2015 Jonathan's fixers take over PDP structures as G-5 govs cross over to APC

2015 Jonathan's fixers take over PDP structures as G-5 govs cross over to APC

  FROM KEHINDE AKINPELU ILORIN

The national leadership of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) must be basking in the euphoria of  the success of its aggressive recruitment campaign which saw the defection of five out of the seven aggrieved  governors of the ruling PDP into their fold.  But as the APC celebrate this political feat, the PDP is battling with the question of who fills in the leadership vacuum created by its defecting governors. The answer to this question may not be far-fetched as President Jonathan’s loyalists are already positioning themselves to take over the PDP leadership and structures in the affected states. Our correspondents provide the situation report in Kano, Adamawa, Kwara, Rivers and Sokoto states.

In Kwara, the defection of new PDP led by former Governor Bukola Saraki as well as Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed into APC has generated mixed feelings in the state. The development has added another chapter to the complex politics of Kwara state which was ruled for over four decades by Dr. Olusola Saraki, the late strongman of the state that had the unprecedented record of installing four civilian governors that the state ever produced until 2011.

Many politicians who became relevant in the politics of Kwara state had in one way or the other regaled in the dynasty and used the platform to advance their political career. With the death of Saraki on November 14, 2012, many analysts and ardent watchers of political events in the state had predicted that the politics would never be the same again.

Given the peculiarity of the state politics, not many people believed the impending move to join the APC would come to fruition until the announcement was made, thereby disproving the permutations of analysts who considered APC in the state a no-go area for the Sarakites.

Members of the pro-Jonathan group include the Chairman of Federal Character Commission (FCC), Professor Oba Abdulraheem, Senator Simeon Ajibola representing Kwara South, former Minister of Transport and Sport, Alhaji Bio Ibrahim, pioneer PDP chairman in the state, Barrister Kunle Sulyman, former Senator Salman Ajadi (1999-2003), Senator Haliru Kaiama, former Presidential candidate of National Transformation Party (NTP), Chief John Dara, Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril, former House of Representatives member, Hon. Zulukarnaini Edun, former House of Representatives member, Alhaji Ayinla Folorunsho, a member of the House of Assembly, among others.

Most of these politicians were once loyalists and supporters of late Saraki and have also worked with Bukola before they parted ways. For instance the rift between Saraki and Abdulraheem who hail from the same Ajikobi ward in Ilorin West was said to have widened the gulf in the political dynasty.  Abdulraheem who has completed his five year tenure as FCC chairman was re-nominated by President Jonathan against the wish of Saraki who preferred the position to be zoned to Kwara North. The controversy still lingers as Abdulraheem awaits his confirmation in the Senate. 

Analysts say the defection of Governor Ahmed and Saraki to APC poses serious threat to Jonathan’s much speculated 2015 ambition given the huge followership behind Saraki

The October 26 local government election won by the PDP candidates is another testament of the influence of Saraki. With the machineries of government at Saraki’s disposal vis-a-viz the local government chairmen who won the primaries through Saraki’s endorsement, it would be a herculean task for the mainstream PDP to defeat the APC.  

Former Chairman of new PDP, Hon. Isola Balogun-Fulani who addressed a rally at the PDP secretariat in Ilorin declared that with their defection to APC, PDP is dead in Kwara state. 

“According to tradition, we don’t have any party as a must. It is where our leaders go that we are going, we are Sarakites and we have our structures. Anywhere he moves to, we move there en-masse. All the executives of the wards, local governments and the state would move en-masse to the party that our leader said they have merged with.

“We have spoken the mind of everybody in Kwara state especially those in PDP. Like I told you we are Sarakites and if our leader says he is no more in PDP, that is the end of PDP in Kwara State and it is dead. I will tell you that we believe what our leaders have done and we are APC as at now. PDP is dead in Kwara state”, he said. 

 However, an elder of PDP in the state, Alhaji Oba Ajara organized a rally to, according to him, “correct the misinformation that PDP is dead.”  Ajara who told Sunday Trust that the party remains very strong as always said: “We are asking other people like Gbemi too to come and remain in the party. We told the world that we remain in PDP because we are founding members of PDP and majority of Kwarans do not follow them to APC as they want the world to believe. So we are strongly in support of PDP and the national leadership.”

In Sokoto , pundits see  the state deputy governor ,Mukhtari Shagari ,Senator Abubakar Umar Gada ,Yusuf Suleiman as among key politicians who will hold the structures of PDP after the exit of governor Wamakko. Many think Shagari may not likely move to APC with governor Wamakko even as observers believe he will remain in the PDP and work to be the party’s governorship flag bearer.

