….Inside details of how things fell apart! • Can these men save the party?
The presidential ambitions of powerful members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have finally spelt the doom of the once largest party in Africa.
Investigations by The New Diplomat shows that the division in the party stems really from contending forces scheming for the 2019 presidency under the flag of the party.
At present, the party has been torn into at least three factions, one led by former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, one by former information minister, Jerry Gana while the third has the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose as leading members. Another heavyweight, Buruji Kashamu, from Ogun State in the South West has reportedly fallen out with Fayose and it is difficult to know for sure in whose camp he is now. But like Fayose, he was rooting for Sheriff’s candidacy. The Jerry Gana faction which names itself the Concerned PDP Stakeholders comprises mainly former governors, former ministers and former presidential aides.
The 12 former governors are Donald Duke of Cross River, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo, Mohammed Makarfi of Kaduna, Bonnie Haruna of Adamawa, Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Mahmood Shinkafi of Zamfara, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Abdulkaldir Kure of Niger, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun, Okwesilieze of Anambra and Babangida Aliyu of Niger.
The 14 former ministers are Bala Mohammed (FCT), Ojo Maduekwe (Transportation), Zainab Maina (Women Affairs), Adamu Maina Waziri (Police Affairs), Prof ABC Nwosu, (Health), Duben Onyia (Foreign Affairs), John Odeh (Environment), Josephine Anenih (Women Affairs),Tanimu Turaki (Special Duties), Ishola Sarafa (Solid Minerals), Abubakar Suleiman (National Planning), Jerry Gana (Information), Prof Tunde Adeniran (Education) and Inna Ciroma (Women Affairs).
With the PDP umbrella in tatters it is difficult to see how it can stand any chance in the expectedly torrential 2019 presidential elections. However, neither Sule Lamido who has declared his own ambition nor Ali Modu Sheriff appear ready to bury their ambitions in the overall interest of the party. At the height of its power drunkenness, the PDP Behemoth had beat its chest boasting to all within earshot that it would rule Nigeria for the next 50 years. There was nobody brave enough then to talk back at the dragon.
But like in the case of the Babylonian emperor, Nebuchadnezzar, the Watchers from above had other plans for the PDP. They were fashioning a secret weapon against the largest party in Africa.
The weapon started like a joke. First, its name, All Progressives Congress ended up with a fancy acronym: APC —Armoured Personnel Carrier, hinting at mortal combat. Two: It comprised very strange bedfellows—including men who had been locked in bitter conflict previously.
But in an unprecedented trouncing of an incumbent government in Nigerian political history, the APC wrestled the PDP to the ground to clinch power at the centre and in many states. Today, the PDP is in the opposition—a far cry from its ambitious 50-year rule.
But the problem of the PDP did not end there. Now it is facing the battle for its very life: internal forces of disintegration. On the surface, it was all about the power tussle over where and who its next national chairman should be.
Now of the three factions, the most numerous is the Jerry Gana’s though it may not be the most powerful. The most powerful, at least apparently, are the Ali Modu sheriff faction which enjoys the backing of the National Working Committee of the party.
Three major objections to Sheriff’s chairmanship are his alleged link with the dreaded Boko Haram sect which some even claim was founded by him. A recent news item on the American Cable Network news (CNN) on the chairmanship tussle carried a strip calling Sheriff “Boko Haram founder” The second objection is that Sheriff is a relative new comer who is not qualified to be national chairman. This particular objection is spearheaded by former transport minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope. In a recent interview with a national daily, Babatope declared:
“I don’t have anything against him. But the truth is that he is not a member of our party. The man just joined the party. There are rules and regulations in the party that explain whether a man can contest for any position or not. Apart from that, he just joined the party. He was brought by some people and then became the national chairman. Even though they said he was taking the position of the former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the point is that if anyone would take the position of Muazu in office, it is not Sheriff that should be there. So even if the position is zoned to the North-East, it should not be Sheriff that should occupy the position. No! No! No! He is not qualified at all by any standard to be the chairman of the PDP.”
