APC leaders, rebel govs’ meeting rattles PDP
October 31, 2013
The
leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party was rattled by the meeting
of the leadership of the All Progressive Congress and some of the
aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party in Sokoto, Sokoto
State on Tuesday.
The APC leaders, who were in Sokoto for
the inauguration of the Sokoto State University , where the meeting was
held, were a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and a
former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Members of the New PDP who were in
attendance were the governor of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko;
Governors Rabiu Kwankwanso (Kano); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); and Sule
Lamido (Jigawa).
Three of the aggrieved governors, Aliyu
Babangida(Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara),
were absent at the event.
However, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Mallam Aminu Tambuwal, was at the event, where no
Federal Government official was present.
Investigations by our correspondent
showed that the meeting of the APC leaders with the rebel governors was a
topic for discussion among members of the National Working Committee of
the PDP on Wednesday.
A member of the committee, who spoke
with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said it was almost
certain that the rebel governors were out of the ruling party.
He said the NWC of the party was surprised that the rebel governors were no longer hiding their disdain for the party.
He said though the issue was not on the
agenda of the Wednesday’s meeting, the matter was discussed informally
among the NWC members.
The source said, “Though the gathering
was about opening of a university, why was the event dominated by those
who are against us?
“We have been hearing that these
governors are planning to defect to the APC. Maybe that was why they
invited the leaders of the party and used the opportunity to concretise
their discussions. We are watching.”
Reacting to the issue, the Deputy
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ibrahim Jalo, told our
correspondent that the party believed that the gathering had no
political undertone.
Jalo said the party believed what Wamakko said, which was that the event was for the inauguration of the state university.
He said, “The event was a mere
gathering. We also believe that it was, according to the governor, meant
to open the state university as stated by the governor.
“Apart from that, we believe that these
people are free to meet and discuss as guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Constitution guarantees freedom of association.”
However, the party said it had directed
party leaders in zones, states, local government areas and wards to
establish disciplinary committees in accordance with its constitution.
A statement by the National Publicity
Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the action was in tandem
with the “focused determination of the national leadership of the PDP
to ensure discipline and loyalty at all levels.”
