The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party desiring to relieve National Chairman of the Party, Bamanga Tukur of his leadership role seem to be making some progress according to indicators coming from Aso Rock.
President Goodluck Jonathan at a meeting with members of the PDP National Working Committee in the Villa Friday evening, is said to have openly criticized Tukur’s leadership style which has caused a big divide in the party.
Jonathan is said to have chastised Tukur for not working in tandem with key members of the Party at National and State levels thus leading to disenfranchisement and massive decamping of PDP members to other parties.
Jonathan asked members of the Working Committee how to handle those calling for the sack of Tukur ahead of the National Executive Committee meeting of the Party which takes place in Abuja this coming Thursday.
Jonathan threw open the floor to members to air their views on the situation.
National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Olisa Metuh; the National Woman Leader, Chief Kema Chikwe, and the National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Akpan Anani all supported Jonathan’s assertions concerning the damage of Tukur’s leadership style.
One of the member’s speaking anonymously to Punch said, “We told the President that we were not carried along in the dissolution of the executives of the party in the two states and that some of us agreed to be part of the inauguration of the caretaker committee in order not to give the public the impression that we are not working together.’’
Tukur reportedly flared up and accused the members of being involved in a sponsored plot to remove him from office. He also accused them of not working with him as a team.
In response, the members asked if Tukur could singlehandedly return the President to office in 2015.
One of the members also accused Governor Akpabio of being behind the plot to remove Tukur from office.
He said, “Unknown to many, while Akpabio pretends to be working for the President, he has his eyes on the ticket either as the Presidential or Vice-Presidential candidate in case the heat becomes too much for President Jonathan and he chooses not to run. So, the strategy is to first stoke the fire on the President’s key supporters and at the same time pretend to be fighting for him.
“Towards this end, he has mobilised these people to destabilise the NWC with a view to seeing to Tukur’s exit. Of late, he has been going round, especially to the North, with a view to mobilising support for his concealed agenda.”
Some other chieftains called on the President to exercise caution as removing Tukur at this timecould lead to political gains for their opponents such as the All Progressives Congress.
“We do not feel that we should sacrifice any officer of the party, particularly the National Chairman because of the selfish interest of some individuals. Or is it a crime for the chairman to be loyal to the President? Will it be in the best interest of the generality of members of the party to force out our chairman at this point in time? Shall we not be promoting the interest of the All Progressives Congress if we force our chairman to resign at this critical period, especially when there will be elections in Ekiti and Osun states?”
Jonathan after listening to varying views, adjourned the meeting which may continue today.