Wednesday July 17, 2013
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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Politics
When memories of Abraham Adesanya came alive
APC: Waiting for INEC’s approval
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Jonathan wades into Tukur, Gana face-off over PDP convention No anointed candidates for NWC, says party chair
OBIORA IFOH ABUJA
P
resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday summoned to the presidential villa the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and chairman, PDP special national convention, Prof. Jerry Gana over the faceoff that led to the cancellation of the August 31 rescheduled date of the convention. The meeting which was still holding as at press time yesterday was expected to be
a platform for the President to settle the humiliation that Gana and his secretary, Senator Ike Ekweremadu suffered last week when they were locked out at the residence of the National Chairman on his directives. A Presidency source told National Mirror that the President will overrule the National Chairman over the cancellation of the August 31 date earlier proposed by the Planning Committee for the South-West convention and special National Convention. The party’s NWC at its
meeting on Monday suspended the Gana committee for overreaching their duties. “In view of the anomalies and breaches of the constitution of the PDP observed in the actions so far taken by the Special National Convention Planning Committee, the NWC has directed the Committee to put on hold all activities relating to the Special SouthWest Zonal Congresses and the Special National Convention pending the regularisation of the anomalies and breaches so as to forestall a repeat of the events
that affected the party’s convention in 2012.” But the Villa source said President Jonathan wants to restore peace to the party and he is also disposed to the party conducting the conventions as planned. “President Jonathan called for a truce between Tukur and Gana as the matter could degenerate to a full crisis situation. It is certain the August date for the convention will stand but the President is insisting that discipline must be maintained in the party and the party leadership must be supported to instil discipline
Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi (left) explaining some points to the General Manager, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Mr. Samuel Adekunle (right) and members of the State Executive Council during their visit to Ajoda New Town Development Authority, Ibadan yesterday.
in the PDP,” the source said. A PDP source told National Mirror that Tukur “had to be brutal because, he sensed that his office is being undermined. How can the committee change a date of the conventions, sells forms, solicit funds from the Villa and draw lists of the membership of the sub-committees without consulting the NWC. “NWC noted that lists of membership of the sub-committees were filled with persons that have no business in the party, where people are now using the sub-committees to settle relatives. One of them listed two of his immediate brothers. While NWC members who are committee members were subjected as just ordinary sub-committee members while their cronies were awarded with juicy subcommittee chairmanship.” Meanwhile, Tukur yesterday disclosed that the leadership of the party has no special or anointed candidate for the position of National Secretary, Publicity Secretary or any other position. In a statement by his Special Assistance on Media, Mr Oliver Okpala, Tukur said that the party will take a practical step to ensure that the forthcoming con-
vention and congresses of the party will be transparent and credible in line with the party’s avowed creed for internal democracy. He said that the leadership of the party will not have any hand in deciding who wins at the congresses or the special national convention, since it is going to be transparent, free, credible and fair, adding that any candidate who wins must have done so on his or her own merit. “Those to be members of the new NWC of the party to fill the vacant positions will emerge from due process and will be those the party delegates will chose at the congresses and special convention,” he said. Reacting to the insinuations that he has hand in the unfolding and unfortunate event in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Tukur said that “it is the desire of the PDP that peace returns immediately to the Rivers State House of Assembly in particular and the state in general.” He called on all Nigerians to join hands and ensure that peace returns to Rivers State House of Assembly, insisting that without peace “our much coveted democracy will be meaningless.”
PDP scribe: Lagos kicks against Oladipo’s nomination Awka elders want indigene to govern Anambra OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU
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he Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has kicked against the nomination last weekend of Prof. Wale Oladipo as the replacement for Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as the National Secretary of the party. The party dissociated itself from the purported South-West caucus meeting, which allegedly nominated Oladipo to replace the Acting National Secretary of the party, Dr. Remi Akitoye. The Lagos PDP, speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Taofeek Gani, said that it became imperative for it to make this clarification
following the endorsement of the Acting National Secretary of the PDP for the office of the National Secretary by the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party, noting that revisiting such decision at this time will amount to a betrayal of leadership. The South-West zonal Caretaker Committee of the party had last Saturday held a caucus meeting at Ibadan where they nominated Oladipo. The party said: “The present occupier of the office of the Acting National Secretary, Akitoye, was endorsed by the NEC of the party. The NEC is a higher authority, higher than the zonal Executive Committee. This hierarchy of authority must be understood
by all. Taking actions outside the decisions of the NEC would be tantamount to making ultra vires decisions and the Lagos PDP cannot be part of this.” While unequivocally condemning the resolution at the said caucus meeting, the Lagos PDP urged the national secretariat of the party to discountenance same, admonishing the party’s leaders in the South-West to desist from actions that can present them as fifth columnists within the party. The party added that the bigger fight in the zone is against the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and thus called on the leaders to aggregate their strategies and resources against the opposition rather than antagonising one another.
T
he council of elders in Awka have pleaded with the people of Anambra State to allow their kinsman to be the next governor of the state. The elders made the plea in Awka yesterday when they received Mr Emmanuel Nweke, an APGA governorship aspirant from Umuogbunu village in Awka. Chief Patrick Nwachukwu, the Chairman of the Ezi-Awka Elders Council, expressed delight that an indigene of the town had indicated interest to contest the election. Nwachukwu, who is also the head of Umuogbunu village, said the town had made a lot of contributions toward the development of the state and deserved to produce the next governor.
“It is the desire of Awka town to have one of our sons as the next governor because it has not happened since the creation of the new Anambra. “His aspiration is good for Awka. We shall be glad if he becomes the candidate of his party and goes ahead to become the state governor. “We have heard his good plans for the state, and going by the much he has done as a private and accomplished individual, we believe Anambra will be better for it,” he said. He expressed the belief that Nweke would use his wide exposure and experience to govern every part of the state as his constituency, noting that the people of Awka were naturally large and kind hearted.
In his remarks, Mr. Emmanuel Nwoye, the Secretary General of Umuogbunu Town Union, said: Awka had not been given. “He has our blessings; we have yearned to be governor for a long time. We know him, he has the capability to govern and bring growth and development to the state. “Our appeal is that the people of Anambra should consider this unfair situation and give us a chance,” Nwoye said. In his speech, the aspirant said he would take the state to the next level if given the opportunity to serve. On Monday’s Appeal Court judgement on APGA, Nweke described it as a welcome development, adding that it had addressed the leadership tussle in the party.