Stakeholders query panel on Adamawa crisis, want Govs Forum scrapped
AS the verdict of the Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sacking the National Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is fast widening the crack in the political group, the party may have launched efforts to encourage him to accept the ruling.
The fresh moves by the party's leadership are coming as some stakeholders are faulting the panel set up over the Adamawa State PDP crisis and also calling for the scrapping of Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF).
The Guardian learnt that immediately after the court nullified Oyinlola's election as the National Secretary of the party, some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) met and resolved to reach out to some close allies of the former Osun State governor to advise him to obey the ruling which came after two previous ones took the same position.
The party stalwarts were said to have agreed to also approach all major stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) because of Oyinlola's status as a lawyer, to prevail on him to accept the court's verdict.
"Some of us are of the position that he (Oyinlola) should allow the ruling to be'', a PDP source said.
In the event that Oyinlola heeds the advice of the party, The Guardian learnt that National Vice Chairman of the party in the South-West and former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni might be made acting National Secretary.
Some people have argued that former Transport Minister, Ebenezer Babatope should be considered for the job but those who want Oni have pointed out that age is not on Babatope's side.
Meanwhile, Oyinlola has been reported to have filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
On the Adamawa State crisis, some PDP elders from the state have faulted the intervention of governors on the platform of PDP describing it as one-sided just as the they disagreed with the committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan on the crisis in the state chapter of the party.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the elders led by Umar Ardo, said the crisis was all about 2015 Presidency and appealed to the President to take a firm position on the matter even as they would not recognise the committee he raised.
"We are appealing to the president to stand firm on this. I am appealing to the chairman of PDP to come out and state clearly that what had happened in Adamawa was with the consent and authorization of the NWC and that he, as the chairman and all those members of the NWC are in support of it.
"It is all about 2015. Anybody that tells you anything contrary is not sincere. They want to impose one of them as the presidential candidate of the party in 2015 and that is why they are defying what the people and the president want," they stated.
They equally said they would not appear before the "PDP committee on Adamawa Crisis and Resolution" because they were yet to be told the essence of the panel, describing it as "mysterious."
Stating the conditions for recognising the panel, the group said: "If it is the President, let us see a statement from the presidency. If it is from the NWC of the party let's see a statement from the national chairman of the party saying so. But if it is from the Oyinlola's gang of 10, then there's no way we can recognize it, and as far as we are concerned, it is dead on arrival.
"There ought to be a letter from the presidency saying so if it is actually from the president and if it is from the party then there should be a statement from the National Working Committee but we cannot just wake up and see a committee from the blues asking us to submit memoranda."
Also yesterday a group under the auspices of Nigerian Renewal Group, called for the scrapping of the Nigeria Governors' Forum saying it had become a vehicle for confusion.
A statement issued by the chairman of the group, Mansur Usman read: "The Nigerian Renewal Group, consisting of young professional men and women members of the PDP, has watched with great concern the discordant tunes emanating from the ruling party, the PDP. We are concerned because the governors elected on the PDP platform, who constitute the majority, have practically abandoned their primary responsibilities in their various states. They have turned themselves into an unholy pressure group and trade union under the inglorious Governors Forum.
"Indeed, we view the Governors Forum as a club for idle talk and mischief making. Our stand is validated by the recent gang-up of PDP Governors against the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. We hold no brief for the elder statesman, but we are worried that if these governors are not checked, they will soon hold the nation's political apparatus to ransom. That will not augur well for good governance and democracy.
"In their various states, the governors hold the political and economic aces. They install local council chairmen, hand-pick members of the state legislature, influence the election of members to the National Assembly and cajole the President to pick their cronies as ministers. Not done with the enormous influence and financial resources they control in their states, our governors are also jostling to remote control the party at the national level. This attitude of the governors portends great danger to the polity. They must be called to order. We advise President Jonathan and Tukur to work together in clipping the wings of these governors. This is necessary to salvage our party from ultimate disintegration.
"We shall watch developments on the horizon. Our ultimate intention is to approach the courts to declare the Governors Forum as an illegal body, an aberration to our democracy, and a disincentive to good governance at the various states of the federation.
"Now, the cat is out of the bag. It is an open secret that the crisis in the PDP has been contrived by the governors in the attempt to control the NWC and dictate to the National Chairman. Their intention is to position themselves for office as president, vice president or senators after completing their tenure. But why can't they pursue these legitimate ambitions without employing crude, strong-arm tactics?
"We ask the National Chairman to call the bluff of these governors. When Bamanga became governor of Gongola State in 1983, most of the present governors were toddlers or in primary schools. The old man deserves some respect. We commend his resolve to re-position the party by avoiding business-as-usual. We vote for due process, equity and fairness in running the affairs of the party. We deplore the antics of these governors who throw money around to hijack the party's political apparatus. We say enough is enough."
