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Re: Ogbulafor’s meddling in Kebbi PDP

Equally, as a loyal and committed member of our party in the state like my brother Ahmadu Gotomo, I strongly believe that the democratically constituted…

Equally, as a loyal and committed member of our party in the state like my brother Ahmadu Gotomo, I strongly believe that the democratically constituted National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party under the leadership of Prince Vincent Ogbulafor is desirous of bringing to an end the era of garrison command-type of leadership in the party. This stand is obviously aimed at ensuring the practice of internal democracy in the party at all levels.

However, in as much as I appreciate Gotomo’s concern on the plight of our party in the state and his ability to share his knowledge of the situation based on his understanding, I equally wish to share mine with the advocates of true democracy, rule of law and development in Kebbi State.

Yes, a vacuum existed in the leadership of the party in the state following the resignation of the democratically-elected chairman, Barrister Kassimu Baura, under questionable circumstances. Questionable because no right-thinking person will voluntarily resign from the chairmanship of a ruling party in the state and wholeheartedly accept a commissioner’s appointment.

Every loyal and committed member of the party in the state must have noticed that the resignation of Barrister Baura and others among other things, was the beginning of the destruction of the PDP leadership structure at all levels.  This is evident in the recent selection of people to fill the vacuum created by the exit of Barrister Baura and others.

Article 12 subsection 40 of the party’s constitution states that “the state congress should consist of the state chairman, the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who are members of the party in the state, governor, deputy governor and gubernatorial candidates, the federal ministers and chairman of the board of parastatals who are members of the party in the state, ambassadors who are members of the party from the state, special advisers and special assistants to the president and vice president who are members of the party from the state, members of the board of trustees form the state, members of the state executive committee, all members of national and zonal executive committees form the state, members of the National Assembly from the state and the members of  state assembly who are members of the party, ten state commissioners and ten special advisers who are members of the party, all elected local council chairmen and vice chairmen who are members of the party, all local government party secretaries and treasurers, all local government woman and youth leaders, 25 delegates per ward….”.

Finally Article 12 subsection 41b states “functions of the state congress to include elect officers of the state executive committee”.

But for obvious selfish reasons, the party’s constitutional provisions were disregarded and membership of the party in the state insulted when the selection of the persons to fill the vacuum was secretly done in a sitting room at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi. Therefore, Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero or any committed member of the PDP in Kebbi State has the constitutional right to petition the national leadership of the party against the abuse of the constitution and insult on the sensibility of the generality of the members. In any case, nobody has been informed of the section of the party’s constitution violated by the national leadership when it directed the zonal secretariat to stop further rape of the constitution by the self-serving party leaders in Kebbi State.

The allegation of bribing the national chairman with a mansion and choice plots to discharge his constitutional responsibility should have been substantiated with detailed information to avoid doubt. So, the inability of Mallam to make available this vital information will certainly make one to conclude that the insult on leaders like the national chairman is part of lessons being taught at Governor Dakingari’s established College of Betrayal Strategy and Political Gangsterism.

The governor’s leadership of the party in the state is not in dispute but if a leader glaringly demonstrates his selfishness and wickedness on the led, he is not worth the leader he claims to be. Besides, the claim in the write-up that “Governor Dakingari’s only fault is the respect he gives to not only his superiors but all citizens of Kebbi State” is subject to debate in view of his recent acts. Is it respect for superiors that Governor Dakingari gave directives for the continuation of his second term campaign in Zuru, barely two days after President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua directed the stoppage of such campaign at the party’s recent national convention?

Ngaski wrote in from No. 28, Ibrahim Salisu Street, Gesse Phase Two, Birnin Kebbi


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