Tukur Says PDP Awaits Outcome of Five Governors Consultations
The National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday reflected on the sojourn of five northern governors of the party and said the party leadership awaits the outcome of their supposed consultation.
He nonetheless noted that there was no civility in the activity of the governors who he said should have explored the avenue presented by the reconciliation committee.
Five PDP governors, including Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Musa kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) have visited former heads of state, and some elder statesmen in the country over the political affairs in the country.
Some of the personalities visited include, former Presidents Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo; Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Theophilus Danjuma; and Alex Ekwueme.
However Tukur, at a press conference at the PDP national Secretariat, said the party would continue to apply the principle of “carrot and stick” approach in making sure discipline and party supremacy is upheld.
Replying to a question on the visitations of he governors, the national chairman quipped “they are still consulting, when they finish consulting they we will know what they want to tell us.”
He further said “as much as we as a party respect the Constitutional right of individuals to public opinions, movement and association, such exercise should be done with some element of civility and in keeping with the norms of the society, the party’s constitution and guidelines.
“To this effect it is advisable that party faithful who are aggrieved, should use the party’s internal resolution platform, that is to say the party’s reconciliation committee or the leadership of the party.”
He also said as “the National Chairman of the PDP. My commitment to the ideals of our founding Fathers is total and unwavering In trying to actualize these ideological pursuits, the leadership of the PDP has taken a number of decisions also to ensure the proper institutionalization of discipline in the Party as the basis for ensuring internal democracy and smooth administration of the Party under my leadership.”
He also commented on the disagreement between the Independent National Electoral Commission and the PDP over who is the recognized chairman of the PDP in Anambra State. While PDP recognises Ken Emeakayi as chairman of the state party, INEC had on Monday insisted that Ejike Oguebego is the recognised chairman of Anambra State chairman of PDP.
But Tukur however noted that it was not the responsibility of INEC to recognise who the chairman of Anambra State chairman of the PDP is stressing that there responsibility stopped at supervising election. He said it was the party’s responsibility to recognize who it’s chairman is.
He said “first let me educate those who may not understand about the role of INEC.
INEC is to supervise, they are not to recognise anybody. It is not in the purview or responsibility of INEC to recognise. It is the party that recognises based on their own two-third if they witnessed election. They cannot accept an election if they did not witness it. So this matter is being resolved.
“There is no problem whatsoever. I am happy to tell you that as we are talking now, preparation for ward congress is going on in Anambra. This time around Anambra will be cool and performing.”
He continued “Our commitment to the people of Anambra State is to work hard and put in place a PDP administration in the State that will deliver in abundance democratic dividends to the people of the State as is reminiscent in other PDP controlled States Nation-wide.”
On the issue of INEC registration of the APC, he said “the PDP as a party in power at the Federal and most of the state governments welcome the APC on board and political terrain of Nigerian politics.
“PDP as a united and formidable political organisation under a big and unshakable umbrella does not require a merger or coalition with any political organisation to face any other political party in the country to implement her genuine economic programmes aimed at alleviating the sufferings of Nigerian masses under the transformation agenda of Dear President Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan.”
On the Reconciliation committee of Bayelsa State governor Henry Seriake Dickson, Tukur said “you know that reconciliation and discipline that is the carrot and stick approach. It is always there. Disciplinary and reconciliation committee, carrot and stick, it is all meant to be applied. Secondly, we meet with all our members, in fact we recognise everybody, whether you are in the village you are a member. And I will recognise you as a member. When you get out ticket as governor we will also recognise you as governor.
He further said “we work in harmony even with the governors. The governor is not just going to on about his work without referring to former things. I can assure you. On reconciliation we want to do a very good job. Reconciliation is not only for members of our party.
“It is also for those who are not members of our party. They maybe affected by what our members are doing. That was why we had that Alex Ekwueme committee of
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men. And I can assure you that we also cross check with some of them so that they can help us. We are leaving no stone unturned in trying to reconcile our members into the party to ensure we are working together in peace and harmony.”
He also commented on the health challenge of the chairman of the party’s Disciplinary Committee, Dr. Umaru Dikko, saying “when somebody is sick, we will wish him well.”
On barrage of criticisms heaped on the PDP by the All Progressive Congress, Tukur said On the APC, he said “Opposition is to oppose. They have the right to oppose. We have delivered.”