The breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chaired by Alhaji Abdullahi Baraje on Sunday described the constitution of a disciplinary committee by the faction of PDP led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as a mere attempt to witch-hunt the progressive members of the ‘new’ PDP and a further proof of the lack of desire by Tukur and his illegal National Working Committee (NWC) for peace.
According to new PDP, reviving the so-called disciplinary committee at a time when Party Leader, President Goodluck Jonathan is busy holding peace meetings with the Baraje-led PDP proves that Tukur is engaging in anti-party activities by working at cross purposes with the president. The faction also argued that the step exposes Tukur’s hypocrisy and vindicates its stand that he is an obstacle to peace in the party.
“If indeed a disciplinary committee has been set up by Tukur, we make bold to say that he should be the first with his illegal NWC members to appear before it for usurping the office of the National Chairman of our party even when he is not legally a member of the party as he did not revalidate his membership of the party during the 2011 revalidation exercise,” the faction noted.
It commended Chief Olisa Metuh, the former national publicity secretary of PDP for his theory of institutional memory loss, saying Metuh was referring to himself as he succeeded in exposing his ignorance about the party he assumes to be speaking for.
“For him to refer the Baraje-led PDP as people who suffer from institutional memory loss indicates that he needs to visit a mental health specialist for proper evaluation.
“How can any sound member of PDP describe a party that still has Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of the Federal Republic, as a member as not knowing the history and records of the party? For the records, Atiku Abubakar, apart from being a principal member of the PDP, also recruited Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Alh. Gambo Jimeta, Senator Silas Zwingina and Chief Joel Madaki, among others to the party in 1988 through Chief Nat Yaduma.
“Metuh should properly research into the records of people in the Baraje-led PDP before trying to deceive Nigerians with his lies arising from institutional memory loss. Maybe Metuh may not even know that it was Atiku Abubakar that rented and paid for the present National Secretariat of PDP for three years and paid the working staff salaries for three years. Most of the times those of us who labored and established PDP to its present level laugh when some onlookers like Metuh want to tell us about the history of PDP which was formed when most of them never contemplated of joining politics talk less of joining PDP.
“For the record, while we don’t dispute the fact that in 2008, the Reconciliation Committee led by His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme recommended a blanket waiver for both Alhaji Tukur and others expelled by the party, the fact that Metuh may not know is that Tukur did not accept the waiver as he refused to revalidate his membership of the party by 2011. In the circumstances, he was not a member of PDP before his illegal entry as National Chairman of PDP. Though Tukur resides in Mayo Kalaye ward but claims Jada 1 Ward, all in Jada LGA of Adamawa State, he did not revalidate his membership as directed by PDP NEC on 6th Sept. 2011. Anybody who doubts this sacrosanct fact can apply for the PDP Register of Ward of Jada 1 Ward in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State where Tukur is registered as a former member of the party.
The statement, signed by new PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, also observed: “For the avoidance of doubt, let me inform Metuh and his co-travellers in the defunct NWC of the party that those of us from Adamawa State know ourselves. Gulak the Political Assistance to Mr. President can assist him with this fact though by 1988 he does not talk when we talk about politics in Adamawa State. We shall not allow anybody to rewrite the history of the party while we are still alive and we can no longer allow undemocratic characters to ruin a political party that some of us sacrificed much to take to this level.
“In this regard, we still maintain that all actions assumed to have been performed by Tukur since his assumed election in 2012 as our party National Chairman stand null and void and of no effect. This includes the last disputed special convention of the party where some of the aides of President Jonathan who were not members of the delegates voted to elect the out-gone NWC of PDP.
“In this regard, if Umaru Dikko’s Disciplinary Committee is actually serious with its task, they should immediately after their inauguration start to investigate why a non member of our party should be elected to such a highly exalted office of the National Chairman of our party. If this step is not taken the committee should try and save the nation from looking at our party as a funny and unserious group by dissolving itself on its own accord.
“To demonstrate how magnanimous Alhaji Baraje and his NWC can be, we have instructed the Adamawa State Chapter of PDP to get Alhaji Tukur formally registered once he shows interest in rejoining the party in view of his interest and commitment to serve the party.”
On INEC’s rejection of its letter for recognition, the faction expressed disappointment but remain grateful that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chapter 1V Section 40 recognizes its right to associate amongst ourselves.
“To say the least, this decision by INEC to recognize Tukur’s faction is unfortunate because INEC is aware of the flawed nature of the last convention where some of the aides of President Jonathan who are not our party’s delegates were allowed to vote.
“This alone nullifies the outcome of that illegal convention. We need not to say much on this as we are very convinced that the court will give us fair hearing and by that time, INEC will be compelled to recognize us accordingly.”
The faction also demanded that FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed unseal the Adamawa Governor’s Lodge, saying the sealing off of the lodge by the minister only demonstrates his lack of understanding about the status of a Governor’s Lodge.
“What the minister has brazenly done is to indirectly attack the people and Government of Adamawa State in his desperation to impress the PDP tin god, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. This unwarranted and rash action by Senator Mohammed can be equated with the recent attack against the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau by the Guinea-Bissau authorities, which sparked outrage and for which that country’s government swiftly apologised.
“We advise the misguided minister to within 48 hours not only apologise to the people and Government of Adamawa State but also to unseal the Lodge, which serves as out temporary National Secretariat following the sealing of our National Secretariat by the police. The Government of Adamawa State has not committed any offence by allowing us to use the Lodge as contact office.
“Minister Mohammed is usurping powers that do not belong to him. His unjustifiable action is yet another evidence of impunity by some overzealous people in government intent on blackmailing President Goodluck Jonathan and portraying him as draconian and undemocratic President
“Such people must be stopped forthwith! We, therefore, appeal to Mr. President not only to call Senator Mohammed to order but also sanction him accordingly for portraying Jonathan’s government as lawless, evil and anti-people.
“Finally, we urge our members and supporters neither to worry nor be demoralised by the rascality of the Tukur faction as we are ever ready to ensure that undemocratic elements will not near the leadership of our party anymore.
We are on course and by the grace of God we shall surely come out victorious for the greatness of our party and growth of democracy in Nigeria. Long live PDP! Long live Nigeria!!!”
