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THE NATION, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2013
PDP crisis: Tukur in fresh trouble for defying Jonathan
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HE embattled National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, may have incurred the wrath of President Goodluck Jonathan over his latest handling of the moves to resolve the crisis in the party. President Jonathan is said to be angry with Tukur for flouting his order to reinstate the suspended national secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. The Court of Appeal had granted Oyinlola’s appeal to
•Oyinlola takes case to Jonathan
Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation
quash the verdict of a high court which nullified the process that led to his emergence as PDP scribe. The President reportedly asked Tukur not to proceed to the Supreme Court on appeal and return Oyinlola to office, but the National Chairman remained ada-
carry vandals because on one of those days when I used to help them, it landed me into trouble with security men. “Although there is money to make in the illegal business, the risk is much. This was why I stopped until Alfa deceived me into carrying fuel for him. I am very sorry.” Another suspect, Ofoeyeno, claimed that his duty was just to transport the stolen products from the bush to the buyers. He said: “Initially, I was buying directly from the NNPC staff close to the depot. Normally, NNPC staff would overload their trucks and sell the excess to us before preceding to offload the rest for the buyer. The place was however shut down when there was a fire out-
break. “I had no choice but to patronise these vandals. I am sorry and I wish NNPC will be allowing their truck drivers to carry excess.” Confirming the arrest, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of the Task Force, Friday Ibadin, said: “Detectives led by Lagos Sector Commander, Onaghise Osayande, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), laid an ambush and nabbed the suspected vandals. “It is worthy to remind Nigerians that ignorance is not an excuse. Both the seller and buyer of stolen products are liable. “The suspects will be arraigned in court at the end of investigation.”
since Oyinlola had pitched tent with the New PDP, he has technically left the party and could not be reinstated. They maintained that Oyinlola had no locus standi to sustain his case at the Supreme Court. The hawks adopted the position of the political godfather of the President, Chief Edwin Clark, that Oyinlola has defected from PDP. One of the legal counsel of the party was alleged to have battled desperately to convince the President that the PDP has a good case, but the President ignored all the persuasions and insisted on Oyinlola’s reinstatement to “heal the wounds in the party and put the crisis behind it.” A top source quoted the President as saying: “I will not be a party to any attempt to ridicule the court. We need to honour the judgment of the Court of Appeal. Mr. Chairman, go and reinstate Oyinlola with immediate effect. “I have respect for the judiciary and our democracy can only be sustainable if we respect the court. We have to demonstrate that we are genuine democrats.” The President asked all stakeholders seeking to file application at the Supreme Court against the judgment of the Court of Appeal to withdraw it immediately. Another source said the President made it clear at a point that he would “uphold the primacy of the rule of law than the idiosyncrasy of any person.” Tukur and the NWC, however, ignored the President and proceeded to suspend Oyinlola; the National Chairman of the New PDP, Kawu Baraje; his deputy, Sam Sam Jaja and a former senator from Jigawa State, Ibrahim Kazaure. It was gathered that Tukur did not consult the Presidency before imposing such a sanction. According to investigation, Tukur claimed to have asserted the supremacy of the party. But the Presidennt was said not to be amused by the development, with a PDP stalwart familiar with the development saying: “I think Tukur’s days are numbered, going by the unilateral decision he took to suspend some party leaders. Tukur and the NWC assumed that suspension was the right
Augustine EHIKIOYA, Abuja the integrity of President Jonathan and cast aspersions on the seriousness of the administration to fight corruption in the country.” He said it was mischievous of the governor to say the President “refused to act on information that a serving minister recently collected a bribe of $250 million from an oil company.” Abati added:”The Presidency views the patently bogus allegation reportedly made by the Gover-
nor in a radio interview yesterday (Thursday) as an unacceptable and callous attempt to unjustly impugn the integrity of President Jonathan and cast aspersions on the seriousness of his Administration’s efforts to curb corruption. “The allegation and the claim by Alhaji Lamido that he informed President Jonathan of the acceptance of the huge bribe by an unnamed minister is absolutely without any foundation in fact or reality because no such communication has ever taken
place between them. “We abhor Governor Lamido’s descent to the unscrupulous, reckless and thoughtless peddling of arrant falsehood in a puerile effort to score cheap political points against President Jonathan for personal and sectional political gains. The Presidency challenged Lamido to name the concerned minister and also provide concrete evidence of the bribe. “In the event that he is unable to do so, he should be prepared to offer an unreserved apology to the
mant while Oyinlola took his case to the President to intervene. The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said yesterday that the party was yet to be served a copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal. It was gathered that the President on Sunday met with Tukur, some selected opinion leaders and legal advisers of the party at the
Presidential Villa. The long session provided opportunity for most stakeholders to air their views on how to address the judgment of the Court of Appeal. It was gathered that the hawks at the meeting vehemently argued that it was better to allow the Supreme Court to make a final pronouncement on the case. The hawks alleged that
•From left: Airtel’s Zonal Business Manager, Lagos Metro, Ayo Ogunranti; winner of one million naira in the ongoing Airtel Red Hot Promo, Samuel Odey and Manager, Lagos Showrooms, Grace Henshaw, during the presentation of cheque to the winner at Airtel Shop, Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday.
