By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North
LAGOS — Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party ad-hoc committee on reconciliation, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, said he was ready to reconcile all aggrieved members of the party with a view to ensuring the success of the party in the next election.
Dickson, who has come under attack as unsuitable to head the committee apparently because of his closeness to the President, said he would be neutral and fair in handling his assignment.
The governor said he would first consult with the founding fathers and stakeholders of the party with a view to ensuring the success of his committee.
Dickson said the committee was conscious of the enormous responsibility being placed on the members and that they had resolved to conduct the assignment with the highest sense of responsibility and commitment to the core values of national unity and party cohesion.
The position of the committee was contained in a statement signed by its Secretary, Amb. Umar Damagum and made available to Vanguard in Abuja.
The committee said: “The Reconciliation Committee’s work shall place emphasis on utmost confidentiality of all matters brought to it. Members shall ensure strict confidentiality of all information received by them or such information that may be processed by the committee, its leadership or any of its organs as may be established from time to time.
No interaction with media
“To boost the level of confidence among our members nationwide while this committee undertakes its assignment, no member shall interact with the media on any matter under consideration by the committee, except with due approval by the committee or its leadership.
“The committee shall be committed to the principles of neutrality. To this end, no member of the committee shall serve in any congress committee in a state where such a member is an interested party.
“Similarly no member of the committee shall hold any inappropriate meeting or contact with any party member, whose matter is under consideration by the committee especially as regards the subject matter under discussion by the committee.
“The committee as a whole and its individual members shall be committed to the principles of fairness to all parties. All party members to be reconciled shall be guaranteed the right to fair hearing.”
Elections in Anambra, Ekiti
It noted that in view of the approaching gubernatorial elections in Anambra and Ekiti states, the committee was conscious of reconciling warring factions in the two states with a view to ensuring that the PDP captures them.
The governor, however, urged aggrieved members of the party in the two states to refrain from all forms of hostilities and allow them to do the work at hand in the interest of peace.
The governor noted: “The committee also seizes this opportunity to call on all patty members at all levels, irrespective of status, to refrain from comments, remarks, utterances or actions that may inflame tension among party members and overheat the polity.
“This is important in order to create the needed atmosphere for genuine reconciliation.”
Showing posts with label People’s Democratic Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People’s Democratic Party. Show all posts
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Saturday, 27 July 2013
PDP: Shadow boxing for 2015
By JIDE AJANI
“Before people decide what they think of your message, they decide onwhat they think of you” – Harvard Business Review (July-August, 201
So, what do Nigerians think of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its message to day? Ask its leader, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan! He can speak for the party. Or, better still, ask the owners of the party!
Almost all of them would echo and ape Mr. President. Leaders and owners of the party would say the useful things; yet they go ahead to do the useless things – that is the way of the organised chaos under the umbrella called PDP.
First, how did the party get to a point where the President is heading for the hilltop whereas some other leaders in the same party are speeding down the valley? What thinking goes on in a party where there is no love lost between some state governors and their President?
But there is something inescapable and binding still: wealth and power. The roots of the dog-eat-dog syndrome that manifests in every aspect of PDP’s modus operandi can be located in the quest for and retention of wealth and power.
From elbowing one another out of electoral contests, breaking limbs and bruising heads, to inflicting maximum embarrassment, and allegations and threats of assassination and assassinations, leaders of PDP, nevertheless, still find common ground.
And that is why every contestation for power is derisively termed a family affair. Members of that family run on the steroids of distrust for one another and treachery against same. The latest in this never-ending saga is the open confrontation between some state governors and President Jonathan. Threats of decamping from the PDP are again in the air.
It is all too familiar. In 2002, 2006, 2010 (almost always on the eve of any general election), there were similar threats – some were seen through and many of the so-called decampments have since been reversed. However, democracy in PDP lost its soul sometime after Monday, February 13, 1999, immediately after Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo emerged as the party’s presidential candidate in Jos, Plateau State. In choosing his running mate, a decision, which had favoured a consensual agreement was unilaterally ignored by Obasanjo in Abuja.