Barrister Muktari Shagari is one of those presumed to be nursing the ambition to contest in the state governorship polls come 2015. Over the years, he had been nursing the same ambition to govern the state having contested in the 2003 PDP governorship primaries but was unsuccessful.

He was also the PDP governorship flag bearer for the 2007 polls in the state until Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who was the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Sokoto governorship candidate, decamped to the PDP before that election. Shagari had to surrender his ticket to Wamakko and run as his deputy. Some claim that there was an agreement at that time to the effect that Shagari would have the PDP ticket after Wamakko but there had been nothing suggesting such even though Shagari is believed to have been very loyal to his boss. There are no indications that he was a favoured candidate of the Governor.

With Wamakko out of the PDP, some are of the opinion that the party will give Shagari the chance to be the governorship candidate. Senator Gada, political adviser to the PDP National Chairman, is seen to be emboldened by the reported support he is supposedly enjoying from  President Jonathan who is  said to be  his longtime friend. Though PDP in Sokoto under governor Wamakko was noted to have control of all elective positions in the state including the Senatorial seats, House of representative, State Assembly, local government chairmanship, it was strongly thought that President Jonathan would use federal might to tilt the playing ground In favour of Gada particularly as he has a lot of scores to settle with Wamakko.

Gada first entered into politics in 2003, contesting as a running mate to Senator Abdallah Wali but they were defeated by the then governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa.  Under the ANPP/PDP arrangement with the coming of Wamakko, Sokoto-East Senatorial seat was allocated to old members of PDP and Gada subsequently clinched the seat in 2007.

However, he is one of those described as Abuja politicians and all along he has been living outside the state and this many negatively impact on his grassroots support. It would be recalled that his bid to return to the senate fell flat as he was defeated by his opponent. Some observers say it does not necessarily suggest that because he failed in the bid to return to the senate, he could not draw support from those that are discontented within the party for whatever reason and possibly some hard-core “old PDP” who still have axe to grind with Wamakko.

Former minister of Sport, Alhaji Yusuf Sulaiman, parted ways with Wamakko in the wake of 2011 gubernatorial re-run election in the state when he entered the race for the party ticket. Sulaiman who also aligned himself with the Abuja based Political opponents of Wamakko is assumed by some to be a favorite of President Jonathan who may also be working to reposition the PDP in the state in favour of Jonathan’s 2015 ambition. But many say he needs to build a broad grassroots support base which they say is lacking for now.

Separate religion from politics -Gov . Ahmed charges

FROM KEHINDE AKINPELU ILORIN

Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has charged  religious leaders in the country to separate religion activities and preaching from particianship in order to sustain peace and unity of the country.  

The Governor who also called on religious bodies to intensify their philanthropic efforts to lift the poor out of despondency, poverty and disposition to crime in order to check spates of economic related crises in the country, made the call over the weekend at the National Conference of Nasrul-lahil-fath Society of Nigeria in Ilorin.

Such philanthropic gestures, according to the Governor, are boundless kindness that could enhance the well being of humanity.

“Kindness is all encompassing. No matter our station in life, we are all capable of and should show kindness to all that we encounter”, he said.

Dr Ahmed described  religion as a personal thing that should be practised as such with respect for the rights of others to practice their faith and hold contrary opinions.

Governor Ahmed added that his administration was pursuing programmes and policies that could enhance infrastructural and human capital development in the State.

“In the coming year we intend to implement several interventions to get a greater number of youths into work, boost infrastructure and stimulate greater commercial activities. Our planned infrastructure development programme will expand the supply of paved roads, piped water, electricity, schools and hospitals to all parts of the State”, the governor promised.

In his goodwill message, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Abubakar Saad said it was important that all Nigerians of different persuasions tolerate one another, adding that Islam was against deliberate killing of innocent souls.

IEDPU ELECTION INCONCLUSIVE

FROM KEHINDE AKINPELU ILORIN


The election of the National Executive Council of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), the central body of all social-cultural associations in Ilorin Emirate, has been declared inconclusive.

The election billed as part of the 48th annual delegates conference of IEDPU elicited concerns from delegates across the country who attended the conference.

A number of delegates who spoke with our reporter expressed dismay that some machinations employed left much to be desired about the conduct of the election.

Mallam Usman Oladimeji, a delegate from Sokoto State, said due process for the conduct of any democratic election was not followed, thus the election was inconclusive.

In a chat with our reporter, Mallam Oladiemji said opportunity was not given to the members in attendance for another nomination to be made before some delegates went into the said inconclusive election.

He expressed concern that any election in that circumstance where people are denied opportunity of nominating candidates of their choice was a denial of justice, fair play and equity and a manifestation of undemocratic tendencies.

