*Stop Congress and all actions on Adamawa, Jonathan tells Tukur
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—THE political quagmire between the embattled governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken another dimension with a looming war of supremacy between President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
It will be recalled that Nyako has been having running battle with the PDP national leadership over the conduct of PDP primaries in Adamawa state which led to the sack of the state PDP executive committee and the suspension of the National Vice Chairman, North East, Alhaji Girigiri Lawal by the National Working Committee, NWC.
Adamawa PDP exco dissolution
The NWC also dissolved the State PDP Executive led by Alhaji Umaru Mijinyawa Kugama that was loyal to the governor and replaced with Ambassador Umar Damagun led nine-member caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of Adamawa PDP.
In spite of the Caretaker Committee put in place by the Tukur led NWC, President Jonathan was said to have an Ad-hoc Committee on Resolution of Adamawa State with Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa as Chairman.
Other members, Vanguard gathered are Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State, two unnamed members of the National Assembly; three unnamed members of the NWC and the Special Adviser, Political Adviser to Vice President Namadi Sambo, Abba Dabo as the Secretary.
President Jonathan
Lamido Committee
After the inauguration, the Chairman of the Committee, Sule Lamido swung into action and in a letter dated December 21, 2012 to Bamanga Tukur, urged the NWC to as a matter of urgency stop all actions on the Adamawa State PDP.
After the inauguration, the Chairman of the Committee, Sule Lamido swung into action and in a letter dated December 21, 2012 to Bamanga Tukur, urged the NWC to as a matter of urgency stop all actions on the Adamawa State PDP.
The letter read, ‘’Your Excellency is aware that an ad-hoc Committee has been created for the resolution of Adamawa crisis.
‘’The inaugural Committee meeting was held today and members resolved that further acts and/or actions by any organ of the party with respect to Adamawa PDP be suspended. This is to enable the ad-hoc committee to conclude its work without any influence whatsoever.
‘’The inaugural Committee meeting was held today and members resolved that further acts and/or actions by any organ of the party with respect to Adamawa PDP be suspended. This is to enable the ad-hoc committee to conclude its work without any influence whatsoever.
‘’We do hope Mr. chairman will formally direct the North East acting Zonal Chairman and the caretaker Chairman accordingly.”
Time table for congress
Also same day, the NWC replied the Jigawa State governor that time table for the state congress was already out and aspirants had also purchased the forms.
Also same day, the NWC replied the Jigawa State governor that time table for the state congress was already out and aspirants had also purchased the forms.
The letter dated December 21, 2012 and signed by the PDP Deputy National Secretary, Mr Onwe Onwe read, ‘I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter addressed to the National Chairman dated December 21, 2012. Whilst noting the contents of your letter and the resolution of your committee to suspend further acts and/or actions by any organ of the party with respect to Adamawa PDP, I am directed to draw your attention to the following.
‘’The national Secretariat had via a letter signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary dated December 5, 2012 written to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC notifying them of the dates and time table of the congresses.
‘’The National Secretariat of our great party, the PDP had via a letter signed by the National Organising Secretary dated December 6, 2012 written to the Caretaker Committee approved time table of the congresses in the state starting from December 27, 2012 to January 10, 2013.
‘’The Caretaker Committee had obtained PDP nomination forms from the National Secretariat of the party and has been selling them to the aspirants from Ward level to the Local Government level.
‘’In view of the above, the Caretaker Committee may wish to note the implication of the above three points have potential political damage to the reputation and esteem of our great party and members in Adamawa State who have all prepared to participate in the congresses.”
But when contacted, a former governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Ardo noted that there may be no fair hearing against the backdrop that Lamido remained one of Nyako’s loyalists, just as he said that the fight by the PDP Adamawa Stakeholders has been between the people and the governor. He added that the only condition on which the PDP members would accept a fresh congress in Adamawa was if a panel was sent from the national Secretariat of the party to oversee the congress.
