Prof. Gana Thwarts Sheriff's Deal, Sets For Parallel PDP Abuja Convention

The Nation - The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a new twist with the party set to hold two separate national conventions on Saturday.

While the faction loyal to the National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, will be holding its convention in Port Harcourt, another faction, headed by a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana, will be holding its own in Abuja.

The two factions met simultaneously in Abuja on Tuesday to fine-tune plans for their separate conventions.

The pro- Sheriff convention is backed by the party’s serving governors, its National Assembly caucus and a faction of the Board of Trustees (BoT) led by the chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin.

The Gana group, under the aegis of Concerned PDP Stakeholders, inaugurated its 56-members steering committee to conduct its convention and pilot the affairs of the party afterwards.

Members of the group include Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Hajia Inna Ciroma, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu, Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Senator Bala Mohammed, Mr. Taminu Turaki, Dr. Doyin Okupe and Mrs. Remi Adiukwu.

Also in the group are – Mrs. Josephine Anenih, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Sen. Ben Obi, Mr. John Odey, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, Alh. Shittu Mohammed Kabiru, Senator Grace Bent, and Senator Anietie Okon.

A group of former PDP governors who are also named as members are – Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Mr. Bonnie Haruna, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema, Mr. Donald Duke, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, Alhaji Mahmood Shinkafi, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure, Sen, Ahmed Makarfi, Chief Achike Udenwa, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and a former PDP national Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo.

At a meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), Walid said he met with the Gana group up to 2:30am on Tuesdays where he pleaded with the aggrieved members to drop plans for a parallel convention.

“I pleaded with them to refrain from actions capable of destroying the unity and progress of the party. I made it clear to them that I will not be attending meetings other than the ones called by the organs of the party.

“As a matter of fact, I made it clear to them that I will be leading the BoT members to the Port Harcourt convention,” the BoT chairman said.

Also speaking at the NEC meeting, Sheriff said the party had resolved to cancel results of the just concluded congresses in some states and that fresh congresses would be conducted in the affected states.

12 Ex-Governors, 14 GEJ Ministers Breakaway From Sheriff's PDP

This is of course not a palatable time for the major Nigerian opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party as a  total number of twelve former governors and fourteen ministers who served under the ousted former Nigerian leader, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Ebele has formed own faction of the  PDP, which they christened Concerned PDP Stakeholders Steering Committee, Punch Newspaper says.

The breakaway faction whom already constituted a 57-man committee in Abuja yesterday, according to Punch Newspaper,  is expected to take over the running of the party from May 21, when the tenure of the current members of the National Working Committee of the party comes to end.

Few days ago, News Punch reported a purported sacking of Ali Modu Sheriff-led national working committee by the new group, championed by former foreign affair minister, Prof Jerry Gana. Gana group described Sheriff-led NWC as hoodlums, gangsters

Former Borno Governor, Sheriff has swiftly reacted, thereby describing Jerry Gana group as thief

On the contrary, already, the NWC members led by the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, are planning for the national convention scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The party is expected to elect new national officers at the convention.

The former governors, who have formed the breakaway group are Lucky Igbinedion (Edo),  Bonnie Haruna (Adamawa),  Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Donald Duke (Cross River),  Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto),  Mahmood Shinkafi (Zamfara),  Abdulkaldir Kure (Niger),  Mohammed Makarfi (Kaduna),  Achike Udenwa (Imo), Babangida Aliyu (Niger)  Okwesilieze Nwodo (Anambra) and Gbenga Daniel (Ogun).

They have been joined by 14 former ministers who served under the PDP-led Federal Government when the party formed the government at the centre.

The former ministers are Prof. Tunde Adeniran (Education),  Inna Ciroma (Women Affairs),  Adamu Maina Waziri (Police Affairs), Prof.Jerry Gana (Information), Dr. Abubakar Suleiman (National Planning),  Tanimu Turaki (Special Duties),   Ishola Sarafa (Solid Minirals),  Zainab Maina (Women Affairs),  Joseph Anenin (Women Affairs), Ojo Maduekwe (Transportation), Prof. ABC Nwosu (Health), Dubem Onyia (Foreign Affairs), Bala Mohammed (FCT) and   John Odey (Environment).

However, it was gathered that the list was still being complied and that more big wigs in the party were planning to identify with the group, which is working to stop Sheriff from emerging as the national chairman of the party on May 21.

