… Anger, As Aspirants ‘Step Down’

Ebenezer_Babatope• Babatope ‘Weeps’

IT was a moment of anguish for some members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspiring for different offices at the national level, as their ambitions were thwarted at the national convention in Abuja.

They were made to step down for the candidates endorsed by the party even before the contest began.

The convention began fully when President Goodluck Jonathan arrived at the Eagle Square venue at about 11.35am and went round the pavilion to exchange pleasantries with the delegates.

The chairman of the electoral committee and minister of defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, announced that some aspirants for the different national offices had indicated their intention to withdraw from the race.

He said that among those aspiring for the position of national chairman, anyone who wanted to step down should come forward and announce it.

But none of the aspirants came forward until Mohammed repeated the declaration after announcing other positions available.

Former Minister of Defence, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, who was one of the aspirants for the chairmanship, announced that he was speaking on behalf of the aspirants.

Giving the impression that they were pressurised to step down, he said: “Having been invited by the party and having discussed, we were requested to step down. I stand on behalf of others.”

The other aspirants he referred to were Musa Babayo Shehu, Alhaji Gambo Lawan, Prof. Rufai Alkali, Ambassador Idris Waziri, Senator Abba Aji, Alhaji Ibrahim Birmah, Dr. Adamu Bello, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu and Alhaji Adamu Muazu.

However, former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, who took time to announce his withdrawal from the race of national secretary, succumbed to emotion by weeping.

“I am withdrawing not for anybody but in the interest of the party and the respect I have for the Vice President.”

After announcing that although the position of chairman of the party had only Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the chairman of the electoral panel said votes would still be cast to clear any doubt.

At the end of the voting, Bello announced that those who said ‘yes’ to the affirmation of Tukur were 3,185 while those who voted ‘no’ were 12 out of the total delegates of 3,248 while 57 votes were invalid.

Other national officers, who emerged at the convention, were Sam Jaja (deputy national chairman from South-South); Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Southwest, as national secretary); Olisa Metuh (Southeast as national publicity secretary); Kema Chikwe (Southeast, as national woman leader); Abubakar Mustapha (Northwest, as national organising secretary) and Solomon Onwe from the Southeast as deputy national secretary.

Others were Victor Kwari (North Central, as national legal adviser); Garba Chiza (North Central, as legal adviser); Bala Kaoje (Northwest, as treasurer); Mohammed Magaji, as assistant legal adviser0; Bolaji Anani, as financial secretary0; Bode Mustapha (Southwest, as national auditor) and Binta Kwoji, as deputy national publicity secretary.

The party also adopted the amendment to its constitution in a rather curious manner.

The constitution amendment committee, headed by the outgoing legal adviser of the party, Olusola Oke, had recommended enlargement of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to include one senator each from the 36 states of the federation.

But at the last NEC meeting held in Abuja, the governors on the platform of PDP raised some objections and based on that, the NEC mandated a committee, led by President Jonathan, to look into the matter and report back.

Since then, no NEC meeting had been held to consider the report before the adoption of the report by the national convention yesterday.

Meanwhile, the convention held under tight security, with over 10,000 policemen and hundreds of military and plain-clothes security men on guard.

Titbits

Consensus, Consensus Everywhere…

IT appeared yesterday that the PDP that had severally proclaimed itself the largest in Sub-saharan Africa does not like election, as a strong point in its internal democracy ideals. The party seems to prefer the consensus option, and that was the situation yesterday, apparently to contain the imaginary Atiku ‘machine’ that had allegedly emerged to work ahead 2015.

 

… Babatope Weeps For PDP, Democracy

FORMER Director of Publicity for the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and former Transport Minister, chief Ebenezer Babatope wept at the podium, yesterday, where he had to step down for Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, for the position of national Secretary. Oyinlola, allegedly obtained form to contest after deadline, but he was still the bride of the party.

When Babatope accepted to step down, he noted at the podium that he did not step down for anybody, but he did it for the party, because the Vice President appealed to him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As he was speaking, he shook his head and he wept and did not wipe his face. He left the Eagle Square immediately and later told sympathisers that he only wept for democracy the PDP way…

 

Oni, George Failed To Persuade Prof Adeniran…

THE combined efforts of chief Bode George and former Governor Olusegun Oni of Ekiti State was not enough to make Professor Tunde Adeniran step down yesterday. The duo tried all the tricks in the books, but the former minister of education was adamant.

The man who would have been Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US refused to weep like Babatope. He and Dapo Sarunmi insisted on election to the office of the Secretary to the Party even though they did not expect to win.