“Despite the BoT endorsement,” Babatope told The New Diplomat, “I am not a supporter of Ali Modu sheriff.”
The third objection to Sheriff’s ambition is that the chairmanship should not be zoned to the North East in the first place. The argument here, spearheaded by members from the South West is that since the presidency had been zoned to the North come 2019, it is unfair for the region to also grab the chairmanship position. Former Chairman, board of trustees of the party, Chief Olabode George, former spokesman to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Doyin Okupe and Mimiko were in this camp.
However, despite the stiff opposition back in February to Sheriff’s candidature, his opponents soft-pedalled following the promise then that sheriff would cease to be acting chairman after the congress scheduled for last Saturday May 21. Many therefore see Sheriff’s contest for the same chairmanship as a breach of trust. But Sheriff and his backers didn’t care. In his response to those opposed to his candidature, sheriff lashed out at some elders of the party, especially Jerry Gana, branding them “self-styled elders” who won’t add value to the party.
Sheriff, who spoke through his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, said, “Certain faceless groups have come up with different gimmicks trying to divert attention from the effects of what they did in the past leading to the squandering of the fortunes of the party, or to distract the attention of the chairman from pursuing very lofty and laudable programmes for the repositioning of the PDP or even just to cause mischief.
“Unfortunately, among such groups are self-styled elders and stakeholders led by Prof. Gana.
“I have seen him sweating on television, playing with language but at the end of the day saying nothing.
“I want to specifically say we kept sealed lips about some of the activities of this man believing that we could still find a rendezvous at which we could work together for the progress of the PDP.
“I must say, and there are witnesses, that this is one character that attempts to play role in every government since the time of the military.”
Sheriff however disowned the statement at a press briefing, saying it was not in his character to say such and suing for peace:
“As a well cultured and astute politician, I would never make any comment that would ridicule the party,” he said, adding that it was not in his character to join issues with highly respected elders of the party. According to him, he never authorised any of his aides to react to issues raised by the aggrieved elders. Sheriff said the elders deserved the right to complain about issues they considered inimical to the progress of the PDP. He explained that the present leadership of the party was poised to listen to all shades of opinions, with a view to strengthening it to face the challenges ahead.
“Under our leadership and the support and encouragement of stakeholders and supporters, PDP will definitely bounce back in 2019.”
However, the battles raged on despite the apology.
On Monday, May 16, it was reported that some stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees (BoT) and others who were calling for sheriff’s ouster unanimously endorsed him as sole candidate for the chairmanship position, with the various dissenting groups in agreement at a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja. Speaking with newsmen, Sheriff said: “Yes, I am contesting for the position of chairman at the convention. I have been unanimously endorsed by the Northeast zone and Borno State as sole candidate… The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, moved the motion for my adoption and his Gombe State counterpart, (Ibrahim Dankwabo) seconded the motion.”
Matters took a turn for the worse when the Jerry Gana faction subsequently announced it was holding a parallel congress on the same Saturday, May 21.
The congresses have come and gone. It remains to be seen whether the PDP will survive long enough to participate in the 2019 elections and if it does how it would fare.
Investigations by The New Diplomat shows that the division in the party stems really from contending forces scheming for the 2019 presidency under the flag of the party.
At present, the party has been torn into at least three factions, one led by former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff, one by former information minister, Jerry Gana while the third has the Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko and his Ekiti State counterpart, Ayodele Fayose as leading members. Another heavyweight, Buruji Kashamu, from Ogun State in the South West has reportedly fallen out with Fayose and it is difficult to know for sure in whose camp he is now. But like Fayose, he was rooting for Sheriff’s candidacy. The Jerry Gana faction which names itself the Concerned PDP Stakeholders comprises mainly former governors, former ministers and former presidential aides.
