PDP FIGHT GETS MESSIER! ‘Tukur faces Posterity’-Parallel Group *New PDP Damns Aso Rock, Elects NWC & 17 State Party Chairmen *PDP National Chairman, Tukur Reacts: “They’re Impostors, undemocratic elements…Security Operatives should watch out for them” * Says: “Any lawmaker that follows this parallel group will have their seats declared vacant” * Parallel PDP Writes Naija Standard American Editors *Olisah Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of Tukur Group: “Baraje-led faction is a mockery of peace process”

PDP FIGHT GETS MESSIER!

‘Tukur faces Posterity’-Parallel Group

*New PDP Damns Aso Rock, Elects NWC & 17 State Party Chairmen

*PDP National Chairman, Tukur Reacts: “They’re Impostors, undemocratic elements…Security Operatives should watch out for them”

* Says: “Any lawmaker that follows this parallel group will have their seats declared vacant”

* Parallel PDP Writes Naija Standard American Editors

*Olisah Metuh, National Publicity Secretary of Tukur Group: “Baraje-led faction is a mockery of peace process”

 BY YINKA OLOWOOLOLA/ASSISTANT POLITICAL EDITOR, ABUJA

 PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP), Africa’s largest political party in Nigeria is presently in crisis. And senior members of the party led by Atiku Abubakar, former Nigeria’s Vice President and Alhaji Kuwa Baraje, a former National Chairman of this same party are championing various crusades against Bamanga Tukur, incumbent national chairman of PDP. After the 7 Governors of PDP (6 Northern and 1 South-South) walked out of the party convention on August 31, 2013 at Eagle Square, Abuja, the party has known no peace.

The governors  are  Sule Lamido(Jigawa);   Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto);   Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano);  Aliyu Babangida (Niger);  and   Abdulfatah Ahmed(Kwara) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

Parallel PDP Writes Naija Standard American Editors

In a letter sent to Naija Standard, New PDP National Executive Committee chairman Baraje has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar to as a matter of urgency reopen its national secretariat which was sealed last week. The Baraje-led new PDP condemned in strong terms the action of the police describing it as a negation of a High Court order which had both parties to ‘maintain the status quo pending his determination of the motion on notice’.

In a statement released and signed by its new National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze looked with repugnance at attempts by certain individuals within the presidency to stifle democracy.

The full text of the statement (unedited)  reads: “The fracas over the representation of the former National Executive of the People’s Democratic Party of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, today at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High court is testimonial of the confusion that consumed the party under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

“The Ikeja Division of the Lagos High court under Justice Ganiyu S. Safari had on 2nd September, 2013 ordered both parties to maintain the status quo pending his determination of the motion on notice. He also directed that the defendants be served outside jurisdiction.

“Again on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 a Federal court in Abuja reiterated the ruling of Justice Safari asking both parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the case.

“In keeping with the ruling, the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje executive obeyed the learned Judges but was shocked at the sealing up of its secretariat under the instructions of Inspector General of Police on 7thSeptember, 2013 probably prompted by the Alh. Tukur’s faction of

PDP Leadership in its usual fashion of lawlessness and supported by their cronies in government.

“In view of the ruling ordering both parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case, PDP national executive committee wishes to request the Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, to immediately unseal its National Secretariat in Abuja and allow it to

operate unhindered.

“In line with the resolve of the leadership of the PDP under Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje to respect and uphold democratic tenets and the rule of law and considering that the judiciary is the bastion of democracy and the last hope of the common man, the PDP once again approached the court to interpret its former ruling that two factions should maintain the status quo and assist us to decide on the legality or otherwise of the sealing off of our National Secretariat by the police on the orders of the Inspector General of Police but Alh. Tukur led faction of the party could not agree on a common Counsel to represent them thereby forcing the Lagos High Court

to adjourned the case till 17th September, 2013.

“Few days ago, the High Court in Lagos once again ruled on the legitimacy of the

PDP under the leadership of Baraje after it ruled that the status quo be maintained until the determination of the motion on notice.

“We wish to therefore appeal to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr.Mohammed Abubakar, to immediately unseal the party’s National Secretariat to allow us continue our lawful activities and set our party on the path of victory in all the coming elections.

“The party views the continued seal up of our offices as barbaric, undemocratic and an abuse and demonstration of naked power, the very elements that characterized Alh. Bamanga Tukur’s leadership.

“No matter the odds, it is our resolve as a group to rescue PDP from the hands of undemocratic elements and draconian rule which have been the lot of our political party under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

“We remain committed to the vision of the founding fathers of our great party and will not be deterred in our determination to entrench democratic principles within our party irrespective of the odds and threat to our lives.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate our determination and will to restore peace in the PDP. We wish to commend the judiciary for living up to its reputation as has been clearly shown by the decision of both the high court in Lagos and Abuja.

“We are indebted to Nigeria and appreciate the goodwill we have enjoyed in our quest to rebuild and sustain the greatest party in Africa. We understand that leadership is a sacred trust and therefore commit to a people focussed and people centred leadership under our chairman Alhaji

Kawu- Baraje.

“We appeal to all our party men to be calm, loyal and desist from making any inflammatory statement that may undermine the efforts of the Peace Committee of the elders of the party under the leadership of His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR.

“We are certain that posterity will judge us fairly and that all this too shall come to pass in a matter of time.

