Photo: Attahiru Bafarawa


• Race for PDP Vee Pee slot echoes in Katsina

By Mohammed Aminu 

      
The emergence of former Bauchi State Governor Adamu Mu’azu as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party may be turning things around for PDP, which a few months ago lost five governors to the opposition All Progressives Congress.

THISDAY has learnt that following discussions and negotiations between the new PDP chairman and former Sokoto State governor Attahiru Bafarawa and his former Kano State counterpart Ibrahim Shekarau, the two APC chieftains (Bafarawa and Shekarau) may be heading for PDP.

Both Bafarawa and Shekarau had played leading roles in the formation of APC and were seen as more or less the party’s leaders in the two states.

But the defection of Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko and his Kano State counterpart Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from PDP to APC and the way and manner the APC had handed the leadership of the party to the two governors in the state had put Bafarawa and Shekarau in a difficult situation.

In a bid to cash in on this, Mu’azu had entered into discussions with his two former counterparts shortly after he emerged as PDP chairman.

According to sources, both Bafarawa and Shekarau have reached an agreement with Mu’azu and have agreed in principle to move to PDP.

Yesterday in Sokoto, Bafarawa’s supporters openly asked him to join PDP.
Similarly, the chairmen of the three legacy parties of ANPP, CPC and ACN, including their supporters in the 23 local government areas of Sokoto State are also moving to PDP.

Speaking with THISDAY in Sokoto, the Media Aide to the former governor, Malam Yusuf Dingyadi, said the planned defection to PDP was sequel to a stakeholders’ meeting held at the residence of Bafarawa by the three legacy parties of ANPP, ACN and CPC that merged to form APC in the state.

According to him, the Bafarawa faction had reviewed the problems facing it in the state and resolved to leave APC following an alleged injustice meted to them by the party’s national leadership.

“As you are aware, a meeting was held at the residence of Bafarawa today where the stakeholders reviewed the problem facing the legacy parties that merged to form APC in the state and decided to leave the party. They accused the APC Interim National Executive Committee of bias and injustice despite labouring to build APC in the state,” he said.

Dingyadi stated that Bafarawa had at the meeting endorsed their resolution and also resolved in principle to move to PDP since the APC national leadership was not ready to address their grievances.

“Bafarawa is in total support of his faction's defection to the PDP and agreed in principle to go along with their resolution and their aspiration. The only thing that is constant in life is change and every politician must respect the wishes and aspiration of his supporters,” Dingyadi averred.

The Wamakko-led faction and that of Bafarawa had been embroiled in a battle for the control of APC in the state.

However, the APC national leadership had 10 days ago recognised the Wamakko-led faction by inaugurating a nine-man state interim committee under the chairmanship of Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir.

The silent battle for the vice presidential slot of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015 reared its head yesterday in Katsina as  supporters of the state Governor Ibrahim Shema openly called on him to show interest in the position.

It was during the opening of the ultra-modern PDP state secretariat in Katsina, Katsina State.

The usual response when party stalwarts chant “PDP, PDP” up North is either Sai Nigeria or Sai Jonathan, but at the Katsina event, the chants of PDP, PDP were greeted with Sai Shema.
The deafening chants of “Nigeria Sai Shema,” a euphemism and tacit call on Shema to take a shot at the vice presidency rented the air.

Vice President Namadi Sambo was at the event. He joined the new PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu to commission the party secretariat in the state.

The duo of Shema and Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido are among those said to be eyeing the VP slot. But top PDP stalwarts said President Jonathan was unlikely to drop Sambo as his running mate for the 2015 election.

In a brief speech at the commissioning ceremony, the vice president said the state PDP secretariat was a conducive place for the running the party affairs in the state.
He urged other PDP governors to emulate Shema by putting in place befitting PDP secretariats in their states.

He commended efforts of the Katsina state chapter of the party for erecting the edifice.
Sambo also expressed delight over the development projects initiated in the state by Shema, and appealed to other state governors to redouble their efforts in developmental projects.

Also, Mu’azu commended the state chapter of the party for the complex, pledging that his leadership would accommodate every PDP member.
Mu’azu promised to engage in moves to reconcile every aggrieved PDP member during his tenure.

Six PDP governors including Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio attended the commissioning.

The other governors in attendance were Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibrahim Wada (Kogi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar and the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, has called on persons in leadership positions to be fair in their dealings with  people.

He spoke when the Katsina State governor was turbanned as Sarkin Fulanin Katsina 1.
Usman said the best way to solve the people's problems was to relate with them.
"You can never know the problem of the poor people unless you associate with them, that is the only way you can solve their problems," he said.

Speaking on the title bestowed on Shema, the emir said he was the most deserving as he had done much for the development and transformation of Katsina state.

"You should be just and unbiased to everyone, be just to the poor because you have been given that responsibility. On the day you are called before your creator to account for your deeds, I will not be there, you will be the one to speak for yourself," the emir advised leaders.

He enjoined Nigerians to pray for the restoration of peace in the country and called on leaders to abide by the teachings of the holy books.

"Nigeria is in dire need of prayers, we are faced with all types of challenges and the only way out is prayers and the fear of God in our hearts."


Source: This Day