Among those who have joined the former governors and former ministers are Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo, Shehu Gabam, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Rabi Ibrahim, Mairo Habib, Amb. Wilberforce Juta, Ibrahim Bunu, Sen. Joseph Akaagerger, Sen. Zigo Azeez, Sen. Ben Obi, Mrs. Remi Adiukwu and Sen. Ben Obi.

Also on the list are Dr. Bolere Ketebu, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, Shittu Mohammed Kabiru, John Dara, Sen. Folashade Grace Bent, Awwal Tukur, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Dr. Patrick Okomiso, Sen. Anietie Okon, Alh. Aminu Yakudima and Mr. Nichola Msheliza.

Okupe, a former presidential spokesperson, told our correspondent on Saturday in Abuja, that the group would elect its officers next week.

He also said that the time and period of its inauguration would be determined during the week.

“The group would meet and elect its officers next week. We are serious about recovering the party from the grip of the few,” he added.

However, Sheriff had said that members of the group were “free to leave,” alleging that they never contributed to the success of the party in the first place.

He accused them of contributing to the deluge of problems facing the party now, adding that if they had worked assiduously with others in the past, perhaps, the party would not have lost power in 2015.

Sheriff, who spoke through his media aide, Inuwa Bwala, said, “Certain faceless groups have come up with different gimmicks trying to divert attention from the effects of what they did in the past leading to the squandering of the fortunes of the party, or to distract the attention of the chairman from pursuing very lofty and laudable programmes for the repositioning of the PDP or even just to cause mischief.

“Unfortunately, among such groups are self-styled elders and stakeholders led by Prof.  Gana.

“I have seen him sweating on television, playing with language but at the end of the day saying nothing.

“I want to specifically say we kept sealed lips about some of the activities of this man believing that we could still find a rendezvous at which we could work together for the progress of the PDP.

“I must say, and there are witnesses, that this is one character that attempts to play role in every government since the time of the military.”

Bwala added that given his recent action, “It was glaring that Gana would not add value to the repositioning of the PDP.”.

Excerpts from Punch Newspaper

Ali Modu Sheriff, Other NWC 'SACKED' As PDP Crisis Escalates

The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP took a messy dimension yesterday as all the National Working Committee, NWC,  the national chairman of the Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff inclusive of  were sacked by some founding fathers of the party, former ministers in the Goodluck Jonathan administration and stakeholders, New Telegraph Newspaper reports this morning

They also set up a 21-member steering committee to manage the affairs of the party until a lawfully organised national convention.

As reported by the New Telegraph, the stakeholders, met under the aegis of Concerned PDP Stakeholders’ Summit in Abuja yesterday, also described as a nullity and of no effect, “all actions purportedly taken by the said National Execu- tive Committee (NEC) and the NWC, including the ward, local government, state congresses and the planned National Convention of the party slated for May 21st in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”

The group also described as unacceptable and against the established principles and practice of PDP, the zoning arrangement announced by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Emmanuel Udom, who headed the zoning committee.

But the PDP National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, said the group wants to divert attention from their misdeeds that led to the party losing the 2015 presidential election.

Sheriff, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Alhaji Inua Bwala, threatened to drag some of them before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explain how they mismanaged the party’s resources.

The Concerned PDP group, led by former Minister of Information and Orientation, Prof. Jerry Gana, however could not name members of the steering committee.

The NWC, who sees to the day-to-day activities of the party, consists of 24 members. The group added that the steering committee members would work intimately with members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) until new leadership of the party is elected in accordance with the provision of the PDP constitution. “We enjoin all our party faithful nationwide not to despair.

The new steering committee will soon embark on a nationwide tour, to address and resolve all issues and areas of conflict in every state of the federation.

“The steering committee will immediately put in place a National Reconciliation Committee to reconcile all previously aggrieved party members,” the group said in a communiqué jointly signed by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran and Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

It condemned the attempt to amend the PDP constitution by “illegal NWC” in order to muzzle and control the BoT, and called for the strengthening of the board to function effectively as true conscience of the party. Concerned PDP Leaders present at the summit were Gana, Oyediran, Mantu; Onyia, Dokpesi, ABC Nwosu, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Auwal Tukur, Doyin Okupe, Chief Ojo Madueke, Chief Olabode George, Hajiya Inna Ciroma, Shehu Gabam, Mrs, Remi Adiukwu, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Ambassador Wilberforce Juta, and Haliru Ndabawa. Others include Senator Aniete Okon, Suliaman Abubakar, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Bala Mohammed, Senator Grace Bent, Esther Audu, Senator Ibok Essien, Alhaji Ibrahim Bunu, and Adamu Maina Waziri.