Leaders of the PDP, who had scheduled a meeting where the choice of running mate would be made, were stunned when Obasanjo presented them with a fiat accompli. That was the first error by the then presidential candidate.
But the PDP itself had committed the first blunder by not sticking to its own electoral guideline, one aspect of which was that for any individual to qualify to seek the presidential ticket of the party, he must have delivered his ward, local government area and state – Obasanjo neither delivered his polling booth, his ward, local government nor his OgunState base, yet, the leaders of the party, with scornful disdain to their own guideline, permitted him to seek the ticket.
That was an error of gargantuan proportions. Obasanjo’s next onslaught was against state chairmen of his party. Rather than flow with the structures on ground, structures which saw to his emergence and the emergence of the governors’ elect, Obasanjo, just out of prison some seven months earlier, mis-directed the loyalty base from party structures on ground, to newly elected but yet to be sworn-in state governors. State party secretariats were relocated to the residences of the governors’ elect.
From February 1999, Obasanjo shifted the paradigm from party politics to personal loyalty to individuals. PDP has not recovered since then. And it is not about to recover.It was on that template that every other public office holder in PDP sought, demanded and grabbed loyalty for himself and not the party – the cancer obtains in other parties.
Today, whatever goes on in the PDP is a product of the seed Obasanjo sowed. The former president may not be the major problem of the party, but the negative aura he radiated then and still radiates, in alliance with other dark forces of democracy, continue to pollute the air in the polity.
Unfortunately for Nigeria’s warped democracy, we now have a President and state governors who believe in and subscribe to the influence of less than a dozen individuals to hand them power in 2015, thereby relegating the delivery of the general good to the largest sum of Nigerians, which is the raison d’etre of participatory democracy, to the background.
Whatever is going on now in the PDP, between state governors and Mr. President, is nothing more than braggadocio in shadow-boxing.
“Before people decide what they think of your message, they decide onwhat they think of you” – Harvard Business Review (July-August, 201
So, what do Nigerians think of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and its message to day? Ask its leader, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan! He can speak for the party. Or, better still, ask the owners of the party!
Almost all of them would echo and ape Mr. President. Leaders and owners of the party would say the useful things; yet they go ahead to do the useless things – that is the way of the organised chaos under the umbrella called PDP.
First, how did the party get to a point where the President is heading for the hilltop whereas some other leaders in the same party are speeding down the valley? What thinking goes on in a party where there is no love lost between some state governors and their President?
But there is something inescapable and binding still: wealth and power. The roots of the dog-eat-dog syndrome that manifests in every aspect of PDP’s modus operandi can be located in the quest for and retention of wealth and power.
From elbowing one another out of electoral contests, breaking limbs and bruising heads, to inflicting maximum embarrassment, and allegations and threats of assassination and assassinations, leaders of PDP, nevertheless, still find common ground.
And that is why every contestation for power is derisively termed a family affair. Members of that family run on the steroids of distrust for one another and treachery against same. The latest in this never-ending saga is the open confrontation between some state governors and President Jonathan. Threats of decamping from the PDP are again in the air.
It is all too familiar. In 2002, 2006, 2010 (almost always on the eve of any general election), there were similar threats – some were seen through and many of the so-called decampments have since been reversed. However, democracy in PDP lost its soul sometime after Monday, February 13, 1999, immediately after Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo emerged as the party’s presidential candidate in Jos, Plateau State. In choosing his running mate, a decision, which had favoured a consensual agreement was unilaterally ignored by Obasanjo in Abuja.
Leaders of the PDP, who had scheduled a meeting where the choice of running mate would be made, were stunned when Obasanjo presented them with a fiat accompli. That was the first error by the then presidential candidate.
