Jonathan rams Bamanga down govs’ throats

The President’s foot soldiers were also said to have made futile attempts to fix a consensus arrangement in favour of Tukur as the other aspirants insist on going ahead with the contest. chairman of the PDP’s 75-man National Congresses and Convention Planning Committee (NCCPC) Chief Ojo Maduekwe yesterday said that 5,000 delegates are to participate […]

The President’s foot soldiers were also said to have made futile attempts to fix a consensus arrangement in favour of Tukur as the other aspirants insist on going ahead with the contest. chairman of the PDP’s 75-man National Congresses and Convention Planning Committee (NCCPC) Chief Ojo Maduekwe yesterday said that 5,000 delegates are to participate in today’s National Convention.

 

A top party source told Weekly Trust last night that President Jonathan had invited all PDP state governors, party leaders and some top PDP leaders for a meeting at the villa to put pressure on particularly the north east governors who are believed to be opposed to the candidature of Tukur.  The meeting was about beginning as at press time.

Before the meeting at the villa, Weekly Trust learnt that Governor Isa Yuguda, Senator Abdul Ningi and Dr. Musa Babayo had visited the Wuse residence of Bamanga Tukur. Details of their discussions are not known, but a source said it may not be unconnected with Yuguda’s effort to broker a deal between two chairmanship contenders, probably in line with President Jonathan’s wish.   Many presidency officials including Minister of Information Labaran Maku were also sighted at Tukur’s, which witnessed heavy human traffic throughout yesterday.

Also, Weekly Trust learnt that there was a last-minute plan to entice some of the aspirants for the chairmanship position with ‘juicy appointments’ so as to get them step down for Tukur. But many of the aspirants yesterday said they would rather be defeated at the convention.

All 11 aspirants were screened by the party’s screening committee at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja yesterday and none of them had indicated willingness to step down as at press time. Also, Weekly Trust learnt that none of them was disqualified.

President Jonathan was said to have been devastated when the North-East caucus said they had adopted Dr. Musa Babayo as the consensus candidate of the zone following a purported election in which Babayo scored 14 votes against Tukur who got only two votes.

Meanwhile not less than 78 aspirants jostling for vacant positions in the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) were screened yesterday. The exercise which started at 8:00am was said to have gone late into midnight.

A list of aspirants signed by PDP Director of Organization/Mobilization Chief Adewale Fatona showed that 11 aspirants are vying for the position of PDP National Chairman; Deputy National Chairman (6); National Secretary (11); National Organising Secretary (7); Deputy National Secretary (2) and National Youth Leader (11).

The number of aspirants for the position of National Auditor is 4; National Woman Leader (10); National Publicity Secretary (8); National Financial Secretary (3); National Treasurer (4) and National Legal Adviser (1).

Aspirants, who made the list for the position of National Chairman are: Alh. Gambo Lawan, Borno; Dr. Musa Babayo, Bauchi; Alh.Bamanga Tukur, Adamawa; Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, Gombe; Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Borno; Amb. Idris Waziri, Taraba; Sen. Mohammed Abba Aji, Borno; Arc. Ibrahim Bunu, Borno; Mallam Adamu Bello, Adamawa; Barr. Ibrahim Shehu Birma, Borno and Alh.Ahmed Muazu, Bauchi.

For Deputy National Chairman, the aspirants include Prince Uche Secondus, Rivers; Omu Stella Unvezi, Delta; Nkpubre Chief Edet Okon, Akwa-Ibom; Jaja Sam Sam, Rivers; Bassey Samuel Ethothi, Cross River and Okon, Aniete Udo, Akwa-Ibom.

Aspirants for the position of National Secretary are Chief Oke Olusola Alex, Ondo; Adeniran Tunde, Ekiti; Sarumi Oladapo Babatunde, Lagos; Fabiyi Anthony Oladimeji, Ogun; Akin-Deko Akintayo, Ondo; Adedoja Taoheed (Prof.), Oyo; Salis Owolabi, Lagos; Olu-Ojo Bola, Ekiti; Babatope Ebenezer Oluwole, Osun; Pedro Olufemi Olusegun, Lagos and Daramola Joseph Babtunde, Lagos.

For the position of National Secretary, it was gathered that former Governor of Osun State Olagunsoye Oyinlola has been considered as consensus candidate by the South-West zone. Strong indications emerged last night that a former Director in the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abubakar Mustapha, has been endorsed by the North West zone for the position of National Organizing Secretary, NOS.

Weekly Trust also gathered that Jaja Sam Sam (Rivers) has been tipped for Deputy National Chairman; Alh. Garba Umaru Chiza (Niger) for National Youth Leader; Adikwu Bakare E. Oluremi (Lagos) for National Auditor; Chikwe Kemafo Nonyerem (Imo) National Woman Leader; Olisa Metuh (Anambra) National Publicity Secretary;  Kaoje Bala Bawa (Kebbi)  National Treasurer and Usman Mohammed Kabir (Kogi) as National Legal Adviser.

Chairman of the convention planning committee (NCCPC) Chief Ojo Maduekwe who addressed newsmen at Legacy House, alternative PDP office in Abuja, explained that any aspirant who failed to scale the hurdle of Emeka Ihedioha-led Screening Committee still has chance to table his or her complaints before them because they would be working 24 hours. He pledged that the Committee would be very fair, just and transparent in dealing with all aspirants vying for vacant positions in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).