NEW PDP WITHDRAWS FROM TALKS WITH JONATHAN, SWELLS RANK WITH 26 PDP SENATORS There appears to be no end to the festering crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the Abubakar Baraje led New PDP has withdrawn from further talks with President Goodluck Jonathan and other party stalwarts. The meeting slated for Tuesday with the president at the State House, Abuja was cancelled in response to the deep-seated grievances of some major stakeholders. The withdrawal by members of the New PDP, which was formed last Saturday in response to the deep-seated grievances of some major stakeholders, has led to the cancellation of the meeting slated for Tuesday with the president at the State House, Abuja. The aborted meeting was to have been a follow-up to the one held on Sunday night and attended by 16 governors, including four from the splinter group, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih and National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), among others. The four governors from the New PDP that attended the meeting were Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Alhaji Abudfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano). Three other governors of the splinter group not at the meeting were Mr. Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto). The seven governors, along with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and some other PDP bigwigs, had pulled out of the party’s special national convention on Saturday to announce the birth of the splinter group. However, Sunday’s meeting with the president was inconclusive, necessitating the need for the one earlier scheduled for Tuesday. Investigations Monday revealed that members of the New PDP had decided not to participate further in the peace talks for now because those that attended the Sunday meeting, which ended at 2.05 am Monday, did so without the consent of their colleagues. A source said they were queried on why they acted unilaterally by attending the meeting, adding that it was decided that whatever decision that would be taken would have to be done collectively. According to the source, henceforth, the New PDP will decide whether or not to meet with the president and other members of the PDP. Notwithstanding its withdrawal from further peace talks with the president, the New PDP has stepped up efforts to consolidate its position in the polity. It was learnt that membership of the New PDP would soon be swollen with more elected officers of the PDP defecting to the splinter group. 26 Senators Joins New PDP Faction No fewer than twenty-six serving Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria yesterday pledged its loyalty hailed to New PDP factio. The senators in a statement yesterday hailed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, six northern governors who stormed out of the venue of Saturday’s Special National convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state for the formation of a parallel executive of the party with Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje as national chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja as Deputy National Chairman and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as National Secretary. The statement said that , “By this decision that no doubt provides a soothing balm that will calm frail nerves in the party, you have written your names in gold and will be remembered in our political history as men that stood to save the party and Nigeria’s democracy. “We heartily rejoice with our patriots and eminent Nigerians led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar GCON, and the Governors of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wammako, (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Abdul Fattah Ahmed (Kwara), and Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), for the bold, swift and courageous step to reposition the People’s Democratic Party under a new leadership. “We congratulate the new chairman, Alhaji Abdulahi Kawu Baraje, the Deputy Chairman, Dr Sam Sam Jaja, National secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola and other members of the National Executive Committee for their emergence as leaders of our great party. “We therefore, pledge our unfettered loyalty to the Barage-led PDP National Executive.” The senators are the Senate Chief Whip, Senator, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, Kano North; Sen Mohammed Ali Ndume, Borno South; Sen. Ahmad Zannah, Borno Central; Sen Abdulahi Adamu, Nasarawa West; Sen Abdulahi Danladi Sankara, Jigawa North-West; Sen. Abdulaziz Usman, Jigawa North East; Sen Abdulmumini Mohammed Hassan,Jigawa South-West; Sen Umaru Dahiru, Sokoto South; Sen Ahmed Mohammed Maccido, Sokoto North; Sen Muhammad Shaaba Lafiaji, Kwara North; Sen Simeon Sule Ajibola, Kwara South; Sen Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Kwara Central; Sen Magnus Ngei Abe, Rivers South-East; Sen Wilson Asinobi Ake, Rivers West; Sen Danjuma Mohammed Goje, Gombe Central; Sen Saidu Ahmed Alkali, Gombe North; Sen Ahmed Hassan Barata, Adamawa South; Sen Bindowo Umar Mohammed Bindiwo Jibrilla, Adamawa North; Sen Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Taraba North; Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, Sokoto East ; Sen. Bashir Garba Mohammad, Kano Central; Sen. Abdulaziz Usman, Jigawa North-East and Sen. Isa Galaudu, Kebbi North. It was also gathered that Senators Dahiru Kuta, Niger East and Zainab Kure, Niger South have thrown their weights behind the Baraje-led PDP in support of their governor, Aliyu Babangida.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:03:05 +0000
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