BAMANGAR Tukur LEADS 3-0,As BARAJE SUFFERS THREE BLOWs, PDP Crisis: Baraje Faction’s Treasurer Forced to Resign [B]The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a strange twist last night when the National Treasurer of the Kawu Baraje faction, Mallam Tanko Isiaku Gomna, was forced to resign.[/B] The incident was a replay of how a former National Chairman of PDP, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, was pressurised to resign in 2005. It was learnt that Gomna was invited to the Presidential Villa in Abuja where he was asked to either resign or forfeit his company’s contracts with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Ministry of Works. Gomna, a nominee of a former Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, sought for permission to consult but he was asked to make up his mind on the spot. A source in Baraje’s faction said: “Our National Treasurer was summoned to the Villa in respect of an ongoing road project along Ogbomoso axis in Oyo State and others with the Federal Ministry of Works. “On getting there, he was given the option of either resigning as the National Treasurer of Baraje’s faction or losing his plum contracts.” Gomna reportedlly pleaded to be allowed to consult but he was asked to take a decision on the spot. The source went on: “Feeling unsafe, Gomna resigned to avoid being harmed. Upon doing so, the forces at the Villa hurled him before TV cameras to announce his resignation. “But upon coming out, he raised the alarm and called on Baraje’s faction to save his life.” The Baraje faction, on September 8, constituted its National Working Committee (NWC). The NWC members are: Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje (Chairman); Dr. Sam Sam Jaja (Deputy National Chairman); Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (National Secretary) and Hon. Maode Umar Hiliya (Deputy National Secretary). Others are: Mr. Timi Frank (National Youth Leader); Hon Binta Koje, National Woman Leader; Mallam Nasir Issa (National Organising Secretary); Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze (National Publicity Secretary); Hon. Wadada (National Financial Secretary) and Mallam Tanko Isiaku Gomna (National Treasurer). In a statement he issued in Abuja, Gwamna said he resigned after a careful study of the unfolding events in the polity, and a deep reflection of the consequences of such impasse on the party. “This decision was arrived at after a careful study of the unfolding events in the polity and a deep sober reflection of the consequences of the outcome of such impasse on our party,’’ he said. According to him, as a lover of democracy, he is of the belief that the impasse will not augur well for the unity, peace, progress and prosperity of the party in particular, and the nation in general. Gwamna, who pledged his loyalty to the Bamanga Tukur- led PDP, called on all party faithful to unite and ensure the amicable resolution of the impasse in the party. “Our desire is for the PDP to continue to lead while others follow. As such, we must eschew all vices capable of unnecessarily heating up the polity,” he said, adding: “I pledge my loyalty to the Bamanga Tukur leadership, while calling on all party faithful to do same.” In a similar vein, Some senators have dissociated themselves from New PDP arrangement, SUN Newspaper reports: Ahead of Senate’s resumption of plenary tomorrow, cracks have appeared in the “New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)” as about seven out of the 22 senators have withdrawn their membership of the group. Following the emergence of the splinter group chaired by Alhaji Kawu Baraje as a result of their anger over the national convention of the PDP in Abuja on August 31, no fewer than 22 senators were announced as identifying with the break-away group. Contrary to earlier reports that the leadership of the Senate was jittery over the impending take-over of the chamber by the “New PDP,” symphatisers in collaboration with the opposition parties and as a result, is considering postponing resumption, Senate would resume legislative duties tomorrow, after being on recess for seven weeks. Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), told Daily Sun yesterday that the Upper Legislative Chamber will resume as scheduled tomorrow, September 17. A meeting to that effect by the body of principal officers, is expected to hold at the official residence of Senate President David Mark at the Apo Legislative Quarters. He dismissed reports of a division in the Senate caucus of the PDP, adding that the leadership is not jittery about any move from the “New PDP.” His words: “Senate is not jittery at all. Tell me, what is there to be jittery about? Senate is alive to its historical responsibility of stabilising the polity. Each time, there’s a shake-up, it’s always been the responsibility of the Senate to stabilize it. Since there’s a little hiccup within the PDP, it’s still the responsibility of the Senate to stabilize it. We will do just that.” Ndoma-Egba reiterated that the Senate PDP caucus remains one in the chamber. “There’s just one PDP. As at today, there is one registered PDP and so, you cannot decamp within the same party. “What’s happening is at best, a tendency within the party,” he said. Two weeks ago, 22 Senators reportedly declared for the “New PDP” after seven PDP governors announced its formation. The names of the Senators as published in national newspapers, were: Senate Chief Whip Bello Hayatu Gwarzo (Kano); Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno); Ahmad Zannah; Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Abdullahi Danladi Sankara; AbdulMumini Mohammed Hassan (Jigawa); Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto); Ahmed Mohammed Maccido; Muhammad Sha’aba Lafiagi (Kwara) Simeon Sule Ajibola (Kwara) and Abubakar Bukola Saraki (Kwara). Others are Magnus Ngei Abe (Rivers); Wilson Asinobi Ake (Rivers); Danjuma Mohammed Goje (Gombe); Saidu Ahmed Alkali; Ahmed Hassan Barata; Umar Mohammed Jibrilla; Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Taraba); Ibrahim Abdulahi Gobir (Sokoto), Garba Mohammad (Kano); AbdulAziz Usman (Jigawa) and Isa Galaudu (Kebbi). There, however, appears a break in the ranks as seven (four from the North-West, two from the North-Central and one from the North-East), out of the 22 senators claimed they were not part of the “New PDP” and that their names were surreptitiously sneaked onto the list. But the seven senators did not want their names printed. Some alleged members even claimed that though they may have sympathy for the “New PDP,” they they were away from the country when the names were compiled. So, they were not consulted before going public with the list. Some of the aggrieved senators, from the North-West, North-Central and the North- East pointed fingers at a former governor from the North-Central, who is in his first term, as “just railroading our names into a purported list we know nothing of. “As you were well aware, because the Senate was on recess, some of our members were abroad and when the list was made public, they were embarrassed that their names were included in a list they practically knew nothing about.” At least, a ranking senator, whose name is on the list, confirmed to Daily Sun that he “was yet to be consulted on the formation of the “New PDP,” not to talk of agreeing to put my name on the list that was made public as a member. I am not a member and I intend to make my grievance known through clear party channels.” Another senator from the North-West who declined to be named, gave further insight into how some names were published without consultations with the bearers. “I was abroad (country withheld) when my phone was bombarded with text messages from political associates at home, congratulating me on my membership of the “New PDP.” I made enquiries and discovered that a former governor from my state, together with his friend, who’s also a former governor, just put my name on the list. When I made further enquiries, I discovered that three former governors (names withheld), from 2003-2007 are behind the scenes and largely influenced the names’ compilation.” Two of the former governors are in the Senate while the third was a senator who left the National Assembly to join the executive in the present dispensation. “Can you imagine that after publishing the names, nobody has even got in touch with me to tell me what’s going on?…” the lawmaker said last night. Meanwhile, it was gathered that the meeting of the “New PDP” senators was to checkmate any move by the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, to declare their seats vacant as the Senate resumes legislative business. Indications also emerged that there is a crack in the relationship between the Presidency and the leadership of the National Assembly. Sources said, “unlike before, when the National Assembly leadership was consulted on issues of national and party importance, they have been left in the cold; hence, the silence from the National Assembly when some members declared their membership of the “New PDP.” BARAJE faction has suffered a third blow with reports from saharreporters that A group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors which met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Rock villa tonight agreed to observe a “ceasefire” until final discussions on October 7 to iron out differences they have with the president. An aide to President Jonathan said the air around the meeting gave them hope that the disagreements between the president’s faction and the ‘New PDP’ might be resolved on that date. But one of the governors in attendance told SaharaReporters the meeting specifically achieved only the specific purpose of compelling both sides to avoid escalating the issues further. He some of them were opposed to issuing a statement at the end of tonight’s out of concern that it could be manipulated by the president’s team. He pointed out that before they could iron out any differences, the governor of Cross Rivers State, Liyel Imoke, had already drafted a statement to which they agreed so as to give peace a chance. the handwritten statement was later read by the Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu The focus of tonight’s meeting was mostly Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who members of Mr. Jonathan’s team presented as being too “belligerent” and having had an upper hand in the media. The president reportedly told Amaechi to allow a statement to be issued if he doesn’t have anything personal against him. Governor Amaechi reportedly replied he does not, adding that it would however make more sense to wait till October 7 before any statement was issued. The meeting with the governors preceded the enlarged meeting at the villa today where they agreed not to question Mr. Jonathan’s firing of Ministers offloaded last week.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 07:11:51 +0000
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