With the sudden exit of the erstwhile national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bamanga Tukur, President Goodluck Jonathan is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that his favoured candidate emerge as Tukur’s successor.
He has therefore, commenced consultation with party stakeholders especially those from the north east geo-political zone where the new chairman is expected to emerge from.
To kick-start the consultation which is expected to continue over the weekend, President Jonathan on Friday met with PDP Governors from the north east zone.
The crucial meeting was attended by three Governors- Isa Yuguda of Bauchi, Ibrahim Dakwambo of Gombe, Taraba acting Governor Garba Umar and Deputy Governor of Adamawa, Bala James Ngilari, since the Governor Muritala Nyako has defected to the All Progressives congress (APC).
However, Governor Yuguda who spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting would not want to confirm that the focus of the closed door talks was on finding replacement for Bamanga Tukur from the zone.
He said Nigerians should be patient till Monday when a new chairman will be named. The PDP National Executive Council (NEC) after ratifying Mr. Tukur’s resignation on Thursday also agreed to reconvene on Monday to pick a new chairman.
Yuguda told correspondents, “Are we God? It’s God that gives power. Supposing he gives somebody from my state, a PDP state, what will I do? I will follow him. Let us not go into that kind of imagination.”
“It is just mere speculation. It’s just speculation. We just came to say hello to the president and wish him a Good Friday.
“Well, Monday is the day the NEC will decide who the chairman is going to be. So, let’s wait till Monday.”
Asked whether Tukur’s successor would be able to contain crisis that has engulfed the party, Yuguda said, “Crisis will always be there. If there is no crisis, there won’t be managers anyway.
“So, somebody must be in charge to manage the situation. That’s why God structures leadership. And even at the family level, you have a leader to manage problems and crisis. So, we cannot be insulated from crisis. It is a continuous thing. The capacity to manage it is what makes you a good leader”.
No fewer than five candidates are jostling for the plum position the ruling party’s national chairman. Among them are the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, former Bauchi governor, Adamu Muazu and Dr. Babayo Musa (Bauchi).
