Tukur inaugurates caretaker cttee for Kano

Strong indications emerged yesterday that the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led PDP may have concluded arrangements to move against Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano as it has pleaded with son of late military head of state and former governorship aspirant of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kano State, Mohammed Abacha to join its fold.

Tukur yesterday swore in Alhaji Hassan Kafayos and Andrew Musa as chairman and secretary, respectively of an 11-member interim state executive of Kano State PDP, just as Mohammed Abacha yesterday stormed the PDP’s national secretariat with his supporters, after dumping the CPC which he joined in 2010 and also left same year, 2010.

PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur

Though the leadership of the party yesterday promised that all the interest in the party, including those of the Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso would be considered in the composition of the caretaker committee.

Speaking after swearing in the chairman and secretary of the Caretaker committee, Tukur who urged the committee to return to the state and ensure they retain the state for PDP, said that the party was not owned by any individual just as he pleaded for cooperation, adding, “the opposition in the state has become stronger than before. So make sure that the party is organised and motivated and bring back PDP in 2015.”

In his response, Kafayos said the doors of the state party remain open to all factions of the party in the state.

Answering questions from Journalists after a close door meeting with members of the National Working Committee, NWC, Abacha who stressed that he did not consult the governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankaso, even though he recognised him as the leader of the party in the state, added that the issue of waiver over his return to the party would be discussed later, which runs contrary to provisions of the party’s constitution in 8 A (b) that returnees to the party get waiver from the ward level up.

Abacha who said he was not returning to PDP to wrest power with the state governor said: “We had wide consultations with the people back home on the major issues that made us leave then and all the issues were cleared that is why we are. Power belongs to God, God gives power. Nobody is here to wrest power from anyone.”

“I did not consult with Kwankwaso. I did not consult with him. I am just coming back to the party. When I get back I will consult with him… Of course Kwankwaso is the leader of the party in the state.”

On why he left the PDP then and coming back, the son of the late former head of State who noted that there was no internal democracy in the party, then, said, “I came to a realization that no other party captures the whole country, tribes and religions like the PDP.

“That is why we have come back to make a formal declaration of our return to the PDP. We were received warmly by the National chairman, we are comfortable, we are welcome.”

Also speaking with Journalists after the NWC meeting of the party, the national publicity secretary of the PDP, Chief Oliseh Metuh, who admitted that the issue of waiver for Abacha’s return to the party was not discussed, said “the issue of waiver did not arise.”

Responding to whether the party was out to take over the structure from the governor Metuh said “we have no reason to exclude the governor from the PDP.

On Mohammed Abacha return to PDP, Metuh who noted that Abacha’s return was made possible by the Seriake Dickson-led reconciliation committee of the party, stressed that when Abacha met with Bamanga Tukur, he was told that the party was large enough to accommodate him.”

Baraje nPDP replaces treasurer, as Umar replaces Gwamna

The Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led new PDP yesterday named Engr. Abubakar Umar as its new National Treasurer, thereby replacing the immediate past Alhaji Tanko Gwamna.

In a statement by the new PDP national Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the party stated why Gwamna was sacked.

*Baraje

According to Eze, “We have read with dismay the purported resignation of our erstwhile National Treasurer, Alhaji Tanko Isiaku Gwamna, while the fact is that he was sacked by the party.

“Alhaji Gwamna’s fate was sealed when a report on his true status was tabled before the National Working Committee of PDP during its inaugural meeting held at the residence of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, in Abuja on 15th Sept, 2013. The damning report on Alhaji Gwamna was submitted by the PDP National Secretary, His Excellency, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola. According to the report, it was found that Alhaji Gwamna was still loyal to the Tukur PDP.

We are happy to announce the better qualified and more principled Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar as his replacement with immediate effect.

We’ll resolve crisis in accordance with PDP constitution

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak has said that the crisis in the PDP
would be resolved in accordance with the constitutions of the party and the country.

Speaking with state House Correspondents against the backdrop of a ceasefire reached between the president and some aggrieved governors of the party, Gulak said PDP has its internal mechanism to resolve its problems.

“Whatever crisis the outsiders may think we have, we are talking, we are dialoguing, peace is gradually returning to PDP in accordance with the constitution of the party and in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.