PDP NWC MEMBERS DEMAND TUKUR’S SACK

President Goodluck Jonathan now has first-hand knowledge of the depth to which the goodwill of the embattled National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has sunk within the party.

President Jonathan,at a session of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday night watched in disbelief as 11 members of the organ openly revolted against Tukur.

The angry NWC members told Jonathan that the PDP cannot win 2015 elections with Tukur in charge.

Bewildered by the development, the President rose on his feet and told members of the NWC: “Anyway, we have meetings next week.”

A few minutes later, he was on his way out of the meeting.

The PDP Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee are due to meet on Wednesday, January 15 and Thursday January 16 to “chart a course for the party following mass defection of members to the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

The Nation gathered that the President met with Tukur and NWC members at the Presidential Villa on Thursday night following a rumpus within the organ.

The meeting was particularly called on account of a cold war between Tukur and Deputy National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus.

It, however, turned out that all NWC members had one grouse or the other against Tukur.

As it turned out, the session provided an opportunity for most members of the NWC to open up to the President on their frustration.

According to a source, Tukur was put to task on such allegations as:

•Holding Party/NWC meetings at Tukur’s residence instead of the PDP Secretariat.

•Running a parallel NWC, leaving Tukur to take decisions on critical party matters with only his aides.

•Mass defection from the PDP due to lack of confidence in Tukur.

•Governors, National Assembly members, BOT, NEC unhappy with Tukur.

•No concrete achievements since Tukur took over in the last two years. He could not even complete the on-going National Secretariat of the party.

•Globe-trotting without any result to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party.

•Lack of access to Tukur sometimes for two weeks.

The source said: “The meeting was amazing and the President was shocked when he asked each NWC member to talk.

“Of the 12 NWC members at the meeting, 11 spoke against Tukur. Tukur was only there rationalizing his actions.

A pin-drop silence dominated the venue at the Villa because the President did not know that the situation had degenerated.

Another source said: “At a point, NWC members prevailed on the President to ask Tukur a question: What benefit has Tukur added to the PDP since he came on board?

“The NWC members demanded a response which they could not get at the session.

“They also went further to ask Tukur to tell the President which of the organs of the party is happy or pleased with him. Is it the BOT or NEC or NWC or National Caucus?”

A third source at the meeting said the NWC members made it known to the President that the PDP cannot win elections in 2015 , if Tukur remains in charge and the situation continues in the party this way.

He said the NWC members accused Tukur of not consulting NWC members and prefers passing instructions to the NWC through his aides “in a cabinet that every member is equal having been elected at the National Convention of the party.

“We also drew the attention of the party to the fact that Tukur has not been able to complete the on-going construction of the National Secretariat of the PDP which was started by a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali.”

The source said: “The President did not respond to issues raised, but he merely said: ‘Anyway, we have meetings next week.’ That was how the session ended.”

A source in Tukur’s camp, however, said: “The meeting was a confidence-building session between the NWC and President Goodluck Jonathan to put the PDP in a better shape.

“The President asked Tukur and NWC members to close ranks. He pleaded for peace and reconciliation.

“I think the President may still meet with NWC members on Sunday.” 

Posted by Dammy Adoga