But the PDP itself had committed the first blunder by not sticking to its own electoral guideline, one aspect of which was that for any individual to qualify to seek the presidential ticket of the party, he must have delivered his ward, local government area and state – Obasanjo neither delivered his polling booth, his ward, local government nor his OgunState base, yet, the leaders of the party, with scornful disdain to their own guideline, permitted him to seek the ticket.
That was an error of gargantuan proportions. Obasanjo’s next onslaught was against state chairmen of his party. Rather than flow with the structures on ground, structures which saw to his emergence and the emergence of the governors’ elect, Obasanjo, just out of prison some seven months earlier, mis-directed the loyalty base from party structures on ground, to newly elected but yet to be sworn-in state governors. State party secretariats were relocated to the residences of the governors’ elect.
From February 1999, Obasanjo shifted the paradigm from party politics to personal loyalty to individuals. PDP has not recovered since then. And it is not about to recover.It was on that template that every other public office holder in PDP sought, demanded and grabbed loyalty for himself and not the party – the cancer obtains in other parties.
Today, whatever goes on in the PDP is a product of the seed Obasanjo sowed. The former president may not be the major problem of the party, but the negative aura he radiated then and still radiates, in alliance with other dark forces of democracy, continue to pollute the air in the polity.
Unfortunately for Nigeria’s warped democracy, we now have a President and state governors who believe in and subscribe to the influence of less than a dozen individuals to hand them power in 2015, thereby relegating the delivery of the general good to the largest sum of Nigerians, which is the raison d’etre of participatory democracy, to the background.
Whatever is going on now in the PDP, between state governors and Mr. President, is nothing more than braggadocio in shadow-boxing.
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
PDP ‘ll never die, it will outlive us -Tukur
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA— NATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Wednesday, said that the party will not die, as it has come to stay as an institution despite threats from some quarters that the party will be buried by some of its members.
Tukur said that like democracy as propounded by Socrates, which outlived him and became universally acceptable, PDP will outlive those he accused as wishing it premature death and gain more recognition worldwide as the largest political party in the black Africa.
Tukur speaks
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, he said: “It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, like in other advanced countries, orientation courses, seminars and retreats are not organised for elected governors to help reform and remodel them into being politically and socially civil in their public utterances, mode of dressing, social comportment and the norms of the society as against their past indoctrination and behaviour.
[caption id="attachment_399417" align="alignleft" width="412"]
PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur[/caption]
‘’This lacuna in our political structure has allowed elected governors to behave and talk in ways that desecrate the sanctity of the office of governor of states that they were elected to hold.”
Five PDP governors
It will be recalled that five PDP governors on Monday in Minna, Niger State, after their visit to former Military Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalam Abubakar, had said that if their consultations aimed at saving the party failed, the party would be buried.
Jerry Gana committee
Also yesterday, the leadership of the party inaugurated the Professor Jerry Gana-led Special National Convention Planning Committee, a month after it was put in place by the National Executive Committee, NEC of the party.
Inaugurating the committee, Alhaji Tukur agreed with the dates fixed by the convention national planning committee for the mini convention and South West congress to hold on August 31 and 24 respectively.
It will be recalled that following a friction between the party leadership and the committee, Tukur had last week ordered the committee to halt all preparations ahead of the convention and South West Congress, which it had earlier announced would hold on August 30 and 24 respectively. The party cited anomalies and breaches of the party’s constitution by the committee.
Tukur, who affirmed that the convention and South West Congress would hold as scheduled by the committee, urged them to ensure a free and fair convention. He asked them to make loyalty, patriotism the hallmark of their work.
In his response, the chairman of the convention committee, Prof. Gana said that the 14 subcommittees were expected to submit their reports next week Thursday, adding that the committee would start work immediately and urged members to report everyday to the office.
ABUJA— NATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Wednesday, said that the party will not die, as it has come to stay as an institution despite threats from some quarters that the party will be buried by some of its members.
