The new Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction led by Abubakar Baraje has said that the national chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur, is incapable of leading the party to success in future elections. The factional PDP’s statement on Tuesday comes hours to the continuation of talks by elders of the party to resolve its crisis. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka, the Baraje-led PDP accused Mr. Tukur of trying to annihilate the party. The statement described Mr. Tukur’s reported attacks against the new faction’s leaders, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, as “exasperating, disgusting, unacceptable and very unfortunate”. It said the utterances by Mr. Tukur were capable of derailing the reconciliation efforts being spearheaded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. “We urge him and members of his cabinet to stop making inflammatory statements capable of derailing the efforts of the Elders Committee of the party under the leadership of His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR to restore normalcy and unity amongst PDP members,” the statement said. The spokesman said, “Tukur and his cohorts should let peace reign by giving due respect to the members of the Elders Committee which consists of former President Ibrahim Babangida, the BOT Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih and former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmadu Ali and Dr. Barnabas Gemade, who are handling the reconciliation process, to do their work, as this is necessary so as to allow peace to be restored to our great party.” He said that Mr. Tukur’s continuous criticism of Messrs Atiku and Amaechi shows that he cannot tolerate dissenting voices and is “incapable of leading a democratic party like the PDP”. He called on Mr. Tukur to “refrain from making statements that are not only false but also capable of overheating the polity and creating more troubles for President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and allow Mr. President to find ways to wrangle himself out of the myriad of problems so far created by some misguided elements surrounding him.” Not surprised with Tukur’s behaviour The Baraje faction added that it was not surprised at the behaviour being exhibited by Mr. Tukur and other members of his faction because according to them, they are not familiar with the philosophy and original ideology of the founding fathers of the party. “Patriotic members of PDP will not be either intimidated or harassed out of the party as we are on a mission not only to rediscover the PDP but also to imbibe in the members the vision of the founding fathers of the party and restore internal democracy in the party,” the statement read. The statement also reacted to the threats by some ex-militants that they will make the country ungovernable if President Jonathan is not allowed to contest in 2015, saying, it is not just the Ijaw people that would vote in the 2015 elections but over 300 ethnic groups from every part of the country. The new PDP faction also commended a splinter PDP in Bayelsa, allegedly associated with former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, which has identified with it. The statement also said members of the faction shunned the post convention dinner organised by Mr. Jonathan because it was nothing but a charade and an avenue for wasting resources. The statement also denied allegations that Mr. Amaechi is sponsoring the activities of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. “If we may ask, on what basis would Governor Amaechi be sponsoring the activities of APC? Is he a member of the APC? Are there not enough State Governors in APC to sponsor its activities such that Governor Amaechi, whose preoccupation is the development of Rivers State, would have to sponsor the party?” the statement asked.
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:44:17 +0000
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