· Why Gov Amaechi Is Still On Suspension- Akpabio
The Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from a late night meeting on Tuesday, appointing President Goodluck Jonathan to lead a high powered team that will reconcile aggrieved members of the party.
The ruling party has been enmeshed in several crises recently, the latest being the suspension of the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Rotimi Amaechi from the party. Governor Magartakada Wamakko of Sokoto was also suspended but has since been recalled.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswil Akpabio of Akwa Ibom said the meeting also discussed the observations raised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding irregularities in the election of some national officers.
He said, “And of course there are issues pertaining to the crisis in the party and we agreed that a high powered team headed by Mr. President should immediately go into massive reconciliation with major stakeholders who may have been aggrieved so that the party can even wax stronger,” he disclosed.
Ahead of the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) billed for Thursday, the Caucus set up a Committee headed by Governor Akpabio to come up with guidelines that will be presented by the National Working Committee (NWC) for NEC’s approval.
According to the Governor, “Members are drawn from the National Assembly which of course includes the Senate Leader and also the Whip of the National Assembly; some governors are also there, Minister of Transport, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT), two members of National Working Committee.
“And the chairmanship of that body was put under my care as the current chairman of PDP governor’s forum. And I am going to be there with two governors, Theodore Orji of Abia and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina.
“This report must be presented to the NWC by Thursday for approval. So, we look forward to the upcoming meeting. We look forward to his (President) efforts and unification of all our members”.
He said Bamamga Tukur remains the national chairman of the party, declining to comment on the purported Presidential directive that he should resign alongside some executive members.
“I believe that he is the national chairman. In fact NEC will look at the certain INEC’s report that some national officers were not properly elected. We will look at that as a party. I don’t see any problem with national chairman,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Akpabio also explained why Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers was not recalled from suspension when that of Sokoto Governor was lifted, saying it would be subjudiced.
According to him, the party leadership looked at two cases when he intervened in his capacity as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum but could not recall Governor Amaechi because he has gone to court.
“The national caucus was fully briefed on all issues pertaining to the party. We made an appeal to the NWC to look at the suspension but the one of Rivers state Governor is subjudiced because he has gone to court. The one of Sokoto did not go to court and so the suspension was lifted”, Akpabio explained.
