Guardian Southeast PDP Govs Caught In The Middle Of Crisis SUNDAY, 08 SEPTEMBER 2013 00:00 FROM LEO SOBECHI NEWS - NATIONAL PDP-LOGO THERE are indications that the fractionalisation threatening the cohesion of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has divided the three Southeast governors into different camps despite recent statement attributed to the National Vice Chairman of the party, Col. Austin Akobundu (retd) voicing support for the embattled national Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Discreet checks by The Guardian revealed that, apart from the Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamaefule Orji, the governors of Enugu and Ebonyi, Sullivan Chime and Martin Elechi, may be playing hide-and-seek over the internal squabbles roiling the ruling party. A source within the Southeast Zonal Working Committee (SWC) of the party disclosed that the two governors are not forthcoming in their stance over where there allegiance stood, pointing out that signs of their ambivalence started manifesting from the disputed Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chairmanship election. “I can tell you authoritatively that the two governors appear solidly behind the Baraje faction in principle but decide to number among the president’s men for their political survival. Sullivan actually supported another candidate for the position of National Publicity Secretary while the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, ensured the emergence of Metuh. “Being a lawyer, the governor of Enugu State is actually not happy with the way PDP is run and the intrigues by Ekweremadu during the special convention makes him sympathetic to the ‘rebel’ governors’ camp. And for Elechi, his decision not to accept the chairmanship of the PDP Governors’ Forum and the fact of the influence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in the reorganisation of PDP makes him cold towards the Tukur camp,” the source disclosed. But when contacted, Chief Press Secretaries to Governors Chime and Elechi, Mr. Chukwudi Achife and Dr. Onyekachi Eni, in that order, denied any such likelihood. They stressed that, on account of the quantum of social and economic benefits that have accrued to their states, they remain irrevocably committed and supportive to the Jonathan Presidency. Eni added: “Nothing can be farther from the truth; Elechi did not try to replace the Deputy National Organising Secretary. At a meeting with the National Christian Pilgrims Welfare Commission, my governor reaffirmed the continued support of Ebonyi State government and peoples to the Jonathan administration. He made a very elaborate outline of the achievements and benefits, which have accrued to Ebonyi State from the administration and why we steadfastly support him now and in the future. “So, anything that smacks of illegality cannot be associated with Elechi; and so anybody saying that may be in his dreams or wishful thinking; such thing cannot be linked with Elechi. Elechi is hundred percent plus in support of PDP under Tukur; I won’t say the Baraje faction because it is just a band of opportunists, who have come together to arm-twist the party. There is only one PDP under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.” Achife said people should stop bringing Chime into every controversy, stressing that the governor has suffered a lot in the hands of speculators pointing out that the Enugu State Chief Executive is not even in the country and did not attend the special convention. His words: “People should stop bringing Chime into all these things; if somebody is telling you this or that don’t give heed to that. He is not even in Nigeria right now; so, how come they are alleging being sympathetic when he is not around? How come people keep bringing in a young man that has done nobody any harm. Why do they bring Chime into every mischief for no just cause? He did not attend any meeting nor the convention; would he be sympathetic from London?” Akobundu had in a statement in Enugu said Southeast ZWC has passed a vote of implicit confidence on the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, describing the fractionalization of the party as regrettable. “PDP Southeast Zone hereby places its implicit and unreserved vote of confidence on the leadership of the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan-led Federal Government and the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led PDP. We regret the incident of our Special Convention last Saturday, in Abuja where some of our members staged a workout and wish to advise those aggrieved members to yield themselves to the on-going re-conciliatory measures for an amicable resolution of the standoff” the statement read in part.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 09:48:38 +0000
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