The 12 former governors are Donald Duke of Cross River, Lucky Igbinedion of Edo, Mohammed Makarfi of Kaduna, Bonnie Haruna of Adamawa, Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Mahmood Shinkafi of Zamfara, Achike Udenwa of Imo, Abdulkaldir Kure of Niger, Gbenga Daniel of Ogun, Okwesilieze of Anambra and Babangida Aliyu of Niger.
The 14 former ministers are Bala Mohammed (FCT), Ojo Maduekwe (Transportation), Zainab Maina (Women Affairs), Adamu Maina Waziri (Police Affairs), Prof ABC Nwosu, (Health), Duben Onyia (Foreign Affairs), John Odeh (Environment), Josephine Anenih (Women Affairs),Tanimu Turaki (Special Duties), Ishola Sarafa (Solid Minerals), Abubakar Suleiman (National Planning), Jerry Gana (Information), Prof Tunde Adeniran (Education) and Inna Ciroma (Women Affairs).
With the PDP umbrella in tatters it is difficult to see how it can stand any chance in the expectedly torrential 2019 presidential elections. However, neither Sule Lamido who has declared his own ambition nor Ali Modu Sheriff appear ready to bury their ambitions in the overall interest of the party. At the height of its power drunkenness, the PDP Behemoth had beat its chest boasting to all within earshot that it would rule Nigeria for the next 50 years. There was nobody brave enough then to talk back at the dragon.
But like in the case of the Babylonian emperor, Nebuchadnezzar, the Watchers from above had other plans for the PDP. They were fashioning a secret weapon against the largest party in Africa.
The weapon started like a joke. First, its name, All Progressives Congress ended up with a fancy acronym: APC —Armoured Personnel Carrier, hinting at mortal combat. Two: It comprised very strange bedfellows—including men who had been locked in bitter conflict previously.
But in an unprecedented trouncing of an incumbent government in Nigerian political history, the APC wrestled the PDP to the ground to clinch power at the centre and in many states. Today, the PDP is in the opposition—a far cry from its ambitious 50-year rule.
But the problem of the PDP did not end there. Now it is facing the battle for its very life: internal forces of disintegration. On the surface, it was all about the power tussle over where and who its next national chairman should be.
Now of the three factions, the most numerous is the Jerry Gana’s though it may not be the most powerful. The most powerful, at least apparently, are the Ali Modu sheriff faction which enjoys the backing of the National Working Committee of the party.
Three major objections to Sheriff’s chairmanship are his alleged link with the dreaded Boko Haram sect which some even claim was founded by him. A recent news item on the American Cable Network news (CNN) on the chairmanship tussle carried a strip calling Sheriff “Boko Haram founder” The second objection is that Sheriff is a relative new comer who is not qualified to be national chairman. This particular objection is spearheaded by former transport minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope. In a recent interview with a national daily, Babatope declared:
“I don’t have anything against him. But the truth is that he is not a member of our party. The man just joined the party. There are rules and regulations in the party that explain whether a man can contest for any position or not. Apart from that, he just joined the party. He was brought by some people and then became the national chairman. Even though they said he was taking the position of the former PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, the point is that if anyone would take the position of Muazu in office, it is not Sheriff that should be there. So even if the position is zoned to the North-East, it should not be Sheriff that should occupy the position. No! No! No! He is not qualified at all by any standard to be the chairman of the PDP.”
“Despite the BoT endorsement,” Babatope told The New Diplomat, “I am not a supporter of Ali Modu sheriff.”
The third objection to Sheriff’s ambition is that the chairmanship should not be zoned to the North East in the first place. The argument here, spearheaded by members from the South West is that since the presidency had been zoned to the North come 2019, it is unfair for the region to also grab the chairmanship position. Former Chairman, board of trustees of the party, Chief Olabode George, former spokesman to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Doyin Okupe and Mimiko were in this camp.
