PDP Crisis: Tukur To Know Fate January 1‏

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There were indications on Tuesday that the fate
of the National Chairman of the Peoples
Democratic Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, would be
determined during the party’s National
Executive Committee meeting on January 8,
2014.
The PUNCH learnt that the meeting would be
preceded by those of the Board of Trustees and
the national caucus of the party on January 7.
A very reliable NEC member said on Tuesday
that Tukur’s fate would be discussed during
the January 8 meeting since PDP governors
were still divided on his continued retention as
the  national chairman  of the ruling party.
It was gathered that while some of the
governors believed   that it would  be suicidal for
Tukur to be sacked a year to the general
elections, others were of the opinion that his
removal would restore  confidence in  the party.
Our source said apart from Governors Sule
Lamido(Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu(Niger)
whose views on the national chairman are well
known, some of their colleagues were waiting for
the NEC meeting to voice out their opposition to
Tukur’s continued leadership of the party.
“The two governors, who are part of the
aggrieved seven governors before five of them
defected to the All Progressives Congress, are
still insisting that the chairman must go. We also
know that there are some of their colleagues
who are waiting for our next NEC meeting to
also kick against Tukur’s continued stay in
office.”
But the source, who is a supporter of the
national  chairman, however,  said that there was
nothing to warrant his sacking.
He also dismissed the rumours that Tukur was
planning to sue the NEC in order to stall any
move  to remove  him from office.
Tukur’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Oliver
Okpala, who spoke on the telephone with one of
our correspondents, said his boss would allow
NEC to do its job since he was also member of
the body.
Okpala also denied the rumours that Tukur
was  planning to drag the NEC  to court.
He said, “He (Tukur) is part of NEC and cannot
take it to court on any issue. Besides, there is no
such issue (his removal) before the NEC. So why
would he take the body to court? He would allow
NEC to do its job on any issue and would not be
part of those who want to destroy what he
contributed to its  building ”
Meanwhile, a fresh crisis is brewing among the
national officers of the  PDP.
The crisis became public knowledge as the
party’s top hierarchy disagreed on the
comment made by the PDP Deputy National
Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim Jalo, on the
Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi.
Elechi was quoted as describing the proposed
national conference as a “big joke, waste of
time, and a distraction to (President Goodluck)
Jonathan.”
The governor was quoted to have also said that
he would not be part of the conference.
While responding to the governor’s position, Jalo
had said the national dialogue was the product
of a PDP-led Federal Government, adding that it
was wrong for any member of the party to
criticise it.
He had said, “The national conference is a
product of the PDP-controlled Federal
Government.
“The President is the leader of the party and the
national conference is the initiative of the Federal
Government.”
He added that it would be out of place for any
state not to participate.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the
party, Chief Olisa Metuh, issued a statement
dismissing what  Jalo said.
Although he did not mention Jalo’s name in his
statement, Metuh said the party did not
authorise anyone to speak on the matter.
Metuh’s statement on Monday reads, “We wish
to clarify unequivocally that the National Working
Committee of the PDP never in any manner
whatsoever made or authorised any comment on
the said report.
“The PDP as a well organised democratic
institution has duly established channel of
external communication which is carried out with
the utmost sense of responsibility after due
clarifications on issues.
“It is, therefore, wrong and completely
unacceptable for anybody to present statements
made by individuals who are not members of the
NWC of the PDP on the said report as the official
position of the party; more so when such
statements were made without due clarifications
from the governor.”
Investigations by our correspondent showed that
the fear of further defection from the PDP by its
elected officials was one of the reasons the party
disowned Jalo.
The party recently lost five of its governors and
37   members of the House of Representatives
to the APC.
This, it was gathered, made Metuh to say that
“the entire NWC restates total commitment and
respect to all our elected officials, especially PDP
governors who remain strong pillars of the
party.”
Metuh also cautioned all aides of elected officers
at all levels of the party to desist from rushing to
make statements that cast aspersion on PDP’s
elected officials, especially  its  governors.
He cautioned that all aides must henceforth
guard their actions and utterances and ensure
that they did not in any way undermine the
unity and stability of the party.