In a move claimed to be aimed at reorganizing the party, the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has sacked all his 14 political aides, including his son, Mallam Auwal Tukur; the Chairman, Caretaker Committee for the South-West zone of the party and Special Adviser, Mobilization, Chief Ishola Filani; and his erstwhile Special Adviser on Security and former Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro.
The other sacked aides are the Principal Secretary, Senator Ibrahim Ida; Political Adviser, Alhaji Ahmed Gusau; Special Adviser on Electoral Matters, Senator Saidu Kumo; Special Adviser on Media, Mallam Muhammed Sheriff Ujudud; and the Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Alhaji Shitu Muhammed.
Others are the Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Chief O. Akindele; Special Adviser on Governance, Mr Osaro Onoaiwo; Special Adviser, General Duties, Prince Igwe Uche; Special Adviser, National Assembly, Mr. Abdulahi Gumel and the Protocol Officer, Mallam Saidu Sulaimon.
In a letter personally signed by the National Chairman and dated 25th April, 2013, Tukur told the affected aides that they had to go due to the ongoing reconciliation within the party.
The letter read, “May I use this medium to thank all the aides for their devotion, patience, cooperation and endurance in the course of serving the PDP. It should be noted that leadership in whatever magnitude goes with the desire to conform with the changing circumstances, including rationalisation, stabilisation and consolidation.
“Our resolve for reconciliation and delivery of the new national vision of acceptable internal democracy should certainly attract some adjustments and cooperation, of which this action is paramount and timely considered.”
Meanwhile, Tukur has urged the youth in PDP to win not less than 20 million votes for the party come 2015, stating that the youth have the capacity to help the party reach the next level, now and in the future.
He gave the charge to the youth when a group known as Network for Defence of Democracy and Good Governance (NDDGG) paid him a courtesy call at his residence.
In another development, the PDP has criticised the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over his directive to the State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) to cancel the council elections in Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state, which the PDP claimed it was poised to win.
In its reaction to the cancellation of the election, the PDP described Oshiomhole’s alleged directive to cancel the election as “evidence of rabid desperation by the opposition to truncate the wishes of the people.”
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said in Abuja on Friday that “an abrasive display of a very crude form of tyranny, a sustained subversion of democracy, a grotesque pantomime is playing out in Edo State with Adams Oshiomhole, his electoral undertakers, the EDSIEC and his party, the ACN as chief promoters.”