Old Newspapers....27/03/2012 Jonathan’s Candidate, Bamanga Tukur, Emerges PDP Chairman Despite being rejected at home, President Goodluck Jonathan made sure Mr. Tukur is laughing last Long-standing politician, Bamanga Tukur, whose candidacy for the chairmanship of the People’s Democratic Party was controversially backed by President Goodluck Jonathan, today emerged the new leader of the ruling party after 10 rivals dramatically stepped down in a last minute maneuvering that seems to underscore the party’s aversion for free and transparent election. In long stretches of minutes on Saturday at the Eagles Square, several candidates took turns to withdraw their ambitions citing “directives” from party leaders, and also claiming to be acting in the overall interest of the party. Onwe Onwe was named the consensus candidate for the Deputy National Secretary; Olisa Metuh, National Publicity Secretary; Kema Chikwe, National Women Leader; Okechukwu Nnadozie, Deputy National Organizaing Secretary; Claudius Emekise, Deputy National Treasurer; Victor Pam, National Legal Adviser; Binta Machika, Deputy National Publicity Secretary. The new twist left the position of the Chairman, Secretary, Auditor and Financial Secretary as the only offices to be filled by a yes or no affirmation by ballot. Mr. Tukur, 77, whose ambition was dealt a blow earlier this week after governors from his north east region, teamed up to reject his candidacy, became the sole candidate for the top position, after Shettima Mustapha, speaking for the other nine candidates, announced their withdrawals. At a zonal vote in Bauchi state, Mr. Tukur was defeated by a far less popular Musa Babayo who scored 14 against Mr. Tukur’s 2 votes. As at the time of this report, the yes or nay affirmation – a formality meant to appease the Independent National Electoral Commission’s position on parties’ internal democracy – was ongoing. Mr. Tukur is expected to be officially announced the new chairman through a motion to be adopted by the delegates. Former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola also emerged the sole candidate for the positojn of the Party Secretary. Days before the convention, Mr. Jonathan, who attended the event with Vice President Namadi Sambo, has assured every contestant to the different offices fair opportunity, but many candidates spoke of being ether “directed or mandated” to step down. Former National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ahmed Rufai Alkali, a candidate for the chairmanship position, said there were “rigorous persuasion and consultations” to get other candidates to stand down. “Some of us made the sacrifice to avoid divisions in the party,” he said. “The party is supreme.” Tukur Says New PDP Leadership Will Help GEJ Focus More On Economy The new Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has said the PDP under his leadership will help President Goodluck Jonathan focus more on the economy as against partisan politics. Tukur made the declaration in his inaugural address, according to an email release to the PDP. “We have come to transform and build a great Party, not to play politics. “We have come to help politicians play a decent politics, politics based on fairness and level playing field. “We have come to be those neutral referees the PDP needs right now. “We have come to ensure that both the executive and the legislature are on the same page – which is, to make Nigeria great economically, socially and politically. “We have come to help the President focus more on the economy than on partisan politics,” he stated. The Chairman further assured that no member of the executive would use the office as a platform for launching a political career. “My support staff and my team will never use this office as a platform for launching political careers. They are here to work! Work! And work! In turning PDP into a great Party and helping government turn the economy around,” Tukur added.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 09:54:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015