PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013
PAGE 37
Defunct CPC faction joins PDM
By Patrick Andrew
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enator Rufai Hanga, pioneer Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), yesterday led the remaining members of his faction to join the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). At a ceremony held at the Arewa Suites, Abuja, Hanga said the authentic CPC members opted to team up with the PDM because of its reputation for internal democracy. The former Senator, who was
the campaign manager of late Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua, said the CPC faction decided to join the PDM because it had a track record of democracy and a manifesto that was aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians. He also insisted that his faction of the CPC has structure unlike the other faction which he said only rupture and full of undemocratic elements. Peoples Daily recalls that Hanga and his supporters had been at loggerhead with the executives of the defunct CPC since he lost the
Chairmanship election to Prince Tony Momoh, two years ago. The court had shifted ruling on the matter by a week, a development he said prompted members of the faction to take their destiny in their hands by choosing to affiliate with the PDM. “With the purported merger of our defunct party, CPC, and its takeover by another party called the All Progress Congress (APC), we have undertaken extensive consultations and arrived at a decision,” he said adding that his
faction had experienced ``impunity and dictatorship’’ at the highest level while in CPC and, therefore, decided against joining whatever merger their former colleagues had aligned with. According to him, there is no other party in Nigeria today which abides by values of justice and equal treatment for all like PDM, stressing that they don’t want to stray “into the hands of the same destructive and undemocratic forces whose actions compelled us to seek redress in court.” Further, Hanga listed four
L-R: Former National Publicity Secretary, defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr. Aghanya Dennis, former National Leader, defunct CPC, Senator Rufai Hanga, Kaduna state Caretaker Chairman, People Democratic Movement (PDM), Malam Abubakar Hayatu, during the media briefing on the defection of the defunct CPC members to PDM, yesterday in Abuja.
2015: Suswam, Gemade renew rivalry From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
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Photo: Justin ImoOwo
Confab without peoples’ input is despotism, says group From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi
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political pressure organisation, the Turaki Network for Change (TNC) has observed that convening a National conference that will impact on democratic institutions without consulting or seeking people’s inputs is a slide towards
despotism. It said, “To convene a National conference that will impact on these institutions without either consulting or seeking their inputs is suggesting that, this regime is sliding towards despotism and the dangers are discernable”. The group in a statement signed by its coordinator, Aminu
Gwandu, pointed out that Nigeria is not private property and nobody, however powerful, should assume some citizens are either his captives or can be intimidated. “We cannot equate a population of five or eight million whose ethnic groups are no more than five or ten with a community made up of two million people hence accord them
representation that give them a better leverage”, it said. TNC, while welcoming the National conference said however that it must be sovereign where each state must be given allocation of delegation on the basis of the strength of their population, as ethnic, religious and cultural groups must also be given slots.
Awo Foundation commends Jonathan on national conference
T
he Obafemi Awolowo Foundation yesterday lauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s initiative to convoke a national conference for Nigerians, urging support for it. This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a seminar in Lagos signed by the Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, the convener, Dr Tokunbo AwolowoDosumu and 12 others. The Executive Leadership seminar had as its theme: ``The National Conference: Roadmap to Nigeria’s Stability.’’ The foundation urged Nigerians
cardinal reasons why they believed joining the PDM was a better option than linking up with any other party. One of such factors, according to him, is that the PDM provides the former authentic CPC members with the opportunity to start from clean slate and from a level playing field. “Above all, we have confidence in the party’s leadership, its commitment to do justice to all as well as its pledge to treat all party members equally without discrimination of any kind,’’ he said.
to support the Presidential Advisory Committee chaired by Dr Femi Okurounmu inaugurated by Jonathan on Monday to achieve its objectives. It, however, noted that the membership of the committee was skewed against the younger generation. ``Membership of the committee is skewed against the younger generation, who will have to live with the consequences of the decisions to be made,’’ said the communiqué a copy of which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
It said the national conference arose out of the perception of Nigerians that they were not directly involved in the preparation and adoption of the 1999 constitution. ``Since there is a perception that the Nigerian people were not directly involved in the preparation and adoption of the present constitution, there is need for a national conference. ``It is also necessary given the fact that Nigeria is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with diverse interests.’’ According to the foundation, majority of Nigerians are limited on
critical issues of survival contrary to the assumption of the political elite. ``Nigerian federalism, in its distributive mode, is dysfunctional, counter-productive and lacking in innovation. ``Some of the critical issues facing the Nigerian state include revenue derivation, devolution of powers, minority rights, security, state police, census and local government autonomy,’’ it added. The foundation expressed the conviction that the conference would contribute significantly to the creation of a more viable Nigerian polity. (NAN)
ivalry between incumbent governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam and former National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP Senator Barnabas Gemade came to the fore last weekend as supporters said to be loyal to the governor booed the Senator. The ugly incident took place during the burial ceremony of a member of the Elders’ Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Liambee Shande in Kwande local government area of the State. Gemade had attempted to address mourners at the burial when the youths openly booed him, though undaunted he continued the speech. But at the end, he walked over to the governor and told him that since he had influenced his supporters to denigrate his person, its an indication that the battle line between them had been drawn. Governor Suswam is eyeing the Senatorial seat presently occupied by Sen. Gemade. He had rolled out his campaign train as cars coated with his image are seen in the state capital, Makurdi as well as the seven local government areas that make up Zone A senatorial district. Gemade who is currently occupying the position intends to go back for a second term. Governor Suswam, it was gathered, had suggested ambassadorial slot to Gemade who had rejected the idea.