New PDP Elects 17 State Party Chairmen

Naija Standard observed that daring Aso Rock and barely few days ago, this embattled new PDP announced the appointment of more members into its National Working Committee.

The announcement by the National Secretary of the faction, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, came  barely 72 hours after the police laid siege to their  secretariat in Abuja.

It also coincided with the  boycott of   a meeting  convened  by the National Chairman of the PDP,   Dr. Bamanga Tukur,  in Abuja on Monday by 17 state chairmen  of the party.

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected  to continue  his peace talks all the  governors elected on the PDP platform   at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today.

But Oyinlola in a statement  in Abuja, said the  stakeholders  of the New PDP  across the country  had ratified the election of members of  the NWC.

Apart from    Baraje, who is  the  NWC chairman and  Dr Sam Sam Jaja,  deputy national chairman,   Maode Hiliya was named the  deputy national secretary;   Timi Frank,  national youth leader and  Mrs. Binta Koje,  national woman leader.

Others are  Mallam Nasir Issa, national organising secretary ;    Chief  Chukwuemeka Eze, national publicity secretary; Aliyu Wadada, national financial secretary; and   Mallam Tanko  Gomna, national treasurer.

Oyinlola however did not say when and where the NWC members were elected.

Tukur Counters New PDP…hosts 19 State Party Chairmen

Same Monday,    Tukur hosted 19 state chairmen of the PDP and their Federal Capital Territory counterpart in his bid to win their support against the Baraje-led group.

It was learnt that the majority of the 17 state chairmen  that  stayed away  from the  meeting  attended the PDP post-convention dinner, which was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday night.

Before the dinner, all the state chairmen had also met at the Agura Hotel,  Abuja where discussions were held on the  party’s crisis.

Absent PDP Chairmen

Naija Standard can tell you that the chairmen  that were absent  from the   meeting with Tukur  were those of  Kano, Sokoto, Kwara, Niger, Jigawa, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, Taraba, Kebbi, Borno, Bauchi, Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states.

In  attendance   were  chairmen from Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Cross Rivers, Adamawa, Yobe, Ekiti, Benue, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Nasarawa, Ondo, Lagos, Gombe, Ogun, Osun  and Plateau   states  and the FCT.

The  Chairman of the Conference of the PDP State Chairmen, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, confirmed to   journalists that some of his colleagues who were absent  from the meeting  attended the   post-convention  dinner.

He said some of the chairmen from states such as Bayelsa, Enugu, Edo and Ebonyi sent apologies that they were returning to their respective states same Monday.

He said, “The decisions we took at the meeting were endorsed by our colleagues, whether present or not. But if you doubt me,  I can call  and put them on the speaker phone.”

At the meeting, Tukur said it was only the PDP that could guarantee Nigeria’s unity and that of the entire  Africa.

He  said, “Today,  no party in Nigeria has spread like PDP and that means  that  people accept our party. It  means also that  it is a big responsibility, hence the people believe there must be equity and justice.  I am analogue, while you are digital. I will give you wisdom to tackle tomorrow and we believe that every member of the party has the right to express himself. But the  majority will always have their way while minority will have their say.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Chief Olisa Metuh, said the election of a parallel NWC by the Baraje-led faction was a mockery of the peace process. Metuh added that it was sad that the faction decided to continue its “rebelling behaviour” in spite of the peace process.

His words: “I think it’s a mockery of the peace process. As it is now, we don’t know how serious this is. The party will meet and review its position accordingly. We will meet and consider the current happenings and review our position and what we need to do in the circumstance.”

A Presidency source told  journalists   on Monday evening,  that the expected submission of the report of the elders committtee headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo might be a mere formality.

The  executive committees of the party in  Rivers and Adamawa states have since been taken from the governors and handed over to those considered as protégés of the Presidency.

The governors of the two states, Rotimi Amaechi and Murtala Nyako,  are also believed to be against the second term ambition of President   Jonathan.

Jonathan is,  however,  expected to meet with  all the PDP governors in Abuja on Tuesday (today). The meeting is coming ahead of an alleged disagreement of members of the Elders Committee of the party, headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The elders met with all the factions of the party in Abuja on Friday, with the aim of resolving the crisis.

Apart from Obasanjo, others  at the meeting   were former  military President Ibrahim Babangida;  ex- chairmen of the PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali and  Sen. Barnabas Gemade; as well as the  Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih.

Another former Chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar, and an ex-BoT Chairman, Dr. Alex Ekwueme,  were absent at the meeting as they were said to have travelled outside the country. Two of the  elders at the meeting were said to have disagreed  with some of the recommendations made in their report.

Meanwhile, a former Vice-President, Alhaji  Atiku Abubakar,  has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Muhammed, to  withdraw policemen from the secretariat of the New PDP in Abuja.

Abubakar, who is currently in China leading a private economic trade mission at the invitation of the Chinese government, issued a statement declaring that the  police invasion on the  secretariat    was  borne  out of intolerance.

The statement reads in part, “While it is embarrassing that the police have yet to give a reason on why they are laying siege to a political party office, the whole world knows these are acts prompted by unscrupulous politicians, who do not even have the moral conscience not to involve the police in politics.

“I call on the leadership of the Nigerian Police, especially its Inspector-General, to steer clear of political entanglements, and immediately vacate our party’s office. Our national law enforcement priority must be the safety and security of Nigerians, not politics.”

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Sure, the fight within PDP is getting nastier than imagined…we shall keep you updated.