Tukur said that like democracy as propounded by Socrates, which outlived him and became universally acceptable, PDP will outlive those he accused as wishing it premature death and gain more recognition worldwide as the largest political party in the black Africa.
Tukur speaks
In a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, he said: “It is unfortunate that in Nigeria, like in other advanced countries, orientation courses, seminars and retreats are not organised for elected governors to help reform and remodel them into being politically and socially civil in their public utterances, mode of dressing, social comportment and the norms of the society as against their past indoctrination and behaviour.
[caption id="attachment_399417" align="alignleft" width="412"]
PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur[/caption]‘’This lacuna in our political structure has allowed elected governors to behave and talk in ways that desecrate the sanctity of the office of governor of states that they were elected to hold.”
Five PDP governors
It will be recalled that five PDP governors on Monday in Minna, Niger State, after their visit to former Military Heads of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalam Abubakar, had said that if their consultations aimed at saving the party failed, the party would be buried.
Jerry Gana committee
Also yesterday, the leadership of the party inaugurated the Professor Jerry Gana-led Special National Convention Planning Committee, a month after it was put in place by the National Executive Committee, NEC of the party.
Inaugurating the committee, Alhaji Tukur agreed with the dates fixed by the convention national planning committee for the mini convention and South West congress to hold on August 31 and 24 respectively.
It will be recalled that following a friction between the party leadership and the committee, Tukur had last week ordered the committee to halt all preparations ahead of the convention and South West Congress, which it had earlier announced would hold on August 30 and 24 respectively. The party cited anomalies and breaches of the party’s constitution by the committee.
Tukur, who affirmed that the convention and South West Congress would hold as scheduled by the committee, urged them to ensure a free and fair convention. He asked them to make loyalty, patriotism the hallmark of their work.
In his response, the chairman of the convention committee, Prof. Gana said that the 14 subcommittees were expected to submit their reports next week Thursday, adding that the committee would start work immediately and urged members to report everyday to the office.
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
2015: S-West PDP to mobilize traditional rulers for Jonathan
BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU
ABUJA -THE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West has promised to enlist the services of the traditional rulers in the zone to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected in the 2015 Presidential election.
National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo who disclosed this while reaffirming his support for President Jonathan`s second term endorsement said, “I stand by the endorsement of the president by South West chapter of the party.”
Prof. Oladipo further stated that as a prince of Ife, he would mobilize royal fathers and the intellectual community from the South West zone for the realization of the second term ambition of President Jonathan.
Apart from his endorsement of the president’s re-election, he also promised to be loyal to and work with the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in a bid to make members of the PDP to see themselves as members of a political family.
The nuclear physicist who said that he remained resolutely committed to the president`s second term re-election in 2015, described Jonathan as a democrat who deserved the support of all well-meaning Nigerians.
He said, “I stand by the endorsement of the president by South West chapter of the party and as a prince of Ife,I will mobilize royal fathers and the intellectual community for the second term election of the president.”
While commending the president for the enabling environment given to the South West to anoint a new national secretary, prof Oladipo also restated his loyalty to Alhaji Tukur who he said was a father figure in the administration of the party.
“Aside my unflinching loyalty to President Jonathan, I also pledge to work harmoniously with the party chairman without rancor or disharmony. I will act like the administrative head implementing decisions of the party leaders and that of the leader of the party, President Jonathan,” he declared.
The PDP national scribe promised to abide by court ruling on party issues and also commended contestants who either stepped down for him or had extended their support, assuring that he would not disappoint them.
He said, “Our appreciation goes to the national leaders of the party who allowed the position to remain in Osun. I will do my best to ensure the repositioning of the party for victory in all elections.”
Meanwhile, the poster of President Goodluck Jonathan and that of the former Head of State and Chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari have resurfaced in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Vanguard investigations revealed that the posters which are pasted in some sensitive areas in Abuja were struggling for space as some of them were pasted side-by-side, but no group had openly claimed to be behind the re-appearance of the posters.
