•Forbids chairman, governor’s sons from
contesting 2016 governorship
The crises in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new
dimension at the weekend with President Goodluck Jonathan wielding the big
stick.
In the aftermath of the power tussle between the National
Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and Adamawa State governor, Murtala
Nyako, President Goodluck has now forbidden their sons, Awwal Tukur and
Abdul-Aziz Nyako from contesting the 2016 governorship election in the state.
Visibly angry President Jonathan at the meeting with the leaders
of the party during the week at the Presidential Villa had expressed
displeasure at the ongoing power tussle and had reportedly banged on the table
and swore that as long as he remains the President of Nigeria both men would
not be cleared to contest the election.
Both Tukur and Nyako were present at the meeting. Present also
were other members of the National Working Committe of the PDP, some state
governors and other major party stakeholders.
According to the source, President Jonathan had said that the
inordinate ambition of both leaders to secure the governorship seat for their
sons has been the cause of the crisis in the state and the only way to end the
crisis was by making it difficult for both men to stand for the governorship
election in the state.
“The President was angry that succession agenda was the crux of
the crisis in Adamawa PDP and has reasoned that the only way to achieve peace
was to stop both aspirants from the election.
“The President also warned that he will not take kindly with
anyone who flouts the recommendation of the reconciliation committee set up. He
also warned that 2016 should be set aside and that development of the state
should be uppermost in the mind of the governor.”
Awwal, eldest son of the PDP chairman, had contested for the PDP
governorship ticket in Adamawa State with Governor Nyako, in early 2007.
The outcome of the primaries, which was mired in controversies,
led the former member of the House of Representatives (1999-2003) to withdraw
temporarily from politics.
The latest report about Awwal is that he may throw his hat into
the ring once again in 2016 and vie for the PDP governorship ticket.
Sunday Mirror gathered that late last year, Abdul-Aziz, the
eldest son of the governor undertook a tour of the state with the full protocol
of a governor.
Opponents of Nyako said his son went to the extent of making
promises of what the government would and would not do. But with the president’s
directives, the dreams of the duo seem to have been aborted.
It would be recalled that President Jonathan had penultimate
week constituted the (Sule) Lamido committee to work out truce between the
warring factions in the state and ensure that peace reigns again in the state
chapter in the party.
Part of the recommendation was to harmonise the positions of the
different parties in the state, make the state suitable for the conduct of
fresh congresses as well as elect the new state exco.
Meanwhile, Governor Nyako has called on party faithful to
support the executive reconciliation committee set up by the President. The
Governor made the call on Saturday while addressing party supporters at a
solidarity rally in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital.
The Governor said there was hope that things would be better for
the party following recent positive changes while promising to support the
party leadership.
The Governor commended PDP stakeholders within and outside the
state for their concern over the crisis and congratulated members of the new
executive committee of the party, led by Alhaji Umaru Kugama.
Also speaking, Kugama, leader of the executive committee
commended members of the party for their support and corporation to him during
the party congress.
The People’s Democratic Party supporters from the 21 local
government areas of the state attended the rally.
Source: National Mirror
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