Politics
Tukur Urges Party Members To Face Challenges
Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman has urged members of the party to work collectively to find solution to the country’s challenges instead of lamenting on issues.
Tukur spoke last Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of a 50-member advisory committee of the party.
“At a time like this when the country is facing a number of challenges, particularly the security situation in the country, all hands are required to be on deck,’’ he said.
According to him, the essence of constituting the committee which is made up of the founding fathers of the party is to avail Nigerians the opportunity to tap from their wealth of knowledge.
The chairman said that the committee would also assist him to rebuild the party, which was faced with some internal problems.
Tukur expressed optimism that the committee, headed by formal Vice-President Alex Ekwueme, would assist governments at various levels in finding lasting solutions to national problems and reposition the party.
“This is why I decided to ask all of you to assist me in not only repositioning our party but also proffering solutions to the enormous challenges facing our nation,’’ he said.
The chairman said although the party had grown tremendously in the last 13 years, it was still faced with some challenges that should be tackled.
He said some of the challenges were problems of coordination and cooperation among party members, respect for party constitution, problems of openness, inclusiveness, fairness, fair-play and internal democracy, among others..
He described most of the problems in the country as tough and had been made more difficult by the mindset of the people.
“We cannot reposition our party or be a leading force in deepening democratic culture in Nigeria unless we effectively address these problems and challenges,’’ the chairman said.
He said that the military culture of doing things had dominated the country’s political culture and stressed that a reversal of the situation was essential to enthrone true democratic culture.
He said “reducing corruption to a tolerable level and judicious application of the common wealth will be necessary if poverty reduction is to be effectively addressed and living conditions of the citizens bettered’’.
Tukur said that politicians of “deeds and not of words’’ who adhere to the rule of law were needed to achieve set goals.
He said that the protection of citizen rights, adequate protection of lives and property and modernisation of agriculture were needed to guarantee the country’s drive to nation-building.
Tukur urged politicians to rebuild the nation on the basis of shared responsibilities for all, irrespective of tribe and religion.
He expressed optimism that with the calibre of members of the newly inaugurated committee, things would begin to change for the better.
The party chairman urged the committee to be selfless in the discharge of its duty by giving useful advice that would enhance the growth and development of the country and the entire citizenry.
Responding, Ekwueme pledged that the committee would work with the party by giving meaningful advice that would move the nation forward.
He commended the chairman for appreciating that no one had monopoly of wisdom and for engaging the team to advise him.
Ekwueme assured the chairman that the committee would assist the party’s leadership to realise the ideas of its founding fathers which was to have an encompassing political party committed to serve the interest of the nation and its citizens.
Dr. Mohammed Shata would serve as secretary of the committee, which has Dr. Joseph Wayas, Chief Tony Anenih, Mr Richard Akinjide, Mr Solomon Lar , Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, Sen. Ike Nwachukwu, Sen. Barnabas Gemade and Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo as members.
Other members are Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Sen. Bello Maitama, Dr Sam Jaja, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, PDP National Secretary, Chief Bode George and Chief Don Etiebet, among others.
The Tide source reports that the committee, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, is making moves to reclaim the Wadata Plaza headquarters months after it was sealed following a violent clash between rival factions of the party.
Senior officers at the FCT Police Command told our source that while they had not received an official briefing, police personnel would be stationed at the secretariat and other key locations to maintain peace.
The Acting National Secretary of the Mohammed-led committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, announced last week that the secretariat would reopen for official activities on Monday (today).
He dismissed claims that ongoing litigation would prevent the reopening, saying, “There are no legal barriers preventing the caretaker committee from resuming work at the party’s headquarters.”
However, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) has fiercely rejected the reopening move, insisting that Sen. Anyanwu and his group remain expelled from the PDP and have no authority to act on its behalf.
Speaking with The Tide source, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, declared: “They are living in fool’s paradise. The worst form of deceit is self-deceit, where the person knows he is deceiving himself yet continues with gusto.
“Even INEC, which they claim has recognised them, has denied them. They are indulging in a roller coaster of self-deceit.”
Mr Ememobong further revealed that letters had been sent to both the Inspector-General of Police and the FCT Commissioner of Police, stressing that the matter was still in court and warning against any attempt to “resort to self-help.”
“The case pending before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik was instituted by the expelled members. They cannot resort to self-help until judgment is delivered,” he said.
He warned that reopening the secretariat would amount to contempt of court.
A senior officer at the FCT Police Command, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that officers would be deployed to the area to avert a repeat of the November 19 violence that led to the secretariat’s initial closure.
“The command would not stand by and allow a breakdown of peace and order by the party or anyone else. Definitely, the police will have to be on the ground,” he said.
Another officer added, “There will definitely be men present at the secretariat, but I can’t say the number of police officers that would be deployed.”
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said she had not been briefed on the planned reopening and declined to comment on whether officers would be deployed.
Asked to confirm whether the secretariat was initially sealed by police, she responded, “Yes,” but refused to say more about the current deployment plans.
The Kano State House of Assembly has debunked the purported impeachment plan against the Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo.
The Tide source recalls that the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, recently sparked controversy during an interview session with a local radio station.
Mr Waiya called on the deputy governor to resign for failing to follow his principal, Gov. Abba Yusuf, in defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the spokesperson to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Kamaluddeen Shawai, while addressing journalists in Kano on Saturday, described reports circulating in some media outlets about Mr Gwarzo’s impeachment as baseless and misleading, emphasising that no such plan is underway.
Mr Shawai further stated that the House remains focused on its legislative duties and oversight functions rather than engaging in speculative political manoeuvres.
The spokesperson urged members of the public and the media to verify information before sharing it, stressing the importance of accurate reporting in maintaining political stability in the state.
He said, “There is absolutely no motion or initiative within the House to remove the deputy governor.
“These reports are false and should be disregarded by the public. The deputy governor continues to serve in his capacity with full support from the House.
“Our priority is good governance and serving the people of Kano, not circulating rumours.”
She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend, Mr Segun Odegbami, during a live radio interview on Saturday.
Prof. Obasanjo, who is also former commissioner in the state, ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus was firmly on the governorship race.
“So, moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.
“Like the Americans would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.
“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”
The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.
“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.
Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.
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