National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party
(PDP),Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has opted to break the ranks of the party’s
governors who are currently locked in a battle with him for the soul of the
party.
He
is also determined to move decisively against some members of the PDP National
Working Committee (NWC) who are unwilling to cooperate with him.
The
affected NWC members are the National Woman Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe; the
National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; the National Youth Leader, Alh. Garba
Chiza; and the National Auditor, Chief Bode Mustapha.
Party
sources said yesterday that Tukur had started reaching out to some PDP
governors on the need to give his administration a chance and keep the party
united.
The
rapprochement,it was gathered , is to enable Tukur secure a simple majority of
members for the purpose of convening a meeting of the National Executive
Committee (NEC) to pass a vote of confidence in him.
According
to sources, if Tukur succeeds in earning the confidence of the governors, he
would have sealed the hope of the sacked National Secretary of the party,
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, from regaining his seat.
The
PDP governors, most of whom are backing Oyinlola, are looking forward to the
NEC of the party to take their pound of flesh from Tukur.
The
last meeting of the NEC was held in July 2012 and the fears of a possible vote
of no confidence on Tukur has been delaying a fresh session.
It
was learnt that some of the PDP governors, including a few ones from the
South-South and South-East, have bought into Tukur’s agenda.
But
the PDP Chairman and his foot soldiers were not sure of securing majority
support from the governors as at press time.
A
reliable source said: “Tukur and his loyalists have initiated moves to break
the ranks of the PDP governors. Governor Rotimi Amaechi is alleged to be a
powerful force in the PDP Governors’ Forum, but with the deft moves, there
might be a split within the ranks very soon.
“It
is not known how all matters connected with the running of the party would be
presented to the party’s NEC when and if it meets. It is believed that the
Tukur camp is waiting for the current situation to thaw while attempts are to
be intensified to break the ranks of PDP governors.
“It
is also not yet clear how state governors and other stakeholders would be able
to contain attempts to sweep the carpets from under their feet through
financial inducements to certain strategic members of PDP’s NEC.
“Tukur’s
special advisers brought from outside are said to be coordinating the moves to
finally nail the PDP governors permanently and have advised Tukur to be playing
on soothing words to be able to ambush and check the governors when he decides
to move.
“The
advisers are also said to be prevailing on Tukur to remove the party’s National
Woman Leader, Dr. Kema Chikwe; the National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; the
National Youth Leader, Alh. Garba Chiza; and the National Auditor, Chief Bode
Mustapha who are believed not to be on his side.”
Governor
Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, however, expressed confidence that the party
would overcome its present crisis.
He
said: “We have 23 out of 36 governors. We have two-thirds of the National
Assembly; we have councillors and chairmen everywhere. So, we have this large
number staying in the house. Even with you and your wife, you will find out
that it is not honeymoon every day. Sometimes, you disagree or agree; sometimes
you disagree to agree or agree to disagree.
“All
these things are happening even between you are your wife, we are not talking
of a large family or community, and we are not talking of Nigeria .
“So,
many things are bound to have caused disagreement between the members, in
between the leaders and those at ward level, but PDP has got its own mechanism
of settling dispute. I am sure God’s willing, very soon we will come to the end
of the dispute and we come and work as a family.”
It
was learnt that to cut the NWC members to size, Tukur has decided to integrate
most of their deputies into the party’s machinery.
Another
source said: “Since the NWC members have supposedly become rebellious, the game
plan is to enhance the status and roles of their deputies. I think they are
taking advantage of the fact that these deputies were hitherto sidelined in the
scheme of things by all NWC members. They do not attend meetings and they have
no operational base at the PDP National Headquarters.
“The
PDP NEC is believed to be largely populated by the party’s governors and
loyalists. Others being targeted are ex-officio members and state chairmen and
secretaries who are perceived to be loyal to PDP governors.
“The
arrowhead of the Tukur camp in this regard is a deputy member of the NWC who is
aggrieved after being checked of alleged excesses and from illegal usurpation
of the responsibilities of the permanent staff of the PDP.
“The
said deputy became a willing tool because the removed National Secretary,
Oyinlola, had taken administrative steps to check him. It is now time to pay
Oyinlola back in his own coin.
“But
Tukur is stealing the moment by trying to elevate the deputies to NWC members
to prevent future rebellion.
“The
deputy members of the PDP National Working Committee were, during the week,
awarded a monthly allowance of N350,000 to win them over to Tukur’s side in the
event of holding a NEC meeting at which occurrences within the party could be
discussed and major policy decisions taken.
“To
earn the confidence of the deputies to NWC members, they were told that
Oyinlola had served as a stumbling block to the payment of their allowances.”
A
source in the Oyinlola camp said: “It is most wicked of anybody to say Oyinlola
refused to approve funds or allowances for the deputy NWC members without due
consideration of the totality of the recommendations made to him.”
Tags
Politics