National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur yesterday replied the Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, saying the party would outlive those who wish it premature death.
The PDP is set to expel Nyako from the party over his alleged utterances and actions against it.
Nyako had predicted that the crisis ravaging the party would lead to its death, just as the secretary to the Adamawa State government heaped the blame for the party’s woes on Tukur.
But in a response, Tukur, through his media aide, Prince Okpala, said “the PDP as an institution has come to stay and will never die; like democracy was propounded by Socrates, and it outlived Socrates and became universally acceptable, the PDP will outlive those wishing her premature death and gain more recognition worldwide as the largest political party in the black world”.
He continued: “It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, unlike in other advanced countries, orientation courses, seminars or retreats are not organised for those elected into the office of governor of states to help reform and remodel them into strict adherence to being politically and socially civil in terms of their public utterances, mode of dressing, social comportment and the norms of the society as against their past indoctrination and behaviour.
“This lacuna in our political structure has allowed those elected as governors to behave and talk in ways that desecrate the sanctity of the office of governor of states they have been elected to hold.”
He added that for predicting the death of a political structure that brought him to public recognition as a governor, Governor Nyako has shown that he is not a true party man, adding that “no responsible party man or head of a family would wish that death or eclipse of his own family”.
Lamenting what he described as a lacuna in the political system in the country which allows elected governors to “behave and talk in ways that desecrate the office of governors of states”, he advocated a legislation in the National Assembly “making it a must for those elected as governors or other political officeholders to attend orientation courses, seminars or retreats before assuming office as governors of states or holding other top political offices in the country”.
Describing Tukur as a father of the party, Okpala said he has brought peace, concourse and mutual understanding among the true members and faithful of the PDP family, adding that the great and monument records of Dr BamangaTukur cannot be tainted by one million unguided utterances of Governor Nyako and his likes.
“It is no longer a hidden truth that Governor Nyako and his faithful in Adamawa State have not only been romancing with the opposition as indicated in his public utterances against the party but has actually joined the opposition in principle.
“The question of his threatening to move out of the party is his constitutional right and nobody can challenge his right to move out of the party, but as long as he remains in the PDP, he must align himself to party discipline which is the bedrock of enthroning internal democracy in the party.
“His utterances and wishes for death of the PDP clearly in the eyes of the party and public portray him as a believer of a sect without faith.
Party set to expel Nyako, others
The chairman of the Adamawa State chapter of PDP loyal to the national chairman, Chief Joel Madaki, has given all party members including the governor, Murtala Nyako, an ultimatum of 14 days within which to revalidate their membership or be booted out of the party.
He said already registers had been opened at the ward, local government and state party offices for elected representatives to sign signifying their resolve to remain in the party.
“Councillors are to register at their ward party offices while council chairmen should do so at the local government party offices and members of the State House of Assembly and National Assembly are to sign their names at the state party secretariat,” he said. Madaki said that failure to sign the register by any elected member within 14 days of the announcement will leave the party, with no alternative other than to declare their seats vacant.
He advised all elected representatives of the party to remain resolute in defending their mandates and urge them to re-validate their membership status as midterm convention draws nearer, even as he promised not to stand in the way of any member who wished to leave the party.
Madaki said even though democracy is about freedom of choice, the party will not tolerate any attempt to coerce and intimidate local government chairmen and councillors into leaving the party, saying that no one can serve two masters. “We wish to assure all our representatives elected on the platform of the party that we shall take proactive measures to protect their mandates with all the might at our disposal as a political party.”
He berated Governor Murtala Nyako over recent utterances credited to him which indicated that the PDP was on sick bed and they were awaiting its death so as to give it a befitting burial.
Madaki, who made the statement in his Dougirei residence, said the governor was unkind to the party which brought him to power for wishing it death instead of prosperity.
But in a quick riposte, the secretary of the party loyal to Governor Nyako, P. P Elisha, said the grandstanding of the Madaki faction does not hold water and amounts to nullity. According to him, Madaki’s faction is not constitutionally recognised and cannot therefore embark on an elusive mission of revalidating any party member.
He said that section 29 of the party constitution stipulates the National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) are the only organs vested with the responsibility of conducting a revalidation exercise in the party.
Elisha said Madaki’s faction is used to operating with impunity.”There is nowhere in the party constitution that warrants someone to warn people and give them deadline to leave the party.”
He however said it was wrong for anyone to allege that Governor Murtala Nyako and his men are trying to leave the party. “The problem with them is that they cannot understand simple English.”
PDP crises can only be resolved if national chairman jettisons selfishness – Scribe
However, the Adamawa State factional secretary of PDP, Mr P.P. Elisha, has described the 30-man reconciliation committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) to reconcile aggrieved members as useless, saying it will not produce any tangible result, based on past experiences.