As Jonathan’s posters in a Yoruba traditional attire has the logo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Gen. Buhari appeared on the background of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the merging party that is begging for registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
ABUJA -THE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South West has promised to enlist the services of the traditional rulers in the zone to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected in the 2015 Presidential election.
National Secretary of the party, Prof. Wale Oladipo who disclosed this while reaffirming his support for President Jonathan`s second term endorsement said, “I stand by the endorsement of the president by South West chapter of the party.”
Prof. Oladipo further stated that as a prince of Ife, he would mobilize royal fathers and the intellectual community from the South West zone for the realization of the second term ambition of President Jonathan.
Apart from his endorsement of the president’s re-election, he also promised to be loyal to and work with the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur in a bid to make members of the PDP to see themselves as members of a political family.
The nuclear physicist who said that he remained resolutely committed to the president`s second term re-election in 2015, described Jonathan as a democrat who deserved the support of all well-meaning Nigerians.
He said, “I stand by the endorsement of the president by South West chapter of the party and as a prince of Ife,I will mobilize royal fathers and the intellectual community for the second term election of the president.”
While commending the president for the enabling environment given to the South West to anoint a new national secretary, prof Oladipo also restated his loyalty to Alhaji Tukur who he said was a father figure in the administration of the party.
“Aside my unflinching loyalty to President Jonathan, I also pledge to work harmoniously with the party chairman without rancor or disharmony. I will act like the administrative head implementing decisions of the party leaders and that of the leader of the party, President Jonathan,” he declared.
The PDP national scribe promised to abide by court ruling on party issues and also commended contestants who either stepped down for him or had extended their support, assuring that he would not disappoint them.
He said, “Our appreciation goes to the national leaders of the party who allowed the position to remain in Osun. I will do my best to ensure the repositioning of the party for victory in all elections.”
Meanwhile, the poster of President Goodluck Jonathan and that of the former Head of State and Chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, General Muhammadu Buhari have resurfaced in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Vanguard investigations revealed that the posters which are pasted in some sensitive areas in Abuja were struggling for space as some of them were pasted side-by-side, but no group had openly claimed to be behind the re-appearance of the posters.
As Jonathan’s posters in a Yoruba traditional attire has the logo of the Peoples Democratic Party, Gen. Buhari appeared on the background of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the merging party that is begging for registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Sunday, 14 July 2013
The Chaos In Rivers State Must Stop
The nation and the world at large got a shocker on Tuesday, 9th July 2013 when the simmering crisis in the state’s chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Rivers State House of Assembly resulted in a free-for-all in the House chamber.
Members of the Assembly were seen attacking one another with dangerous objects which left some of them seriously injured and hospitalised.
The faction of five members of the House opposed to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, threw caution to the winds and assembled early that day and announced they had impeached the Speaker, Hon Otelemabala Amachree. In his place, Hon Evans Bipi presented himself as the new Speaker.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 stipulates that for the impeachment of any elected official to be valid, not less than two-thirds of the members of the House must vote in its favour. This clearly did not happen.
The most regrettable part of it was that the Police, having been intimated of the possibility of trouble, drafted scores of their men to the Assembly.
And yet, it did not stop the grievous assault on members from taking place. The Police simply watched while the law was being broken with impunity. In fact, some uniformed officers were seen helping to perpetrate evil as reminiscent of the horrific scenes seen on NTA in 2003 following the Governor Chris Ngige kidnap saga in Anambra State.
We are at a loss how people described in many media reports as “thugs” were able to find their ways into the Assembly grounds and even the public gallery when security men reportedly screened people getting into the arena.
One would have thought that with crisis forewarned, strict steps would be taken by the law enforcement agencies to keep out non-members and to arrest anyone who abandoned their legitimate duties as legislators and opted to foment trouble.
