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Between Tukur And PDP

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The self-style largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must be counting its losses since Alhaji Bamanga Tukur assumed office as the national chairman of the party 21 months ago. A staunch supporter of President Goodluck Jonathan who literally foisted him on the party, Tukur has unrepentantly displayed dictatorial tendencies, chastising  with scorpion every “recalcitrant” member that refuses to identify with the wishes and aspirations of his benefactor.

Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was the first victim of Tukur’s draconian leadership of the PDP. Governor Amaechi’s problem stemmed from the fact that he was not happy that Rivers State was being subjected to untold hardship and deprivation under President Jonathan, an illustrious son of the Niger Delta who is married to a Rivers daughter. The governor had complained of lack of federal projects in Rivers State under President Jonathan’s government; the ceding of Rivers oil wells to neighbouring  states- Bayelsa, Abia and Akwa Ibom; non-refund of N103 billion  expended on the rehabilitation of federal roads; the abandonment of the federal government’s skills acquisition centre in Rivers State which was graciously approved by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua; the relocation of zonal Airforce base to Baylesa which was originally earmarked for Rivers State by late President Yar’Adua; the president’s refusal to approve the construction of the NLNG Tran Seven in Bonny that will provide 10,000 jobs for Rivers people etc.

Hear him: “It has to do with the interest of Rivers State. It has nothing to do with my interest. There is an attempt by the Federal Government to undermine the development of Rivers State. Everybody is talking about Soku oil wells. There are over 41 oils belonging to Rivers State which have been ceded to Abia State.

“I have told the president that if he returns the oil wells, I will support him. But he cannot. It does not matter whether I go back to the PDP or not, I will support him. He has not been able and he will not. If he thinks it will favour me, then let him keep the money in an escrow account and give it to the next government in Rives State. What I want to see done is the fact that our resources are returned to us.

“Now, there is no money in the escrow account, because Bayelsa State has expended the money. Even if we go to court today and the court says we are right, there is no money in the escrow account again. So, it is a hopeless and helpless situation for Rivers State”.

Governor Amaechi must not go unpunished for expressing his consternation over the injustice meted out to Rivers people.

Consequently, the leadership of the party in the state that was loyal to him was replaced with Bro Felix Obuah-led executive following a controversial court ruling in Abuja. Governor Amaechi was also suspended from PDP for anti-party activities a few days after he was re-elected as the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) against the wishes of the presidency. The police in the state as well turned against him.

While some members of the party who were equally disenchanted with Tukur’s high handedness kept mum for fear of persecution by the powers-that-be some others called his bluff and staged a walkout from the PDP convention last year to form the new PDP.

Although, the PDP had experienced several crises in the past the recent development where serving governors, 37 members of House of Representatives and other chieftains of the party and their supporters defected to the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC) has humbled and deflated its ego. It is pertinent   to note that PDP is now in the minority in the House of Representatives and has been losing its members in droves to the APC.

Gripped with trepidation, the PDP governors and other chieftains of the party have decided to do the needful to save the party from impending doom. To this end, a crucial meeting of the party has been slated for January 17 following a threat by a large number of PDP senators to dump the party for good.

It was reported that members of the National Executive Council had raised six posers that would be addressed by the Tukur-led executive at the meeting. The posers are follows: What accounted for the breach of the PDP’s constitution on convening of NEC meeting? What informed arbitrary and illegal suspension of top PDP members, including governors, and high handedness of Tukur? The rationale for unilateral dissolution of State Executive Councils by Tukur and NWC. Why did Tukur’s NWC usurp NEC’s powers on appointment of Disciplinary Committee for the PDP at the national level? Tukur’s position on the grievances of governors and ways to prevent more defectors and the party’s perspective on court rulings on the office of the National Secretary of the party.

From the fore-going it is clear that the Tukur-led executive was constituted for a special mission. A situation where decisions were taken in violation of the PDP constitution with the sole purpose of protecting the vaulting ambition of an individual at the expense of the party was most unreasonable. Tukur alone should not be upbraided for the implosion in the PDP which resulted in the mass defection of its members to the APC, but all those who failed to speak out when they should are equally to blame.

However, it is commendable that some members of the party have realized that the party is gradually losing grip on power. While it is not expected that the PDP will rule Nigeria ad infinitum the party members should not sacrifice the political fortunes of the PDP on the altar of avarice and egoism.

At the forthcoming NEC meeting, they should be bold enough to call a spade, a spade, no matter whose ox is gored. If they are convinced at the end of the day that Tukur is the festering sore that has brought ill-health to the ruling party, the NEC members should summon up courage to take decisive  action that will resuscitate their party.

Again, the emergence of the APC and the defection of their members to the rival party should be seen as a welcome development. The NEC members should also at that meeting address the issue of fighting so many wars at time when they should be preparing for the general election that is fast approaching. Having benefited from the defections of serving governors and legislators in recent past the PDP should learn to be a good loser by withdrawing the case it instituted in the court of law against those who left its fold to the APC.

The party has already made a grievous mistake by not nipping the crisis in the bud. However, it should begin to strategise on how to reposition itself to regain the confidence of Nigerians in the nearest future. Bonne annee!