Elisha recalled that over five committees had been set up by the party and President Goodluck Jonathan in the past with the mandate to resolve the party crisis which ended up in nullity, adding that the crisis seems to be escalating with every committee constituted.
He attributed the unwillingness of the national chairman to mellow down to listen to others as the main reason behind the festering crisis in the party. “All the various committees failed to make any inroads in resolving the crises due to the unwillingness and overbearing influence of the national chairman.”
Ebonyi PDP primaries turns bloody; 1 killed, several others injured
Meanwhile, one person has been confirmed dead while another is currently receiving treatment in a hospital following a crisis that erupted in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi State, during yesterday’s PDP councillorship primaries conducted across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Confirming the incident, the police public relations officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo, said that during the party primaries in Ekoli Edda, one Kalu Ogbu of Amaeke ward 1, and Ibom Agwu Kama were allegedly shot by one Nnachi K.C. and Onyemachi Dick, leading to the death of Ogbu.
DSP Igbo stated that crisis erupted when one Okoroafor Nkama was declared the winner of the primaries in Ekoli Eddah ward 1, adding that supporters of one Amos Okorie who was alleged to have lost the election engaged in serious argument leading to the shooting of the two persons.
The police spokesperson stated that the command was currently looking out for the suspects, adding that the command would do everything within its reach to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the two suspects.
PDP affirms August 31, 24 for mini convention, South-West congress
The leadership of the PDP has finally acceded to the dates fixed by the convention planning committee for the mini convention and South-West Congress to hold on August 31 and 24 respectively.
The national chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, stated this at the party’s headquarters while inaugurating the convention committee led by Prof. Jerry Gana.
Following a friction between the party leadership and the committee, the party had last week ordered the committee to halt all preparations ahead of the convention and South-West Congress which it had earlier announced would hold on August 30 and 24 respectively. The party cited abnormalities and breaches of the party constitution by the committee.
But speaking yesterday, after a truce was reached earlier in the week, Tukur affirmed that the convention and South-West Convention would hold as scheduled by the planning committee.
Inaugurating the committee, Tukur urged them to ensure a free and fair convention. He asked them to make loyalty and patriotism the hallmark of their work.
In his response, the chairman of the convention committee, Prof. Gana, said the 14 subcommittees were expected to submit their reports next week Thursday.
He added that the committee would start work immediately and urged the members to report every day to the office.
Gana, who thanked Jonathan for the opportunity to serve, further pledged the loyalty and dedication of the committee to the party.
The PDP is set to expel Nyako from the party over his alleged utterances and actions against it.
Nyako had predicted that the crisis ravaging the party would lead to its death, just as the secretary to the Adamawa State government heaped the blame for the party’s woes on Tukur.
But in a response, Tukur, through his media aide, Prince Okpala, said “the PDP as an institution has come to stay and will never die; like democracy was propounded by Socrates, and it outlived Socrates and became universally acceptable, the PDP will outlive those wishing her premature death and gain more recognition worldwide as the largest political party in the black world”.
He continued: “It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, unlike in other advanced countries, orientation courses, seminars or retreats are not organised for those elected into the office of governor of states to help reform and remodel them into strict adherence to being politically and socially civil in terms of their public utterances, mode of dressing, social comportment and the norms of the society as against their past indoctrination and behaviour.
“This lacuna in our political structure has allowed those elected as governors to behave and talk in ways that desecrate the sanctity of the office of governor of states they have been elected to hold.”
He added that for predicting the death of a political structure that brought him to public recognition as a governor, Governor Nyako has shown that he is not a true party man, adding that “no responsible party man or head of a family would wish that death or eclipse of his own family”.
Lamenting what he described as a lacuna in the political system in the country which allows elected governors to “behave and talk in ways that desecrate the office of governors of states”, he advocated a legislation in the National Assembly “making it a must for those elected as governors or other political officeholders to attend orientation courses, seminars or retreats before assuming office as governors of states or holding other top political offices in the country”.
Describing Tukur as a father of the party, Okpala said he has brought peace, concourse and mutual understanding among the true members and faithful of the PDP family, adding that the great and monument records of Dr BamangaTukur cannot be tainted by one million unguided utterances of Governor Nyako and his likes.
“It is no longer a hidden truth that Governor Nyako and his faithful in Adamawa State have not only been romancing with the opposition as indicated in his public utterances against the party but has actually joined the opposition in principle.
“The question of his threatening to move out of the party is his constitutional right and nobody can challenge his right to move out of the party, but as long as he remains in the PDP, he must align himself to party discipline which is the bedrock of enthroning internal democracy in the party.
“His utterances and wishes for death of the PDP clearly in the eyes of the party and public portray him as a believer of a sect without faith.
Party set to expel Nyako, others
The chairman of the Adamawa State chapter of PDP loyal to the national chairman, Chief Joel Madaki, has given all party members including the governor, Murtala Nyako, an ultimatum of 14 days within which to revalidate their membership or be booted out of the party.
