SUSPENSE IN SYLVA'S CAMP AS PDP AWAITS A-G'S REPORT ON BRUCE
By Rotimi Ajayi & Henry Umoru
ABUJA - Supporters and associates of Governor Timipre Sylva spent the weekend in agonizing suspense as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, sustained its ambiguity on the eligibility of the governor in the forthcoming gubernatorial primaries.
Also in suspense, weekend, were the former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Mr. Ben Muray-Bruce and his supporters, who are waiting for the response of the Attorney General of the Federation's report on Mr. Murray-Bruce's eligibility for the contest.
Supporters of Gov. Sylva were in ambivalent position, yesterday, on the fate of their patron, a far cry from their earlier optimism of quickly reversing the exclusion of the governor from the cleared list of candidates to partake in the PDP primaries.
The primary is scheduled for November 19.
PDP governors, who failed to convince President Goodluck Jonathan to facilitate the clearance of Sylva for the primaries, meanwhile, are to regroup on Wednesday, for a scheduled meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum, NGF, during which they are also hoping to bring up the Sylva's issue.
Sources in the Sylva camp told Vanguard, weekend, that the optimism earlier expressed of reversing the earlier decision of the party not to clear the governor was now fading as the National Working Committee, NWC, was unbending on its stance.
Meanwhile, a source close to the party in Abuja said, yesterday, that the party had expected the response from the Attorney General to its letter seeking advice on how to handle issues concerning the eligibility of Murray-Bruce in view of the position of the Nigerian Constitution.
It was learnt that efforts to get the response of the Attorney General on the PDP's letter last Friday was said to have been unsuccessful. The source disclosed that the party was communicated that the Attorney General's advice would not come until after the Sallah break.
A top PDP leader, however, revealed that the Attorney General's advice might not arrive until after one week. The PDP leader disclosed that allowing Murray-Bruce to contest in the election could jeopardise the interest of the party in Oyo State election tussle against the State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi.
According to the leader, 'there is a similar case against Governor Ajimobi and we as a party should not be seen to be promoting the same cause on the other hand.'
Vanguard gathered that the meeting of the NGF will hold at the Rivers State Governor's Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja at the instance of the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Rivers State, Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi. The meeting, as gathered, will be a follow up to the one held last Tuesday where the Sylva issue was raised with President Jonathan but ended in a deadlock.
The governors, as gathered, will also discuss the controversial Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, excess crude and the report that some of the states would soon go bankrupt, especially as raised last week by the Senate.