The crises in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the resulting spill over into the National Assembly have led to a sharp division among loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan over how to contain the political insurrection.
This was even as Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu has confirmed that more governors were ready to join the G-7 Governors when the alarm was finally blown.
Aliyu spoke when members of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation paid him a courtesy visit in his residence in Minna yesterday, adding that their identities would be known at the appropriate time.
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has meanwhile fixed September 30, to continue hearing on a suit seeking to stop the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje led faction of the party from operating in the country.
The PDP however, yesterday lampooned the new PDP as well as the G-7 governors, saying it was not in anyway afraid of them.
The National Publicity Secretary, of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh who spoke to newsmen noted that the party was only treading the path of caution because of its respect for the agreement reached between President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors of Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto, Rivers, Kano, Kwara and Jigawa states, calling for a truce, pointing out that it had endured enough of what it termed the macabre dance from its estranged members.
The Baraje led faction of the new Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, on its part also raised an alarm over alleged moves by the presidency to engage in massive bribing of members of the National Assembly, NASS, and asked President Goodluck Jonathan to call his men to order in order not to plunge the country into ‘’avoidable chaos.’’
According to the nPDP, the presidency should also stop the moves to bribe NASS members so as not to portray his administration as promoting corruption to the high heavens.
According to the nPDP, the presidency should also stop the moves to bribe NASS members so as not to portray his administration as promoting corruption to the high heavens.
However, on the division in the presidency, it was learnt that while some elements led by two powerful female ministers and some presidential aides have erected a parallel structure outside the National Assembly leadership for engaging the legislators, some others also in the presidency are pulling back from that direction warning that it could boomerang to hurt the presidency.
The decision to identify alternative legislators outside the recognised leadership, it was learnt, is already breeding tension between the presidency and the leadership of the two houses. The situation is said to be especially grave in the House of Representatives where the deputy speaker, Chief Emeka Ihedioha is said to have been left sour with the determination of the presidential aides to sidestep the House leadership in resolving the problems caused by the emergence of the nPDP in the House.
Ihedioha had in the past bent backwards to accommodate the interests of the presidency and the PDP, but is now according to sources “seriously unhappy” after the power bloc in the presidency picked Rep. Bethel Amadi, also from ImoState as the contact man of the presidency.
Reflective of the development was the power show on Wednesday and Thursday on the floor of the House of Representatives when members supportive of the Kawu Baraje faction of the PDP teamed up with opposition legislators to frustrate the presentation of all bills forwarded to the legislature by the president or supported by members of the PDP loyal to the president. It took the shrewd intervention of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal to rescue a bill to amend the bill establishing the National Communications Commission from premature death by stepping it down instead of allowing it go for consideration and assured death.
Besides the situation in the House of Representatives, the decision of the powerful caucus in the presidential villa to also prop up Gen. Lawrence Onoja as a potential domestic rival to the president of the Senate, Senator David Mark in Benue State, is already leading to concerns that the Senate leadership could decide like that of the House to be radicalised.
The decision of the Senate President to receive Baraje earlier this week was given as an indication of the growing unease between the Senate leadership and the presidential villa.
The two power blocs in the presidency it was learnt were divided over how to approach the crisis. While one group powered by the two influential female ministers was said to have inclined itself towards creating an alternative channels among floor members to boost support for the presidency, the other group still within the presidency is said to be inclined towards working within the existing leadership structure in the two houses.
In proposing the use of the leadership, the later group it was learnt, is arguing that the presiding officers Mark and Ike Ekweremadu in the Senate; Aminu Tambuwal and Ihedioha in the House of Representatives, were still popular and were in better position to manage their members. That they said, is better than creating alternative power blocs to push support for the presidency.
In proposing the use of the leadership, the later group it was learnt, is arguing that the presiding officers Mark and Ike Ekweremadu in the Senate; Aminu Tambuwal and Ihedioha in the House of Representatives, were still popular and were in better position to manage their members. That they said, is better than creating alternative power blocs to push support for the presidency.
“They don’t know how senators love and also fear Mark,” one concerned PDP member told Saturday Vanguard.
Before his ascent as Senate president, Senator Mark led one of the most cohesive groups in the Senate but since his emergence as Senate president, political caucus groups outside the recognised geopolitical and party platforms have disappeared.
Before his ascent as Senate president, Senator Mark led one of the most cohesive groups in the Senate but since his emergence as Senate president, political caucus groups outside the recognised geopolitical and party platforms have disappeared.