He said already registers had been opened at the ward, local government and state party offices for elected representatives to sign signifying their resolve to remain in the party.
“Councillors are to register at their ward party offices while council chairmen should do so at the local government party offices and members of the State House of Assembly and National Assembly are to sign their names at the state party secretariat,” he said. Madaki said that failure to sign the register by any elected member within 14 days of the announcement will leave the party, with no alternative other than to declare their seats vacant.
He advised all elected representatives of the party to remain resolute in defending their mandates and urge them to re-validate their membership status as midterm convention draws nearer, even as he promised not to stand in the way of any member who wished to leave the party.
Madaki said even though democracy is about freedom of choice, the party will not tolerate any attempt to coerce and intimidate local government chairmen and councillors into leaving the party, saying that no one can serve two masters. “We wish to assure all our representatives elected on the platform of the party that we shall take proactive measures to protect their mandates with all the might at our disposal as a political party.”
He berated Governor Murtala Nyako over recent utterances credited to him which indicated that the PDP was on sick bed and they were awaiting its death so as to give it a befitting burial.
Madaki, who made the statement in his Dougirei residence, said the governor was unkind to the party which brought him to power for wishing it death instead of prosperity.
But in a quick riposte, the secretary of the party loyal to Governor Nyako, P. P Elisha, said the grandstanding of the Madaki faction does not hold water and amounts to nullity. According to him, Madaki’s faction is not constitutionally recognised and cannot therefore embark on an elusive mission of revalidating any party member.
He said that section 29 of the party constitution stipulates the National Executive Council (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) are the only organs vested with the responsibility of conducting a revalidation exercise in the party.
Elisha said Madaki’s faction is used to operating with impunity.”There is nowhere in the party constitution that warrants someone to warn people and give them deadline to leave the party.”
He however said it was wrong for anyone to allege that Governor Murtala Nyako and his men are trying to leave the party. “The problem with them is that they cannot understand simple English.”
PDP crises can only be resolved if national chairman jettisons selfishness – Scribe
However, the Adamawa State factional secretary of PDP, Mr P.P. Elisha, has described the 30-man reconciliation committee set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) to reconcile aggrieved members as useless, saying it will not produce any tangible result, based on past experiences.
Elisha recalled that over five committees had been set up by the party and President Goodluck Jonathan in the past with the mandate to resolve the party crisis which ended up in nullity, adding that the crisis seems to be escalating with every committee constituted.
He attributed the unwillingness of the national chairman to mellow down to listen to others as the main reason behind the festering crisis in the party. “All the various committees failed to make any inroads in resolving the crises due to the unwillingness and overbearing influence of the national chairman.”
Ebonyi PDP primaries turns bloody; 1 killed, several others injured
Meanwhile, one person has been confirmed dead while another is currently receiving treatment in a hospital following a crisis that erupted in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi State, during yesterday’s PDP councillorship primaries conducted across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Confirming the incident, the police public relations officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo, said that during the party primaries in Ekoli Edda, one Kalu Ogbu of Amaeke ward 1, and Ibom Agwu Kama were allegedly shot by one Nnachi K.C. and Onyemachi Dick, leading to the death of Ogbu.
DSP Igbo stated that crisis erupted when one Okoroafor Nkama was declared the winner of the primaries in Ekoli Eddah ward 1, adding that supporters of one Amos Okorie who was alleged to have lost the election engaged in serious argument leading to the shooting of the two persons.
The police spokesperson stated that the command was currently looking out for the suspects, adding that the command would do everything within its reach to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the two suspects.
PDP affirms August 31, 24 for mini convention, South-West congress
The leadership of the PDP has finally acceded to the dates fixed by the convention planning committee for the mini convention and South-West Congress to hold on August 31 and 24 respectively.
The national chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, stated this at the party’s headquarters while inaugurating the convention committee led by Prof. Jerry Gana.
Following a friction between the party leadership and the committee, the party had last week ordered the committee to halt all preparations ahead of the convention and South-West Congress which it had earlier announced would hold on August 30 and 24 respectively. The party cited abnormalities and breaches of the party constitution by the committee.
But speaking yesterday, after a truce was reached earlier in the week, Tukur affirmed that the convention and South-West Convention would hold as scheduled by the planning committee.
Inaugurating the committee, Tukur urged them to ensure a free and fair convention. He asked them to make loyalty and patriotism the hallmark of their work.
In his response, the chairman of the convention committee, Prof. Gana, said the 14 subcommittees were expected to submit their reports next week Thursday.
He added that the committee would start work immediately and urged the members to report every day to the office.
Gana, who thanked Jonathan for the opportunity to serve, further pledged the loyalty and dedication of the committee to the party.
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