President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday charged the newly inaugurated National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, against conflict with state governors of the party’s extraction to avoid pitfalls that the party has gone through in the immediate past.
Mu’azu, in turn, vowed to reform the party and declared war against political jobbers.
The President strongly emphasized that “infighting has affected the PDP and as a result has made the party to lose states formerly under its control, because the leaders in the affected states could not agree. I urge you to reduce tension in those states.”
The political scheming that led to the emergence of Mu’azu was reportedly a bitter pill for President Jonathan as all entreaties to PDP governors push for the candidature of former national vice chairman (North West) of the party, Mohammed Wakil, fell on deaf ears.
Speaking yesterday at the 64th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the party secretariat in Abuja, the President expressed optimism that the party has overcome its challenges using the cordial relationship that exist between Governor Isa Yuguda and the new chairman as a example.
President Jonathan said: “Most governors don’t want national chairman of the party to come from their states, before now. But we are happy Governor Yuguda moved the motion for the appointment for the new chairman.”
Dignitaries that attended yesterday NEC meeting included President Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, Chairman of PDP Board of Trustee, Chief Tony Anenih, Deputy National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, House Leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Secretary, PDP Board of trustee, Walid Jubri and former chairmen of the party, among others.
Also in attendance were governors from Delta, Jigawa, Kogi, Niger, Benue, Kebbi, Taraba, Katsina, Bayelsa, Kaduna, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Enugu and deputy governor of Sokoto State.
The choice of Mu’azu, according to the President, was premised on the need for the party to draft in somebody that can reach out and who is friendly with people and who can bring the party together.
“You have so many friends across Nigeria. You are not tribal and you are one of the best that can handle PDP now and not somebody that will be fighting, fighting every time” the President said.
He, however, lauded members of the party’s NEC, saying yesterday events has clearly demonstrated that it is only the PDP that can bring this country together.
Prior to the appointment of the new national chairman, the deputy national chairman, Uche Secondus, quoted section 47 (6) of the party’s constitution: “Where a vacancy occurs in any offices of the party, the executive committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from, pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy.”
Secondus subsequently moved a motion for the adoption of a new chairman in compliance with provision of the party.
In a dramatic twist, Governor Isa Yuguda moved the motion for adoption of Mu’azu and was seconded by Ndoma-Egba.
At 2.20pm, the new chairman was administered an oath of office by Agustine Tasi.
Mu’azu in an acceptance speech shortly after his inauguration said his tenure will introduce sweeping reforms in coming weeks and months.
“We will engage in sweeping reforms in the administration of the party to bring it in tandem with global best practices.”
He assured state governors that he will not tamper with their structures in the state. He, however, told the governors to work in tandem with state party chairmen and allow people who are interested in joining the party to freely do so without hindrance.
“I will not tamper with governor’s structure but allow people to come into the party, I won’t alienate anybody from joining the party,” he said.
He explained that the PDP will not condone questionable primary elections, arguing that the beginning of credible, free and fair elections starts with credible, free and fair party primaries.
The new chairman also stressed that he will strive to ensure the supremacy of the party, adding that the supremacy of the party will guarantee internal party discipline, credibility and electoral victories.
Mu’azu regretted that in the last few months, the party has occupied front pages of national dailies with negative screaming headlines that have prompted political analysts to predict that the end of the party is around the corner.
In a goodwill messages on behalf of the PDP Governors Forum, governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Godswill Akpabio said contrary to reports of blackmail against the governor they are not against the office of the party chairman.
“We pray you recognise us as the leader at the state level, while the President is leader at the national level.”
In his remarks, Chief Tony Anenih said the future of the country depends on the success of the PDP.
“We should develop the spirit of reconciliation. You (Mu’azu) are young and I wish you move faster and put other parties’ leaders behind,” he said.
We gathered that the meeting which was reportedly stated at 9pm Sunday and stretched into wee hours of Monday with the President conceding to the governors who stood their ground that neither Wakil nor the Minister for Transport, Idris Umar was suitable for the job.
A source close to the meeting said one of the governors from the North Central zone and who was in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 when Wakil was the House Majority leader was among those who kicked against the choice of the Borno-born politician, of becoming the party chairman.
The governor was said to have argued that when Wakil held sway as the majority leader in the House of Representatives, he was allegedly not carrying his colleagues along, emphasising that his appointment may not be an asset to the party because he lacks cronies across the geopolitical zones of the country.
Wakil, who had already been screened for the exalted position and drafted from list of ministerial nominees, according sources, had already been assured of the position before the last minute political alteration.
Meanwhile, one of the governors from the South-South geopolitical zone, who is said to be a classmate of the former vice chairman of the party in the North East, however stood behind the choice of Wakili. But he found overwhelming the governors that were opposed to him.
It would be recalled that following an alleged presidential directive barring all ministerial nominees from the North East from joining the race for the chairmanship, it was glaring that the choice of the transport minister has hit the rock, even as the backing of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan could not win sentiments in his favour.
Curiously, the President was convinced though reluctantly, after the two candidates were placed before him and when it became very obvious that a support for Wakil could have an adverse effect on his 2015 presidential ambition. Jonathan had to align with the governors.
Some of the proponents of Wakil explained that it is germane to shift the position to non-PDP-controlled states to avoid a clash between the party chairman and the governor of the state.