However, the hawkish group in the presidency, it was learnt is arguing against entrusting the fate of the president in the hands of Mark and Tambuwal, both of whom some presidential minders have in the past accused of harbouring presidential ambitions.
The lack of trust in Tambuwal is further driven by the strong relationship between the speaker and Governor Aliyu Wamakko of SokotoState, one of the seven rebel governors that are backing the nPDP.
The concerns about Tambuwal nonetheless, many loyal members in the House and in the presidency, it was learnt were arguing that sustaining the relationship with the speaker and his deputy was better than causing confusion through the mobilisation of other focus persons who at best cannot help the president push through his legislative agenda.
The concerns about Tambuwal nonetheless, many loyal members in the House and in the presidency, it was learnt were arguing that sustaining the relationship with the speaker and his deputy was better than causing confusion through the mobilisation of other focus persons who at best cannot help the president push through his legislative agenda.
Some members and stakeholders were also concerned that the choice of Amadi as the leader of the group to bolster support for the president was bad politics.
Amadi is leader of the Pan African parliament, a job that makes him to be outside of the House and the country most times.
Besides his continental duties, is the rival political rivalry between Ihedioha and Amadi both of whom are three term members and are believed to have gubernatorial ambitions in their native Imo State.
“You can understand that Ihedioha is feeling very bad that after all he has staked for the presidency that they could undermine his authority in the House, and even worse, by picking his rival to undermine him,” a source privy to the development told Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity.
“You can understand that Ihedioha is feeling very bad that after all he has staked for the presidency that they could undermine his authority in the House, and even worse, by picking his rival to undermine him,” a source privy to the development told Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity.
Besides the bad politics, there is also unease that money has become the central issue in mobilising legislators creating ill-feeling among concerned members of the public; that money that otherwise could have been used to push governance is being used to compromise legislators.
We are not of Baraje, G-7 Gov. — Tukur
Meanwhile, Metuh in his address entitled, ‘’We are not afraid’’ said that the PDP under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was not afraid to respond to the propaganda and criticisms of Baraje- led nPDP, but decided to show decorum following the respect and regard for President Jonathan, the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih and other leaders of the party that have waded into the crisis, in a bid to nipping the political quagmire in the bud.
He said that the aggrieved PDP have used the party to get to where they are now and should allow the party to use them.
Metuh who described the crisis as a family one, however advised others that, “We must not dance naked in the streets,” as a result of the “implications of cascading developments arising from the challenges posed by the actions and utterances of our estranged brothers in our membership… We have seriously, taken into account, steps taken as well as the gravity of utterances credited to our brothers, especially in the wake of our last reconciliation meeting.
”The PDP has taken a critical look at the implications of cascading developments arising from the challenges posed by the actions and utterances of our estranged brothers in our membership. We have seriously, taken into account, steps taken as well as the gravity of utterances credited to our brothers, especially in the wake of our last reconciliation meeting. We therefore wish to state for the avoidance of doubt that the fact that our leaders are wisely decided on the path of caution and decorum, does not in any way suggest that we are afraid of the consequences of doing otherwise. We have only applied a common African wisdom that yes, we have the strength of a lion but better, when not applied needlessly.
”As leaders of our great party, we have implicit faith that the present challenges facing us will be amicably resolved, hence our commitment to caution and decorum in order to avoid jeopardizing the peace process and fall prey to those who do not wish the PDP well.
”The constitution of the PDP has adequately laid down procedures for the settlement of disputes. We therefore hold that it is absolutely unnecessary to make a public theatre of these challenges and the process of resolving them. Unwarranted utterances and actions are only capable of generating further ill feelings.
”The provisions of the constitution of our great party must therefore be held sacrosanct by all members. We the leaders, even have a greater responsibility to show worthy examples.
”The provisions of the constitution of our great party must therefore be held sacrosanct by all members. We the leaders, even have a greater responsibility to show worthy examples.
”Similarly, party members ought not carry on as if hierarchy of leadership amounts to nothing. We have a President who is the leader and the symbol of our great party in government. We also have the Chairman of Board of Trustees as well as former Presidents who have volunteered efforts to the peaceful resolution of these family challenges. We owe them every respect in their determination to achieve genuine reconciliation among us.