We condemn what happened in Rivers State last Tuesday in the strongest terms. This was a day that decorum was thrown to the winds, while the monster of lawlessness reigned supreme. It smacks of political madness for a handful of five legislators to purport to impeach a Speaker in total contravention of the constitution.
We must find a way to severely sanction politicians and public office holders who perpetrate such constitutional iniquities. Otherwise, our democracy will continue to be mired in political backwardness. Perhaps, it is time for us to consider the long suggested establishment of constitution courts to deal with matters such as these.
We commend the House of Representatives for quickly intervening and taking over the legislative functions of the House until tempers cool and members come back to their senses.
The House and the Senate should conduct a joint inquiry into the roles played by the law enforcement agents, particularly the Police, on that day. Those who failed in their assigned duties to enforce the law must be made to face the music.
The crisis in Rivers State is beginning to acquire a more dangerous turn, with the supporters of both sides now confronting each other in the streets.
We are living witnesses to the horrors the nation went through as a result of the activities of political thugs and cult groups who later became militants and went into the creeks to disrupt the peace and economic wellbeing of the country.
The nation has paid dearly to pacify and stabilise the Niger Delta. We must not allow ugly recent history to repeat itself. The political combatants must sheathe their swords and allow the people of the state to live peacefully with one another.
There is no substitute to politics without bitterness.
Members of the Assembly were seen attacking one another with dangerous objects which left some of them seriously injured and hospitalised.
The faction of five members of the House opposed to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, threw caution to the winds and assembled early that day and announced they had impeached the Speaker, Hon Otelemabala Amachree. In his place, Hon Evans Bipi presented himself as the new Speaker.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 stipulates that for the impeachment of any elected official to be valid, not less than two-thirds of the members of the House must vote in its favour. This clearly did not happen.
The most regrettable part of it was that the Police, having been intimated of the possibility of trouble, drafted scores of their men to the Assembly.
And yet, it did not stop the grievous assault on members from taking place. The Police simply watched while the law was being broken with impunity. In fact, some uniformed officers were seen helping to perpetrate evil as reminiscent of the horrific scenes seen on NTA in 2003 following the Governor Chris Ngige kidnap saga in Anambra State.
We are at a loss how people described in many media reports as “thugs” were able to find their ways into the Assembly grounds and even the public gallery when security men reportedly screened people getting into the arena.
One would have thought that with crisis forewarned, strict steps would be taken by the law enforcement agencies to keep out non-members and to arrest anyone who abandoned their legitimate duties as legislators and opted to foment trouble.
We condemn what happened in Rivers State last Tuesday in the strongest terms. This was a day that decorum was thrown to the winds, while the monster of lawlessness reigned supreme. It smacks of political madness for a handful of five legislators to purport to impeach a Speaker in total contravention of the constitution.
We must find a way to severely sanction politicians and public office holders who perpetrate such constitutional iniquities. Otherwise, our democracy will continue to be mired in political backwardness. Perhaps, it is time for us to consider the long suggested establishment of constitution courts to deal with matters such as these.
We commend the House of Representatives for quickly intervening and taking over the legislative functions of the House until tempers cool and members come back to their senses.
The House and the Senate should conduct a joint inquiry into the roles played by the law enforcement agents, particularly the Police, on that day. Those who failed in their assigned duties to enforce the law must be made to face the music.
The crisis in Rivers State is beginning to acquire a more dangerous turn, with the supporters of both sides now confronting each other in the streets.
We are living witnesses to the horrors the nation went through as a result of the activities of political thugs and cult groups who later became militants and went into the creeks to disrupt the peace and economic wellbeing of the country.
The nation has paid dearly to pacify and stabilise the Niger Delta. We must not allow ugly recent history to repeat itself. The political combatants must sheathe their swords and allow the people of the state to live peacefully with one another.
There is no substitute to politics without bitterness.
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