Jonathan, governors adopt Tukur as PDP chairman

Bamanga Tukur

The President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have agreed on the choice of shipping magnate Bamanga Tukur as the party’s national chairman, it was learnt yesterday. Sam Jaja is likely to be deputy chairman.

PDP is holding its convention at which national officers will emerge on Saturday.

But Dr Goodluck Jonathan did not have his way in getting Senators and members of the House of Representatives into the National Executive Committee (NEC).

President Jonathan and the governors resolved these issues at a meeting in his Otuoke country home in Bayelsa State at the weekend. Rivers State Governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi represented his colleagues at the meeting.

The meeting was meant to harmonise the President’s and the governors’ positions, following the tension over the choice of National Chairman and National Secretary.

The governors pledged to back Tukur and other candidates presented by the President for national offices.

The President, it was learnt, endorsed former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola for National Secretary.

Oyinlola is also being backed by the Chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Sources, who spoke in confidence, said: “The meeting between the President and Governor Amaechi was very cordial and both of them came out smiling.

“The President and the governors resolved their differences in Otuoke, Bayelsa State on Saturday.

“All grey areas were thrashed out and Amaechi made it known that the governors have not been conspiring against the President at all.

“Just as the governors are in control of party machinery in their states, the President will also be allowed to have ‘much say’ in the constitution of the National Working Committee (NWC).”

Responding to a question, a source gave the details of the talks with the President as follows:

•The meeting reaffirmed the agreement between the President and the Governors Forum to support all candidates for principal party offices that the President presents to them.

•top among these candidates are Tukur and Oyinlola, chairman and secretary;

•all principal officers of the new PDP NWC will be nominees of the president; and

•the governors have agreed to back the President’s candidates for the election this Saturday to promote unity and cohesion in the party.

Another source added: “It is a win-win situation for the President and the Amaechi group. The President have also upheld the plea of the governors to suspend plans to make Senators and members of the House of Representatives members of the NEC.

“The governors also are in charge of party structure in their states. Thirdly, they will also have Oyinlola (one of them) as the National Secretary.

“I think it is presumed that Prince Uche Secondus may end up being retained as the consensus new Deputy National Chairman, in the light of the latest talks.

“So, the party may be set for coronation on Saturday, if things go well.”

Notwithstanding, the PDP Stakeholders Forum yesterday raised a fresh legal issue on Tukur’s qualification for Chairman.

A statement by the Forum’s co-ordinator, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said it is of the opinion that Tukur is not qualified to lead the party.

Ugochinyere said: “The main legal reason why Tukur is ineligible to contest for PDP chairmanship is this: The PDP NEC meeting of 31st May 2001 expelled the following BOT and National Officers. They were the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Tukur; the late Edwin Ume-Ezeoke; Don Etiebet; a former National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Ibeshi; a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Gbenga Olawepo and the late Chief Harry Marshall.

“They were summarily expelled for anti-party activities after the NEC adopted the report of a Disciplinary Committee headed by the then Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Iro Dan Musa.

“The implication is that Article 10 of the PDP Constitution requires that returnee-members must be given waiver by the NWC; based on request, from their state chapters of the party, which the NEC must ratify.

“Tukur is not yet officially readmitted and ineligible to contest. The disqualification of Tukur by the Screening Committee is a must. Nobody is above the law.”

But a member of the NWC, who confided in our correspondent, said: “The PDP has gone beyond 2001 politics. Tukur is eminently qualified to contest because he has played prominent role in the party since 2003.

“Do not forget that the report of the Alex Ekwueme Reconciliation Committee has overshadowed any issue being raised by this faceless PDP Stakeholders Forum which is unknown to the party’s constitution. All those expelled then have been readmitted to the party unconditionally.

“Tukur has academic and moral pedigree to occupy the office of the National Chairman of PDP. He has never been found wanting in public and private life.”

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