”While we concede that some of the leaders of this estranged group are notable members of the PDP, the same cannot be said of vacuous quantities who are bereft of the core values of PDP and are unknown to the ranks of different levels of our great party, but to whom photo-opportunity has been provided to flaunt nuisance values. To leaders among them, we say once more; this macabre dance is unnecessary. This grotesque dance in the manner of an avant-garde Nollywood actor will surely satisfy emotions but will incredibly lead to loss of faith and throw up anti-heroes instead of heroes.
”The differences for now remain challenges of intepretation of process, procedures and trust. It must neither be blown out of proportion nor be allowed to obstruct the cause and course of good governance. We must bear in mind that what makes or mars our strenght is our ultimate performance as a ruling party.”
Speaking further, Metuh who noted that the differences for now remain challenges of interpretation of process, procedures and trust, however said that the crisis must neither be blown out of proportion nor allowed to obstruct the cause and course of good governance, adding, “We must bear in mind that what makes or mars our strength is our ultimate performance as a ruling party”.
Speaking further, Metuh who noted that the differences for now remain challenges of interpretation of process, procedures and trust, however said that the crisis must neither be blown out of proportion nor allowed to obstruct the cause and course of good governance, adding, “We must bear in mind that what makes or mars our strength is our ultimate performance as a ruling party”.
On the call for the resignation of Tukur by the nPDP, the PDP spokesperson said, “we the members of the NWC and PDP as a family have absolute confidence on the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur”.
Federal Govt plans to bribe NASS memebers massively — Baraje faction
Also, in a statement yesterday by the nPDP National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze said, “information reaching us indicates that the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur faction of PDP working in concert with some Presidency officials have set about to induce members of the House of Representatives with a view to passing a vote of confidence on President Jonathan and impeaching their principal officers. Part of their strategy is to place advertisements in major national newspapers in the country starting from next week, praising a non-performing Presidency to the high heavens so as to water the ground for President Jonathan’s expected declaration for the 2015 presidential contest.
”Each member is expected to receive $25,000 (about N2.5million) to sign the advertorial endorsing the President. The plan is to commence the impeachment of principal officers of the House after the publication of these advertisements. We are aware of the identities of those involved in this shady business being coordinated by an influential member of the discredited Tukur faction from the Southern part of the country.
”Sadly, this is happening at a time when poverty is ravaging the land and our children are kept at home because of the refusal of the Federal Government to keep to the agreement it reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, since 2009. Passing a vote of confidence on President Jonathan and celebrating him in the papers as these undemocratic elements plan to do is not only insensitive but also amounts to celebrating the death traps called federal roads and celebrating darkness after the billions of naira squandered on a non-functional power sector.
”Each member is expected to receive $25,000 (about N2.5million) to sign the advertorial endorsing the President. The plan is to commence the impeachment of principal officers of the House after the publication of these advertisements. We are aware of the identities of those involved in this shady business being coordinated by an influential member of the discredited Tukur faction from the Southern part of the country.
”Sadly, this is happening at a time when poverty is ravaging the land and our children are kept at home because of the refusal of the Federal Government to keep to the agreement it reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, since 2009. Passing a vote of confidence on President Jonathan and celebrating him in the papers as these undemocratic elements plan to do is not only insensitive but also amounts to celebrating the death traps called federal roads and celebrating darkness after the billions of naira squandered on a non-functional power sector.
”The impunity associated with the Tukur-led PDP is yet another proof that we are now in a desperate situation where these failed politicians are capable of doing anything in order to achieve their evil aims. But they will surely fail.
”We urge our members all over the world to continue with fasting and prayers as we collectively seek God’s face on how to resolve the orchestrated crisis in our great party and thus minimize the heavy toll which it is taking on the Jonathan administration.
”The general public is hereby urged to ignore the advertorials when it starts to come out by Monday as there is no substance in most of the contents.
”We urge our members all over the world to continue with fasting and prayers as we collectively seek God’s face on how to resolve the orchestrated crisis in our great party and thus minimize the heavy toll which it is taking on the Jonathan administration.
”The general public is hereby urged to ignore the advertorials when it starts to come out by Monday as there is no substance in most of the contents.
More Govs plan to join us — Aliyu
Governor Aliyu said, “a lot of people identify us as the G7 only because we are the ones visible but I can assure you some of us are operating silently for now because of their political ambition.’’
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Dr. Shettima Haji Aliyu disclosed that the foundation has trained 350 women and youths in vocational and entrepreneurship programmes adding that most of the trainees had started their own businesses.
He also said that the foundation have been able to reach out to some northern states affected with insecurity and have been able to give some form of compensations to them.
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