Presidency to ‘rebel’ governors: ‘Jonathan can’t be forced out of 2015’

One of the key demands of the seven governors who broke away to form the ‘New PDP’ is for the president to keep his one-term pledge.At a meeting on Sunday night, they reminded Jonathan that on four different occasions ahead of the 2011 elections, he promised not to seek re-election in 2015.After Sunday’s talks, Niger […]

One of the key demands of the seven governors who broke away to form the ‘New PDP’ is for the president to keep his one-term pledge.
At a meeting on Sunday night, they reminded Jonathan that on four different occasions ahead of the 2011 elections, he promised not to seek re-election in 2015.
After Sunday’s talks, Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, flanked by Jonathan, eight governors and others, said both sides agreed to sheathe their swords, stop media war and pursue a peace process.
But President Jonathan’s Political Adviser Ahmed Gulak called a news conference yesterday where he said the president would resist any attempts to force him out of the race.
Gulak said the constitution gives Jonathan the right to seek re-election and that this could not be abridged by anybody.
“The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, has given Mr. President the right to offer himself for second term if he so chooses, and nobody, either individual or group, can abridge his constitutional right,” he said.
“If he decides not to contest, let it be on his on his own volition; not because he is intimidated or cajoled into doing that.”
On the seven governors’ demand for the removal of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as PDP chairman, Gulak said Tukur would survive the onslaught.
“The national chairman has no problem. He was elected, and as there are processes for election, there are processes for removal or resignation. So, nobody can cajole anybody to say the national chairman won’t survive. Nobody is against the national chairman,” he said.
“There is only one PDP, and that PDP, as at today, is led by Bamanga Tukur. That we’ve some aggrieved members doesn’t derogate from the fact that there is only one PDP. And these aggrieved members, the elders are already talking to them and they are understanding the constitutional provisions and all of us must be guided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the constitution of our party. We don’t just do things just because we want to do them, we must abide by the principles of democracy,” he said.
Gulak said the president would be guided by the constitution on three demands by the rebelling governors, which he said included asking Jonathan to forget 2015 bid, call off the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from targeting ‘New PDP’ leaders as well as Tukur’s removal.
“I have said it before that (the issues of) 2015, national chairman and EFCC are the three demands, and we’ve to be guided by the constitution,” he said.
“About EFCC, I’ve said it before and will say it again that Mr. President will never ask such an independent body not to carry out its job or statutory functions.
“About the national chairman (of PDP), I’ve said he emerged through the process of election and his removal is also guided by constitutional provisions.”
In spite of his statements on the governors’ demands, Gulak however said with the outcome of Sunday night’s meeting, peace was gradually returning to the PDP. “We’re talking and dialoguing,” he added.
He dismissed reports that the Presidency forced the national treasurer of the New PDP, Tanko Ishiaku Gwamna, to resign. “There was even no (other) national treasurer as far as we’re concerned; the national treasurer of the party is Accountant Bala Buhari,” he said.
2015 remains the issue
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said yesterday that at Sunday’s meeting between Jonathan and some PDP governors, it was agreed that Jonathan’s ambition should not be trampled on.
“Of course, on the issue of 2015, both sides agreed that it wasn’t an issue for discussion because every single person has a right to have an ambition,” Akpabio told journalists at the State House in Abuja.
“Some of the governors may have ambition like I have an ambition to go to the Senate. And you can’t discuss anything about another person’s ambition. You’re the only person that can discuss your own ambition. Ambition is personal. So, both parties agreed to that,” he added.
But this contradicts an account of the meeting given to Daily Trust by a source close to one of the governors who attended.
The source said the ‘New PDP’ governors insisted that Jonathan must stand by promises he made on four different occasions not to seek re-election in 2015.
The occasions, the source said, were at a PDP caucus meeting, then at another meeting with governors, as well as in Ethiopia and in the United States—all ahead of the 2011 elections.
During Sunday’s meeting, Jonathan accused Governor Aliyu of misinforming Nigerians by saying the president had pledged to a one-term deal.
But Aliyu responded by reminding Jonathan of the four occasions when he made the single-term promise, and said there was need for the president to tell the meeting whether he would abide by that pledge or not.
The three governors on the president’s side during the meeting said it was not proper to discuss 2015 because that would box the president into making a declaration either way.
Governors Akpabio, Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Idris Wada (Kogi) said Jonathan must be allowed to decide on his own volition and make an announcement when it suited him. At this point, one of the G-7 governors said it was okay to give the president some more time so that it does not appear as if he was stampeded into standing down from the race.
Other G-7 governors at the Sunday meeting were Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
Board of trustees chairman Tony Anenih and Vice President Namadi Sambo also attended.
Further discussions have been scheduled for October 7, because the president is scheduled to travel to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly next week.
While briefing journalists yesterday, Akpabio also spoke on the progress of efforts to mend fences in the PDP.
“We’ve started a process of total reconciliation, and of course, you know the house is very large, very robust and PDP is very entrenched, and there is no way we can have internal wrangling without being able to resolve it,” he said.
He said whatever affects the PDP will definitely affect the entire nation, given the party’s wide support base and the fact that it has been in power for 14 years.
“So, the PDP is Nigeria and so, anything that affects the PDP will affect the entire country. And that is why we commend the president for the peace process, his humility and his decision to be a father to all, and for behaving like a good shepherd where if one single sheep goes astray, he abandons the 99 to go and pick that one. And that was the spirit and everybody is coming on board now. That process is going to be concluded on October 7,” he said.
Akpabio said the PDP crisis was too minor for the opposition to be able to take advantage of it. “Which opposition are you talking about? Is it APC? Well, you know the only thing I can see for APC in 2015? They will change their name. They normally change names. That’s the only thing I know. I think they used to be AC, later, they changed to ACN. Of course, they now linked it with CPC and now turn to APC. And by 2015, it will be Panadol,” he said.