However, despite the stiff opposition back in February to Sheriff’s candidature, his opponents soft-pedalled following the promise then that sheriff would cease to be acting chairman after the congress scheduled for last Saturday May 21. Many therefore see Sheriff’s contest for the same chairmanship as a breach of trust. But Sheriff and his backers didn’t care. In his response to those opposed to his candidature, sheriff lashed out at some elders of the party, especially Jerry Gana, branding them “self-styled elders” who won’t add value to the party.
Sheriff, who spoke through his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, said, “Certain faceless groups have come up with different gimmicks trying to divert attention from the effects of what they did in the past leading to the squandering of the fortunes of the party, or to distract the attention of the chairman from pursuing very lofty and laudable programmes for the repositioning of the PDP or even just to cause mischief.
“Unfortunately, among such groups are self-styled elders and stakeholders led by Prof. Gana.
“I have seen him sweating on television, playing with language but at the end of the day saying nothing.
“I want to specifically say we kept sealed lips about some of the activities of this man believing that we could still find a rendezvous at which we could work together for the progress of the PDP.
“I must say, and there are witnesses, that this is one character that attempts to play role in every government since the time of the military.”
Sheriff however disowned the statement at a press briefing, saying it was not in his character to say such and suing for peace:
“As a well cultured and astute politician, I would never make any comment that would ridicule the party,” he said, adding that it was not in his character to join issues with highly respected elders of the party. According to him, he never authorised any of his aides to react to issues raised by the aggrieved elders. Sheriff said the elders deserved the right to complain about issues they considered inimical to the progress of the PDP. He explained that the present leadership of the party was poised to listen to all shades of opinions, with a view to strengthening it to face the challenges ahead.
“Under our leadership and the support and encouragement of stakeholders and supporters, PDP will definitely bounce back in 2019.”
However, the battles raged on despite the apology.
On Monday, May 16, it was reported that some stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees (BoT) and others who were calling for sheriff’s ouster unanimously endorsed him as sole candidate for the chairmanship position, with the various dissenting groups in agreement at a meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja. Speaking with newsmen, Sheriff said: “Yes, I am contesting for the position of chairman at the convention. I have been unanimously endorsed by the Northeast zone and Borno State as sole candidate… The Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, moved the motion for my adoption and his Gombe State counterpart, (Ibrahim Dankwabo) seconded the motion.”
Matters took a turn for the worse when the Jerry Gana faction subsequently announced it was holding a parallel congress on the same Saturday, May 21.
The congresses have come and gone. It remains to be seen whether the PDP will survive long enough to participate in the 2019 elections and if it does how it would fare.
Can these men save the pdp?
Donald Duke, Ex-Gov, Cross River State
Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Ex-Gov, Edo State
Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Ex-gov, Sokoto State
Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Ex-gov, Kaduna State
Boni Haruna, Ex-gov, Adamawa State
Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Ex-gov, Niger State
Gbenga Daniel, Ex-gov, Ogun State
Ojo Maduekwe, Former Minister of Transportation
ABC Nwosu, Former Minister of Health
Jerry Gana, Former Minister for Information
Ebenezer Babatope, Former minister for Transport, and member, PDP Board of Trustees,
Doyin Okupe, Former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs
Olusegun Mimiiko, Governor of Ondo State
Peter Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State
Buruji Kashamu, Senator, Ogun East Senatorial District
Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, Ex-Gov, Edo State
Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, Ex-gov, Sokoto State
Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Ex-gov, Kaduna State
Boni Haruna, Ex-gov, Adamawa State
Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Ex-gov, Niger State
Gbenga Daniel, Ex-gov, Ogun State
Ojo Maduekwe, Former Minister of Transportation
ABC Nwosu, Former Minister of Health
Jerry Gana, Former Minister for Information
Ebenezer Babatope, Former minister for Transport, and member, PDP Board of Trustees,
Doyin Okupe, Former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs
Olusegun Mimiiko, Governor of Ondo State
Peter Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State
Buruji Kashamu, Senator, Ogun East Senatorial District