Man, 65, arrested for allegedly stealing petroleum products
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PERATIVES of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism have arrested a 65-year-old man for stealing petroleum products belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at Idimagboro in Sagamu. The suspect, Salami Amodu, who claimed that he thought the stolen products were holy water, was arrested with Bruce Ekonen, Joseph Ofoeyeno, Francis Ode, Kola Ifatoye and Adeniyi Badebo. The operatives also recovered about 100 gallons of Premium motor spirit (PMS) allegedly pilfered. Speaking with The Nation at the police station, Amodu said: “I was on my way home when a man popularly known as Alfa stopped me. He promised to pay me N5,000 per trip if I could help him to carry 10 gallons of liquid. I thought it was water so I did not bother to ask since it was good business. It is possible that the water could be anointed since he was ready to pay as much as N5,000. “It was while we were on our way that I started to perceive the smell of fuel. I asked him and he told me that it was fuel. I was so annoyed and I shouted at him for not telling me in the first place what was in the gallons. “Initially, I wanted to stop the car and ask him to offload
Jude ISIGUZO the fuel, but when I realised that we were almost close to his destination, I decided to continue. “I am aware that vandals normally pass through that route. That was why I was very angry with him. “In that area, people go for prayers. Clerics come to that area to buy holy water to perform miracle. “Most of the time when I am done with the day’s job, especially if I did not make much money, I would go down to the bush area to see if there is anyone who needs a lift. “I also ensure that I do not
thing the Presidency wanted. “Everybody at the meeting where we decided on the reinstatement of Oyinlola felt embarrassed by the recourse to suspension by the party. “Our leaders are discussing the options available, including the removal of Tukur to allow peace to reign. “The Presidency is concerned that instead of the party creating and getting more followers and friends, the hierarchy is busy creating more enemies for the party and the Jonathan administration. “Though the Presidency does not want to interfere in the actitivies of the party, some forces feel it is wrong to ascribe every controversial action to the Presidency.” When contacted, Metuh said: “I am not aware of such a meeting, we are not changing the decision of any session. “Some people have been asking me this. I don’t know where they got it from.” On the refusal to stay action on appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, he said: “The national leadership of the party has not taken any position because up till now, we have not been served. “Our National Legal Adviser told me that he was yet to receive a copy of the judgment.” Asked if the PDP lawyer has not briefed the party, he said: “I don’t know who is representing PDP in the matter. “And do not forget that the South-West chapter of the party actually went to court.” Prince Oyinlola yesterday took his demand for justice to President Jonathan, the National Leader of the party. He also insisted that the leadership of the PDP had been served the judgment of the Court of Appeal which reinstated him into office. He asked PDP NWC to stand for truth instead of compromising on illegalities. Oyinlola, who made his position known in a statement through the Principal Secretary to the National Secretary, Mr. Femi Adelegan, faulted the Thursday defence of the NWC for suspending him and others. He dismissed the reaction •Continued on Page 58
President and Nigerians for his unwarranted and unjust effort to denigrate, disparage and malign the President and the Federal Government. “While the Jonathan Presidency will continue to make corrupt public officials answerable for their actions, it will not succumb to harassment and blackmail by selfseeking politicians jostling for personal advantage.” Lamido is one of the G-7 governors who are the driving forces of rulig party’s splinter group-nPDP.
Presidency, Lamido at war over $250m bribery allegation
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HE Presidency yesterday disputed a claim by Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State that he informed President Goodluck Jonathan about a $250 million bribe allegedly collected by a serving minister. It rubbished the governor’s statement as irresponsible, false and mischievous. President Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said in a statement that Lamido’s statement was designed to “impugn