Barely three weeks after the defection of five governors elected on its platform, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is faced with the loss of another major player, former vice president Atiku Abubakar.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the nation’s former number two citizen had been under pressure to dump the PDP since the defection of the five governors - Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto).
As part of moves to firm up his possible defection, Atiku will today play host to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former head of state, General Mohammadu Buhari, former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors of the party, at his Abuja residence.
Atiku’s Media aide, Garba Shehu confirmed his principal’s meeting with the leadership of the opposition party, but declined to comment on whether or not the former vice president would declare for the APC today.
Although it could not be independently confirmed that the Turaki Adamawa (as Atiku is fondly called) would make a formal pronouncement after his parley with the APC leadership, a source confided in LEADERSHIP that Atiku’s move to join the party was encouraged by the successful merger of the APC and the Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led factional leadership of the PDP.
“His mind and soul are all here because Turaki, as we all know him, is a progressive to the core. That is why his ideals and those of the leadership of the PDP have always conflicted.
“So the nation, not only the APC, will benefit if he finally makes up his mind to join; and I am sure after our meeting today, the polity will witness another lap of a political race,” the source said.
Jonathan is running anti-people government - APC
Meanwhile, the APC yesterday described the President Goodluck Jonathan administration as “anti-people”. The party used the reign of impunity in Rivers State as a case in point, just as the governors who defected from the PDP officially attended the interim National Executive Committee for the first time.
The party made this assertion as part of its communiqué issued after the interim NEC meeting attended by some notable party leaders, including Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Ogbonayya Onu and Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
The communiqué signed by its interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande said, “Sadly, in the course of the meeting, the APC learnt that another deadly attack was perpetrated against the Rivers Government House, where the office of the deputy governor was partly destroyed. This and other acts of impunity clearly show the PDP, its agents and governments to be lawless. The APC warns that these acts demonstrate clearly that this government is anti-people, dictatorial and would go to any length to plunge the country into chaos.”
On the ordeal of the five PDP governors who defected to the party amid threats by the ruling party to unseat them, the party reminded the PDP leadership that it had welcomed governors from other parties without resorting to judicial intervention.
“The APC has noted with concern the threats of the PDP to procure a pliant judge to declare the seats of the G-5 governors vacant, in spite of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Atiku in 2007. It is of note that several times governors, including their legislators from other parties have decamped from the ANPP and PPA to the PDP, even when their former parties were not factionalised, without any consequence.
“The APC will not only resist this lawfully, but hereby warns the PDP to desist from words and deeds of impunity that threaten our stability and democracy. We also hope that the judiciary will not be party to the deliberate promotion of lawlessness and impunity in our country. APC will give its governors and lawmakers the necessary support in defence of their rights and freedoms of association,” the party said.
The party also recalled its earlier warning of the alleged “strategy of the Jonathan administration to depopulate areas where our party has strong following and suppress voter turnout in the northern and South-west states, through deliberate exacerbation of insecurity.
“We suspect that wittingly or unwittingly, the recent declaration of INEC that elections are not likely to take place in states under state of emergency is in furtherance of this agenda,” APC stated.
The party warned that “it will not accept the deliberate disenfranchisement of large swathes of our citizenry. APC will fight to defend the right of every eligible Nigerian voter to vote. We also want to alert the federal government that any attempt to extend the state of emergency without any justification will be resisted by every lawful and constitutional means.”
On the endless counter-insurgency war, the party urged the federal government to break the monopoly of violence in its approach and instead make use of the carrot and stick approach.
“The APC has always believed that it is a combination of carrot and stick that will resolve insurgencies that parts of our nation face. President Jonathan should therefore live up to his responsibilities by ensuring that every part of Nigeria is safe enough for elections, as our citizens expect nothing less,” said the party.
Senators, Reps in secret meeting
APC senators and House of Representatives members last night met at the Kano governor’s lodge in Abuja.
A source said that about 40 senators and a few select members of the lower chamber were at the meeting coordinated by Senator Chris Ngige who was the APC candidate in the last governorship election in Anambra State.
Security at the Kano governor’s lodge was beefed up just as unidentified persons were disallowed from getting close to the entrance of the building.
But LEADERSHIP gathered that apart from Ngige, Senators Bukola Saraki, Danjuma Goje, Adamu Abdullahi, Shaba Lafiaji, Mohammed Ndume, Kabiru Gaya, Magnus Abe, Gbega Ashafa, Femi Ojuju and Jide Omoworare were at the meeting, while Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and Samson Osagie were also at the meeting from the House of Representatives.
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