Tension over choice of Jonathan’s political adviser

A row has broken out among stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State over the recommendation of Felix Tangwame as the new Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan. Tangwamen is being touted by some forces, including one of the aides to the president, as successor to Mr Ahmed Gulak, whose appointment was recently terminated. Although, the president has made up his mind to pick another political adviser from Adamawa, some PDP stakeholders were opposed to Tangwamen, on the basis that it would be a violation of Federal Character Principle. The aggrieved stakeholders were claiming that since a Muslim (Gulak) was removed, the president should shop for a Muslim successor. They alleged that since Boni Haruna, a Christian, was earlier appointed a minister, the president should not short-change Muslim community in Adamawa State. It was learnt that the nomination of Tangwamen had split PDP leaders in the state. Some leaders were threatening protest vote in 2015 if the President went ahead with Tangwamen’s choice. “The recommendation of Tangwamen does not take
into cognisance the religious configuration of the state. Our position is that if a Muslim is removed from a post, he or she should be replaced by a Muslim. “Adamawa is religiously volatile, religious matter determines political leverage of any political party or candidate. The president should avoid being dragged into this religious politics in this state,” a source said. Another source said, “we suspect an aide in the presidency as the brain behind the push for Tangwamen to create problem for the president in Adamawa. “It is apparent that some forces are out to ensure the defeat of PDP in 2015, by deliberately breeding hatred over appointment like this. “We should not allow the exit of Gulak to degenerate into crisis in PDP in Adamawa State.” A member of the PDP Working Committee in the state said “Mr President should be careful with this appointment. Our party is already trying to recover from the removal of Gulak, we should not sow the seed of discord again.”