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