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National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur | credits: File copy |
The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, on Monday said the party would continue to deal with saboteurs and agents of destabilisation in its fold.
Tukur said the inability of the party to weed out saboteurs and agents of destabilisation in the past had led to indiscipline in the party and, if not checked, it could cost the PDP victory in the 2015 elections.
“The ruling party would no longer hesitate to wield the big stick against perceived saboteurs and agents of destabilisation in its fold and we would begin to rely on the appropriate sections of the constitution to serve as guide,” he said.
He said this while speaking with journalists on the 14 years of uninterrupted civilian regime.
The PDP, last week, slammed a suspension on the governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, for alleged anti-party activities and consequently sent up an 11-member investigative panel to consider the charges against the governor.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh in Abuja, said the decision to suspend the governor was taken after an emergency meeting by members of the NWC.
He said the NWC at the meeting, considered petition written by the Rivers State chapter of the party against the governor for violating some sections of the party’s constitution.
The Rivers governor however faulted his suspension, describing it as “political witch hunt.”
Tukur on Monday said the leadership of the party was not happy with numerous reports of anti-party activities being leveled against PDP members in some states of the federation.
He vowed that the party would no longer tolerate any acts of indiscipline and sabotage from its members, saying that acts of indiscipline was capable of costing the party its desire to retain power by 2015.
The PDP chairman said, “The failure of PDP to strictly enforce its laws for whipping non-conforming members into line had accounted for the frequent breakdown of confidence among our members, on one hand and the troubles with the leadership on the other hand.
“Today, everybody is talking about 2015 with expectations that we must win fairly and transparently.
“How can we achieve that if certain members of the party go against the rules with impunity, while nothing happens? We have had enough of inconsistencies and loose conducts, and today we say that must stop”.
He described party laws as supreme, saying it must be enforced and that the founding fathers of the party never joked with the issue of discipline and that the incumbent leadership of the PDP was not willing to depart from the same path.
Meanwhile, a Network of Civil Society Organisations has blamed Tukur for the crisis in Adamawa State.
The coalition, which faulted the declaration of emergency rule in the state, also cautioned President Goodluck Jonathan against serving the political interest of a few at the loss of lives and economy of the people.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the Network, Kalu Onyedikachi, said
“Adamawa State, for any justifiable reason, is not supposed to be included in the state of emergency affected states”.
According to him, Adamawa remains the most peaceful state in the entire North-East.
He said, “The pocket of violence witnessed in the state like destruction of property, armed robbery etc. resulting to death in some cases started immediately Alh. Bamanga Tukur took over as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and engaged the Governor on a political combat of who controls the party machinery in the state in violation of the party’s constitution, order from a court of competent jurisdiction and presidential instruction/committee”.
Source: Punch
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