Bamanga's Directive Fuels Resignation Rumour

A ‘SUDDEN’ directive from the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has created anxiety amongst members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the staff at the party’s national headquarters, Abuja.

Tukur told his aides to take an inventory, of all party items in his office.

To some of his aides, the inventory which began about 48 hours ago, is “suspicious”.

It could not be immediately ascertained whether Tukur has decided to resign or not, following the speculation that some members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) were pushing for his exit – “for true reconciliation in the party”.

Tukur asked some of his aides on Sunday to take an “inventory of all items” in his three offices.

The PDP national chair has offices at the party’s National Secretariat, the Legacy House, which serves as the Presidential Campaign Office for the ruling party and his residence in Wuse.

Tukur was said to have personally supervised the inventory before leaving for Lagos en route Canada yesterday.

One of the aides said: “We had no inkling of any challenge, but the chairman directed us to immediately take an inventory of all items in his three offices.

“Some of us tried to find out if anything was amiss but no one told us why an inventory of items became necessary at this particular period.

“What made us curious is that he did not bother about inventory of items when he assumed the leadership of the party.

“We complied with the directive before the national chairman left for Canada this afternoon via Lagos. He took a chartered flight to Lagos.”

Another source alleged there had been a frosty relationship between the presidency and Tukur in the last one week.

The source said: “From reports available, the PDP national chairman was at the Villa on Thursday to see the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan, but he did not see him.

“Tukur ought to have proceeded on the Canada trip on Sunday but it was delayed because there was no clearance from the Presidency until yesterday.

“So, no one could say whether the inventory was a routine thing or in preparation for resignation on personal grounds.”

Another source said: “For quite sometime, some members of the Board of Trustees and party stalwarts have been uncomfortable with Tukur as the National Chairman of PDP because his tenure has left the party divided.

“They cited some instances, like the conflict between Tukur and the sacked National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the crisis of confidence within the National Working Committee; the Ogun State PDP crisis which has caused a feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; and the Adamawa crisis.

“Some BOT members and party leaders have impressed it on Jonathan that Tukur cannot lead PDP to victory in 2015. As a matter of fact, some governors have said that they cannot work with Tukur.

“When Tukur’s reconciliation tour failed, the BoT embarked on a similar exercise which recorded ‘modest’ success.”

PDP National Publicity Secretary Chief Olisa Metuh said: “I am not aware that the national chairman is taking an inventory of items in his office. His office is locked.

“I am also not aware of any resignation. NWC members are unaware. Why will he resign? What for? I was with him today before he travelled out, he did not tell me anything.”

But an aide to Tukur dispelled the resignation.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Dr. A .Y. Ahmad said Tukur was on a national assignment to Canada on the invitation of the Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Madueke.

Ahmad added that the party chair left Nigeria in peace with nothing whatsoever to lend credence to any rumour about his resignation.

The statement reads: “The speculation is part of the machinations of some faceless, treacherous and wicked individuals who are aiming to profit from misleading innocent members of the party and Nigerians in general for no sane reason.

“The national chairman is a national and an international figure. He has been working hard to ensure the re-positioning of PDP for future challenges and so had no plan to resign as being suggested by some sworn enemies of the party.”