 

Reward Akwu

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Makinde Renames Polytechnic After Late Ex-Gov

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Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has renamed The Polytechnic, Ibadan as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of a late former governor of the State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo.
Dr Olunloyo, who died on April 6, 2025, was the pioneer Principal of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, while he also served as Governor of Oyo State between October 1 and December 31, 1983.
Governor Makinde made the announcement at the state interdenominational funeral service held yesterday in honour of the late former governor at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty Road, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde said Dr Olunloyo lived an eventful life, adding that his attainment and personality could not be summarised in one sentence.
“He was not a man we could summarise in one sentence. He was a scholar, a statesman, a technocrat, a lover of culture and, above all, a man of deep conviction.
“While giving the exhortation, I was listening to Baba Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu and he said in 1983, Baba became Governor of Oyo State. Though his time in office was brief, his election victory over a popular incumbent remains a powerful testament to the trust people gave him.
“I talked about preserving and digitising his library yesterday [Wednesday] as a mark of honour to Baba Olunloyo.
“Today, we will be giving Baba another honour to immortalise him. He was the first Principal of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; that institution will now be named Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.”
Earlier in his sermon, a retired Methodist Archbishop of Ilesa and Ibadan, Ayo Ladigbolu, described the late Olunloyo as a role model with intellectual inspiration and unassailable integrity.
The cleric said the deceased also demonstrated leadership in most superior quality during his lifetime.
In attendance were the state Deputy Governor, Chief Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; wife of a former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Jemibewon; wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs) Mutiat Ladoja; former Deputy Governor and PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and former Deputy Governor, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were the member representing Ibadan North-East/South-East Federal Constituency, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Oyo State Exco members; Chairman of Oyo State Elders’ Council, Dr Saka Balogun; Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda; President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adeniyi Ajewole; religious leaders and family members, among other dignitaries.

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10 NWC Members Oppose Damagum Over National Secretary’s Reinstatement

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Ten members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) have countered the Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, on the reinstatement of Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
The dissenting members, led by the Deputy National Chairman ( South), Taofeek Arapaja, in a joint statement, said no organ of the opposition party could overturn the decision of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The dissenting NWC members include Arapaja; Setonji Koshoedo, Deputy National Secretary; Okechukwu Obiechina-Daniel, National Auditor; Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary; Ologunagba; Woyengikuro Daniel, National Financial Secretary and Ahmed Yayari Mohammed, National Treasurer.
Others are Chief Ali Odefa, National Vice Chairman (South East); Emmanuel Ogidi, Caretaker Committee Chairman (South South); Mrs. Amina Darasimi D. Bryhm, National Woman Leader and Ajisafe Kamoru Toyese, National Vice Chairman (South West).
The group also insisted that contrary to the position of the acting National Chairman, the 100th NEC meeting of the party would be held on June 30 as earlier scheduled.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a press briefing by the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, today Wednesday, June 25, wherein he attempted to overturn the resolution of the 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which scheduled the 100th NEC meeting for Monday, June 30.
“The acting National Chairman in the said press briefing also reportedly announced that Senator Samuel Anyanwu has been asked to resume as National Secretary of the party contrary to the resolution of the 99th NEC meeting, which referred all matters relating to the office of the National Secretary to the 100th NEC meeting.
“The pronouncements by the acting National Chairman have no foundation as no organ of the party (including the NWC), individual or group has the power to cancel, overrule, veto or vary the resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) under the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“For the avoidance of doubt, the NEC is the highest decision-making organ of the party, second only to the National Convention. By virtue of Section 31 (3) of the PDP Constitution, the resolution of the NEC to hold its 100th meeting on Monday June 30, is binding on all organs, officers, chapters and members of the party and no organ, group or individual can vary or veto this resolution of NEC.
“Furthermore, the claim by Damagum that Sen Anyanwu has been asked to resume office as the National Secretary of the party is, therefore, misleading being contrary to the resolution of NEC.
“In the light of the foregoing, the 100th NEC meeting as scheduled for Monday, June 30, has not been canceled or postponed.”

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Presidency Slams El-Rufai Over Tinubu Criticism …Says He Suffers From Small Man Syndrome

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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has fired back at former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, following the latter’s scathing criticism of President Tinubu’s administration and his 2027 re-election prospects.
In an interview on live television, Mallam El-Rufai said it would take a “miracle” for President Tinubu to be re-elected in 2027, citing an internal poll that purportedly shows a 91 percent disapproval rating for the president across key regions in the country, including the South-East and the North. He also claimed that President Tinubu’s disapproval rating in Lagos stood at 78 percent.
Reacting on Wednesday via a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Onanuga took a swipe at the ex-governor, quoting a harsh assessment of Mallam El-Rufai’s character from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch.
“Nasir’s penchant for reputation savaging is almost pathological,” Mr Onanuga wrote, citing Chief Obasanjo’s words. “Why does he do it? Very early in my interaction with him, I appreciated his talent. At the same time, I recognised his weaknesses; the worst being his inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir El-Rufai.”
The presidential adviser emphasised Chief Obasanjo’s remarks that Mallam El-Rufai often tries to elevate himself by diminishing others. “He lied brazenly, which he did to me, against his colleagues and so-called friends,” Mr Onanuga continued, quoting the former President. “I have heard of how he ruthlessly savaged the reputation of his uncle, a man who, in an African setting, was like a foster father to him.”
Chief Obasanjo, who appointed Mallam El-Rufai as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory between 2003 and 2007, did not mince words in the memoir, describing Mallam El-Rufai as suffering from “small man syndrome.”
Mr Onanuga’s post is seen as a direct rebuttal to Mallam El-Rufai’s recent criticism and growing opposition role. The former governor is reportedly playing a central role in forming a new coalition to challenge President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
In March 2025, El-Rufai officially dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), intensifying speculations about his 2027 political ambitions.
As the political rift deepens, Mallam El-Rufai remains one of the most vocal critics of the Tinubu administration, while Mr Onanuga and other presidential allies continue to push back against what they describe as “reckless” opposition rhetoric.

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