Violence broke out Tuesday evening at a meeting between members of theHouse of Representatives and the leaders of the Abubakar Baraje-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction, marring lawmakers’ resumption after two months break.
Mr Baraje, and the seven governors belonging to the faction, had earlier met with Senate President David Mark, before meeting the speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, and other lawmakers.
Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara met first with Mr Mark and then with members of the House of Representatives.
The meeting followed another held on Monday night between the leadership of the faction and its supporters.
The meetings, which were also attended by the group’s secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, alongside several senators and other party officials, were led by Mr Baraje.
Same old demands
Mr Baraje told the lawmakers that the group was opposed to a new term for President Goodluck Jonathan. The group also called for the recall of Mr Amaechi, who was suspended by the party leadership, and his recognition as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum.
Other demands of the group outlined publicly for the first time, include restoration of the PDP executive loyal to Messrs Nyako and Amaechi.
The group also demanded the removal of Bamanga Tukur as National Chairman of the party, and called for strict adherence to party constitution.
The faction emerged more than two weeks after the seven governors stormed out of a special convention of the meeting of the PDP. They accused Mr Tukur of highhandedness.
The two sides have failed to resolve the differences despite several meetings. Lately, both sides have reached out to seemingly neutral members seeking to gather support.
At the Senate, Mr Baraje said Jonathan was pursuing a “third term” through the “back door” and accused the president of reneging on an agreement not to run.
“This group is fighting to ensure an end to impunity and for the protection of democracy,” he said. “If we continue like this, I don’t think the PDP can win any election henceforth.”
Cracks on the wall
Responding, the senate president told the group that he will stand for “justice and equity”.
“Even if you have a knife in my head, I will stand for justice, fairness and equity,” he said.
He, thereafter, urged the two groups to come together and uphold a strong and united party; adding that he will remain in the PDP.
“We are stronger and better as one big, strong and united party,” he said. “We need to work together and make our democracy sustainable.”
But the meeting at the House of Representatives, which came after the Senate’s, degenerated into confusion as supporters of Mr Tukur, who also support President Jonathan, booed Mr Baraje as he made his speech.
This angered those in support of Mr Baraje.
The scenario degenerated and supporters on the both sides attacked the others verbally and physically. Two members of the House, Dagogo Peterside, from Rivers State, and Henry Daniel-Ofongo, from Bayelsa State, engaged in fisticuffs.
The drama was the second for the day after an earlier breakdown of order within the chambers of the House.
The first furore started when Mr Tambuwal read a letter from the Baraje faction of the PDP, requesting a visit to the PDP leadership of the House. Soon after, members broke into groups to discuss the development.
Members of the Bamanga Tukur-led PDP repeatedly shouted “No” while those from the Baraje faction shouted “Yes”.
After about 25 minutes of continued rumbling in the house, Mr Tambuwal intervened. “There was a similar communication from Bamanga Tukur to address the PDP caucus in the House, but he withdrew his letter this morning,” he said. “That is why I didn’t read it here. It is a purely PDP affair, and it will not take place on the floor of the House.”
New wine in old bottle.