The group also include former Taraba State governor, Alhaji Umar Garba; Senator Abdul Ningi; former PDP national chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor; Tanimu Turaki; ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Josephine Anenih; Stella Omu; Senator Tunde Ogbeha and former Minister of Transportation, Ebenezer Babatope.

Sheriff specifically threatened to drag Gana before the EFCC in connection with the sum of N500 million he allegedly collected from the Syke Bank. “These were the same characters that deceived President Goodluck Jonathan into failure.

Unfortunately, most of them still go round to ask the chairman for one favour or the other and when the chairman declines they take offence against him. “I know as a fact that Gana has written to the national chairman to allow him nominate some people into certain committees or allow them perform certain functions for the party.

“This is the same man who recognised the national chairman, writing to him on the need to submit the report of the finance committee which he headed. The chairman has been running away from receiving that report because it is on record that the same Jerry Gana, on behalf of the party without using the machinery of the party, collected the sum of N500 million from Skye Bank on behalf of the PDP for which the party has been dragged to court and is being compelled to pay back.

“As it is, the chairman may be left with no option than to drag Gana before the EFCC to explain his role in obtaining N500 million facility on behalf of the party and let him also explain what he has done with the money,” Sheriff’s aide stated. He said the national chairman will not step down and he is going ahead with conduct of the convention, adding “those making noise have lost out in the scheme of things.”

PDP Taken Over By Hoodlums, Gangsters - Gana; You're A Thief - Sheriff Replies As Both PDP Leaders Fight Dirty

The Nation - The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new twist on Thursday with the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff threatening to drag a former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Gana before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Sheriff alleged that Gana unilaterally took a N500 million loan from a second generation bank on behalf of the PDP, without getting approval from the leadership of the party. The party chairman however did not state the time Gana allegedly obtained the said loan.

Addressing newsmen at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, the Media Adviser to the party chairman, Mr. Inuwa Bwala who spoke on behalf of his principal, said Gana lacked the credibility to criticise Sheriff.

Speaking at a stakeholder’s forum held earlier in the day, Gana, in apparent reference to Sheriff, said the PDP had been hijacked by hoodlums and gangsters who are bent on destroying the party.

He accused the Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC) of impunity and reckless imposition of candidates in the just concluded ward and state congresses across the federation.

Gana said, “To save the PDP from imminent collapse, we need excellent and competent leaders to run the party; not incompetent persons without dignity of purpose parading themselves as leaders.

“The Southern part of the country should produce the next national chairman because the North had produced seven national chairmen since the birth of the PDP in 1998.

“The Southwest geopolitical zone has never produced the national chairman in the 16 years of the existence of the PDP”.

Gana, leading other prominent members of the party, also described the planned amendment to the PDP constitution, championed by Sheriff as illegal and insisted that the national convention slated for May 21 be put on hold.

But Sheriff vowed to go ahead with the amendment of the constitution and national convention.

Said he, “The national convention will certainly hold in Port Harcourt on May 21 if the world does not end before that date.

“The group headed by Prof. Gana and similar others are not known to the party. They should take their grievances to the convention if they have any. If they choose to leave the PDP, it would be good riddance.

“It would be foolhardy for the PDP chairman to involve the same people who led the PDP to failure in the 2015 general elections in rebuilding the party. These are the same people that played ignoble roles in squandering the resources of the party.

“Let it be known to Prof. Gana and members of his group that they don’t have the monopoly of mudslinging. If we are forced to open up on them, we will not hesitate to do so.

Sheriff also accused Gana and members of his group of having approached him for one favour or the other, only to turn around to attack the chairman when they failed to have their way.

In a communique issued at the end of the Gana-led stakeholders forum, the group announced a 21-member steering committee to run the affairs of the party and work with the Board of Trustees to conduct the national convention.

The communique also said, “We enjoin all our party faithful not to despair. The new steering committee will soon embark on a nationwide tour, to address and resolve all issues and areas of conflict in every state of the federation.

“We call on the governors elected under the PDP, who are our leading beacons of light, our able senators, House of Representatives and state Assembly members to take up the gauntlet and support this noble cause.

“We need to come together as a family, to fight the cancer of impunity that has eaten deep into the tissues of our party”.

The communique was jointly signed by a former Education Minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; a former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu; and Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Those that attended the meeting included Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Bode George, Wilberforce Juta, Dr. Shettima Mustapha, Senator Bala Mohammed, Ibrahim Bunu, Senator Grace Bent, Adamu Maina Waziri among others.