Sources close to the party told the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja that a meeting of the governors, held under the auspices of the PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF) in December, could not raise what is called an “untainted” candidate against Tukur.
Following the insistence of a number of governors that Tukur was part of the problems bedeviling the party, a source confirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan actually gave the governors the nod to suggest three credible candidates who could take over from the Adamawa-born politician.
It was gathered that the president immediately conveyed the decision to Tukur.
It, however, appeared that the bid was heading for the rocks, following the failure of the governors to agree on acceptable candidates and what is called “negative reports” on the names already suggested.
While the governors could not agree on which particular state should produce the new chairman, as they were wary of producing a national chairman in an election year, there was also the problem of the acceptability of the proposed candidates.
It was gathered that each of the three suggested candidates was seen as having close relationship with other members of the party being objected to by other stakeholders.
For instance, former Governor Adamu Mua’zu of Bauchi was said to be a close ally of President Jonathan, but also related to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by marriage.
The same was also said of Musa Babayo, also related to Governor Isa Yuguda by marriage, while the relationship between former national chairman of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) in the aborted transition programme of General Sani Abacha, Alhaji Gambo Lawan and former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, was said to have been a stumbling block against his nomination.
“As it is, things appear rosy for Tukur since the removal bid is heading for the rocks,” a source said at the weekend.
The special assistant on inter-party relations to the national chairman, Alhaji Shittu Mohammed, also on Sunday, said Tukur had embarked on a sort of diplomacy to thwart his removal bid.
According to him, the national chairman had been able to show himself as a leader ready to accommodate opposing views and respect stakeholders.
“He has met with the Senate caucus, the House of Representatives caucus and the governors. All the meetings were cordial and they all promised to work together for the progress of the party,” Mohammed said.
According to him, it had become obvious that a number of defected members were engineering the crisis in the PDP after they had left for their preferred party.
APC has no alternative agenda - Tukur
NATIONAL chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for running a campaign of hatred rather than policy alternatives to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
In a statement issued on his behalf by his special assistant, Prince Oliver Okpara, the party chief said “APC, which is the opposition party, has failed so far to present any reasonable programme to seriously challenge the PDP,” while urging the leadership of the APC to “exhibit some sense of political decorum and decency in its style of politicking from this year.”
Tukur described APC as “a desperate political coalition in the country, whose stock in trade is insults, attacks and lack of decorum, because the party and its membership have nothing to offer the people of Nigeria outside the desperate plan to take over power at all cost.”
He called on Nigerians to rise to the challenge of the year, by dedicating their efforts towards the promotion of culture of decency and decorum in politics, advising that “such dedication should also be channeled to our social interactions and utterances.”
According to him, “this envisaged dedication to politics of decency and decorum is the only foundation that will guarantee respect for the opinions and principles of other persons, groups and associations.”
Predicting a peaceful and prosperous 2014, he said the year should witness politics without bitterness, in order to avoid overheating the social and religious sectors of the country.
While asking Nigerians to emulate the sense of tolerance of divergent views by President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP chairman said “as a Nigerian with dedication to the principles of democracy, he welcomes more plurality of views, but such views should be respectful of the sensitivities of other persons and cultures.”
Source: Tribune
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