Meanwhile, the following people have been declared elected during the purported election: Alhaji AbdulHameed Adi, as National President, Dr S.A. Adebayo, Deputy National President, four national Vice Presidents and 14 other executive officers.

IGBOMINA SOCIO-CULTURAL GROUP RALLIES SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT JONATHAN

From KEHINDE AKINPELU , Ilorin.

A socio-cultural   group, the Igbomina Development Forum, on Saturday  rallied support for President Goodluck Jonathan in his bid to ensure rapid development of the country.
The group, at a forum organised at Agbamu, Irepodudun Local Government Area of Kwara, also called for participatory politics and internal democracy in parties to strengthen the nation’s democratic institutions.
 The forum, which was organised by Mrs Shola  Adedoyin-Adeoti, a business magnate and community leader, appraised the current  socio-political developments in Kwara  and urged the Igbomina `` to work for their political emancipation.’’
Speaking at the occasion, Adedoyin-Adeoti urged the Igbomina ethnic stock to  work for the development of the area, saying driving investment through private sector investment would change the economic fortunes of the people of the area.
She also commended the Igbomina for their industry and unity of purpose, arguing that only a concerted effort of the country’s ethnic nationalities would promote sustainable development.
`` We are all Nigerians irrespective of our political affiliations. We should  seek the development of the country by ensuring unity of purpose,’’  she said.
A PDP stalwart, Mr Kunle Sulyman, urged the Igbomina to sustain their passion for community development through self help.
 `` I have always known the Igbomina for their hard work, industry and diligence. They are also a very principled people who are not easily swayed by pecuniary benefits,’’ he said.

A  don, Prof. Samuel Ibiyemi, urged development  associations   within the ethnic group to evolve programmes which would promote sustainable development.
He called on wealthy indigenes of the area to invest in their individual communities, saying this was the only way to tackle unemployment and ensure sustainable development.
Earlier, a PDP stalwart, Mr Lanre Ogundeji, had sued for unity among the Igbomina while working for the common interest of the ethnic group.

HOW I AVERTED FULANI- YORUBA ETHNIC WAR IN KWARA --- ILORIN EMIR

From KEHINDE AKINPELU, Ilorin

The Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari has revealed how he averted a Yoruba versus Fulani ethnic war that could have thrown the country into a major crisis about two months ago.
  The Emir who made the revelation on Thursday at the  Annual National Delegate Conference of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) at Fufu, headquarters of Ilorin South Local Government Area said the war could have started off from his domain before it was averted.
 He disclosed that the clash between the Yoruba people and the Fulani herdsmen at Alapa area in Asa local government in the Ilorin Emirate was to trigger off the war before his intervention.
 The clash which was said to have begun with a fight between a Fulani cattle rearer and a Yoruba man in the Alapa area eventually degenerated into a more dangerous violence in which many people lost their lives in the area.
 The Emir said that some people alleged that after the death of a Yoruba man in the Fulani/Yoruba man clash, members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), a Yorruba militant group were mobilised to attack the Fulani people in the area the following day.
He said that it was further alleged that after the OPC members killed many of the Fulani herdsmen, their wives and children they carried away their cattle and disposed them off in Ibadan.
  The Monarch disclosed that this allegation made a group of militants from the far north of the country to mobilise themselves and prepared to come to Ilorin to avenge the killings of their Fulani kinsmen.
 He said that when he heard of this plan he quickly intervened by explaining to the people that the progenitor of the head of Ilorin Emirate is from the Sokoto sultanate and that both the Fulani and Yoruba people in the Emirate are a one people cohabitating without discrimination.
 Sulu-Gambari disclosed that what he said discouraged the people to go ahead with their vengeance mission and thanked God that his  intervention worked saying the reprisal attack would have aggravated security problem of the country.
 He said that the remaining Fulani herdsmen who have been displaced after their huts were burnt were put in a camp where he volunteered N1m for their feeding alongside the assistance the Kwara state government rendered.
 The monarch who described Kwara state as the gateway between the north and South west parts of the country said if Ilorin, the state capital or the state as a whole is engulfed in violence the whole country is in crisis.
 He called on the people of his Ilorin community not to encourage violence by discriminating against one another on the ethnic basis saying they all came from somewhere else to live in the community and that they had long become brothers and sisters.
The Emir commended the leadership of the IEDPU lead under the presidency of Saka Yusuf for the achievement recorded under its tenure.
 Also speaking at the occasion, chairman of Ilorin South Local Government Council, Usman Magaji praised the IEDPU on its achievements but urged the union to work towards summounting the challenge of unemployment among the people of the emirate.
   In his remarks, Yusuf, the national president of the IEDPU thanked the emir, governments of the five local council in the emirate and people of the emirate in general for their support to the union in its effort to promote development of the emirate.

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