The National Treasurer of the Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Tanko Isiaku Gomna has been forced to resign from his position in the group or have an option to lose his contracts with the Federal Government , a reliable source has revealed.
It was gathered that Gomna was called to the Presidential Villa in Abuja and was asked to choose between quitting his position as the national treasurer of the splinter group or forfeiting his company’s contracts with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Ministry of Works.
The source within the New PDP revealed thus: “Our National Treasurer was summoned to the Villa in respect of an ongoing road project along Ogbomoso axis in Oyo State and others with the Federal Ministry of Works.
“On getting there, he was given the option of either resigning as the National Treasurer of Baraje’s faction or losing his plum contracts.”
“Feeling unsafe, Gomna resigned to avoid being harmed. Upon doing so, the forces at the Villa hurled him before TV cameras to announce his resignation.
“But upon coming out, he raised the alarm and called on Baraje’s faction to save his life.”
But in a statement by Gomna, he confirmed that his decision “arrived at after a careful study of the unfolding events in the polity and a deep sober reflection of the consequences of the outcome of such impasse on our party.
He said as a lover of democracy, he is of the belief that the impasse will not augur well for the unity, peace, progress and prosperity of the party in particular, and the nation in general.
“Our desire is for the PDP to continue to lead while others follow. As such, we must eschew all vices capable of unnecessarily heating up the polity,” he said, adding:
“I pledge my loyalty to the Bamanga Tukur leadership, while calling on all party faithful to do same.”
He pledged his loyalty to the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP and called on all party faithful to unite and ensure the amicable resolution of the impasse in the party.
It could be recalled that this is similar manner in which the former National Chairman of PDP, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, was forced to resign his position in 2005.
Gomna is a nominee of a former Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, was said to have pleaded for permission to consult before making his decision but he was declined and requested to make an on-the-spot decision.
Gomna was appointed national treasurer alongside other members of the rebellious Baraje faction, on September 8, to constitute its National Working Committee (NWC).
The other NWC members are as follows: Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; Deputy National Chairman Dr. Sam Sam Jaja;National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola ; Deputy National Secretary; Hon. Maode Umar Hiliya ; National Youth Leader, Mr. Timi Frank; National Woman Leader ,Hon Binta Koje,; National Organising Secretary, Mallam Nasir Issa; National Publicity Secretary, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze and National Financial Secretary,Hon. Wadada.