Treasury looter and former Governor of Bauchi State, Adamu Muazu has been chosen as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He replaces Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who resigned voluntarily last week.
Adamu Mauzu Muazu was Governor of Bauchi State between 1999 and 2007. His appointment will be announced on Monday.
Adamu Muazu is a close ally of former President Obasanjo, and was part of Obasanjo`s delegation to the burial of Nelson Mandela. His appointment is largely viewed as attempt to pacify the former president, who penultimate week, indicated he was withdrawing from all PDP activities.
However, Muazu’s appointment may also create fresh problems for President Jonathan and pitch him against governors loyal to former President Yar’dua, some of whom were absent from yesterday’s meeting. The Yar’adua faction is led by Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, an arch-nemesis of Adamu Muazu.
Muazu’s appointment, huhuonline.com learnt, marks a change in strategy by the Presidency, which under Bamanga Tukur, had sought to deliver the reins of the party to President Jonathan by forcing Obasanjo out as Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). In the process, Tukur earned the wrath of governors loyal to Obasanjo, many of whom have defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
With Muazu’s appointment, observers opine that PDP crisis in the South West may escalate further. Former President Obasanjo has made public his disdain for Buruji Kasahmir, chairman of the southwest chapter of the PDP. Sources who pleaded anonymity said Obasanjo, who is renowned for his crude and vindictive brand of politics, will use the new national chairman to frustrate and eventually oust Buruji Kashamir as PDP chairman in the south west.
Except for Bamanga Tukur, all past chairmen of the PDP have a history of corruptly enriching themselves, a flaw which the party uses to oust them when they fall out of favour.
Ahmadu Adamu Muazu is accused of looting N19.8bn from the coffers of Bauchi State government during his tenure as Governor. When EFCC invited him for questioning, he went into self-imposed exile for two years in Dubai.
Governors at the meeting where Adamu Muazu was selected include Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Umar Dakingari (Kebbi), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Garba Umar (acting Governor of Taraba State), Bala Ngilari (Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), and Ibrahim Dakwambo (Gombe).
Also present at the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, leaders of the National Assembly, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus.
