would not allow him to see the Olu. I said okay, leave it to me. I said what are the issues? I said okay, I have to feel the Olu out and I went to the big man. He said ah, but you know there is an understanding that these Traditional Rulers, if they wanted to come and see me from Bendel they should go through the Chief of General Staff (CGS).

I said, if the Emir of Kano was coming, would he go through the governor? And so on and so forth. He said I should not drag into Bendel politics now but I insisted that he has to see him.
So, Olu and his chiefs were hosted by me, when I say by me, I mean my office, the CDS.
So, we arranged and the Olu came. The Olu and his chiefs were guests of Centre for Democratic Studies. There was no connection in that and we know that. But we had to find a way of organizing this meeting. Then of course, we had to sit down too. I got my staff. The Olu’s staff and I sought for the issues because you cannot go to the man without a brief. We must be clear what this whole thing was about.

So, we discussed at length and finally agreed on this Edo/Warri something – whatever name, but this was the whole ideal. When should we table the matter? I said your majesty, give me time.
So, one day the big man phoned and said we should meet at the presidential lodge Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja at mid-night and that was it. The Olu was not too happy, thinking it was not going to hold. The man drove in at the appropriate time, at the time given and the rest is history. Was I doing it as an official? No. I wasn’t Olus’s staff. I didn’t have a role in all that but I believe that we needed an opportunity for the Olu to see the big man not through Admiral Aikhomu where Oyovbaire and Co would not allow that to hold but you know, it did hold. So, do I have to say more than that? On what to do about the Igbos?

We were also conflicted. It was a big problem. I said Mr. President, I have a friend. He said who is that friend. I said Dr Pius Okigbo, the same Okigbo. I said whatever advice he gives weigh it very seriously. He said okay. So, I hosted Okigbo at Hilton. So, what you call Abia, Imo and so on, is from Okigbo’s pen. That time we were not talking about this Okigbo report.I told him, this is what the big man wanted, please. Don’t write your self into this advice. Give him advice on parity between the Igbos and Yorubas, at least with a little advice, it can be resolved because the Igbos believe that they had always been equal with the Yorubas, and they‘ve been trying to solve this parity problem and we’ve been worrying about that.
I said try, it may not be full parity, but at least try and let the time weigh in such a way that the Yorubas are not just up there and the Igbos are nowhere. I said try. So, we worked on that. This has nothing to do with advice you gave through Aikhomu and all these people. No. That is not the way the structure of military governments works.
Pius Okigbo flew into Abuja on CDS expense. But that is not CDS function. So, whatever we did there had nothing to do with the official memo. I can give you many cases like that. That even in some cases when he was going to deliver the speech on the creation, he was still changing the thing right from the time of recording. So, what are you talking about memo? That was not the way the government worked. So, that was the nature of the military administration.

It had nothing to do with A is important, or not important. It doesn’t denigrate the power or influence of anybody. It simply shows that is the way the military administration functions and if then you begin to use some official titles to bamboozle some people outside there. You are not being fair. Babangida wasn’t elected.
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