Tukur, 4 PDP Governors In War Of Words By: Chibuzo Ukaibe, Ankeli Emmanuel on July 31, 2013 - 2:10am The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and the four northern governors literally engaged in a war of words yesterday at different locations in the country. Tukur, who chided the four PDP governors for visiting former heads of state over the party’s crisis, declared that they lack respect and decorum. But the four governors, who met behind closed doors at the Sokoto residence of former president Shehu Shagari, said their consultation was basically over insecurity, poverty, political tension, and not about 2015 as being interpreted in some quarters. A statement by Tukur’s media aide, Prince Oliver Okpala, said “there is no doubt that the governors’ peripatetic vision has contributed in no small measure to overheating the polity”. Tukur was reacting to reports that the four governors, including governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Margatakada Wammako (Sokoto), and Aliyu Babangida (Niger) who visited President Goodluck Jonathan asked for his removal as a panacea to the crisis ravaging the party. The governors had earlier visited former heads of state Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abusalami Abubakar. But Tukur, who faulted the nature of the governors’ visits, said he had tried all in his power to bring peace, tranquillity and love in the PDP, and that his three cardinal policies of Reconciliation, Reformation and Rebuilding are aimed at giving all members of the party a sense of belonging. The national chairman, while acknowledging that the governors have a right to free speech, however said their visits smack of contempt since they did not deem it necessary or worthy to take their grievances to the recently constituted National Reconciliation Committee. You lack respect, Tukur tells 4 PDP governors Rebuking the governors, Tukur said, “Suffice it to say however that the governors have the fundamental right to meet and discuss with each other and whomsoever they like and may also have the fundamental right to freedom of speech and to air their views on any issue of national importance. “However, in so doing one would expect them to make comments with decorum, humility and caution. As leaders whom the general public look upon as a role model, they are expected to show respect to constituted authority and the elders… “Much as the constitution guarantees certain fundamental freedoms such as freedom of speech and assembly, there are constitutional limitations to this freedom and the leaders should show wisdom, caution, prudence and good counsel in their comments on national issues as their unguarded utterances and calls can cause unnecessary political tension. “It is also important to emphasize that the PDP, as a political platform upon which the governors were elected have avenues and internal mechanism for resolution of conflicts and grievances. The governors are therefore advised as party men to avail themselves of these avenues before seeking audience or making public utterances capable of overheating the polity. “More importantly, the PDP has a reconciliation committee entrusted with the task of conflict resolution in the party. The governors by their action and utterances have shown contempt to this committee by not deeming it necessary or worthy to take their grievances to the Reconciliation Committee. “One would have expected the governors to express their grievances privately to the party leadership or the Reconciliation Committee instead of going public with their grievances before seeking audience with other Nigerian leaders. “The national chairman also has an open-door policy and accommodation for all shades of opinion within the party. It is unfortunate that these governors are demanding Tukur’s removal when Tukur has made immense sacrifices for the peace and progress of the PDP and had extended his peculiar kind of brotherly love to all party men and women. “The governors are hereby advised to embrace peace and desist from dramatizing the few problems within our democracy as these can send a wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community. “The governors as party faithful and responsible citizens of this country holding exalted positions should desist from any action that tends to overheat the polity and truncate our nascent democratic structure. “Be it known that Alhaji Bamanga Tukur is a true and committed democratic, patriotic Nigerian, a first-class nationalist and an elder statesman of international repute whose cardinal aim is to protect our nascent democracy, protect the indivisibility of our country and ensure the progress of our great party the PDP.” No, we’re consulting over insecurity, poverty, not 2015 presidency - Governors However, four of the G-5 governors who held about an hour’s closed- door meeting with former president Shagari in his Sama Road area of the state metropolis arrived in the residence about noon. They include the governors of Adamawa, Jigawa and Kano states. Briefing newsmen at the airport, Adamawa State governor Murtala Nyako, who spoke on behalf of the governors, maintained that their meeting with former leaders of this country was informed by the rave of continued insecurity, poverty among other things of national concern. When asked whether or not their consultations were aimed at creating leeway for either of them to become president come 2015, Nyako simply said, “Our resolution and consultations to seek fatherly advice from all former Nigerian leaders as well as other relevant stakeholders was triggered by the worrisome security, poverty and political tension in the country and not 2015 as being interpreted by people.” The governors who arrived in Sokoto in two chartered Babadoes Group Flight, Hawker 900XP ZS KZS and Legacy 650 ZS-BUS, came in company of other dignitaries. Although the governors maintained that their aim was not political nor in any way connected to 2015 northern presidency, a reliable source told LEADERSHIP in confidence that the aim of the group meeting former leaders may not be far from the 2015 presidency. According to the source, the G-5 governors having studied the political terrain ahead of 2015 are now working as true patriots to ensure that any possible friction is avoided even before it occurs. Dignitaries on the occasion include PDP North-west acting zonal vice- chairman Ambassador Ibrahim Azure.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:11:31 +0000
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