17 State PDP Chairmen Shun Meeting With Tukur

Recent reports have revealed that, on Monday, Tukur hosted 19 state chairmen of the PDP and their Federal Capital Territory counterpart in his bid to win their support against the Baraje- led group. It was learnt that the majority of the 17 state chairmen that stayed away from the meeting attended the PDP post-convention dinner, which was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Sunday night. Before the dinner, all the state chairmen had also met at the Agura Hotel, Abuja where discussions were held on the party’s crisis. The chairmen that were absent from the meeting with Tukur were those of Kano, Sokoto, Kwara, Niger, Jigawa, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra, Taraba, Kebbi, Borno, Bauchi, Delta, Edo and Bayelsa states. In attendance were chairmen from Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Cross River, Adamawa, Yobe, Ekiti, Benue, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Nasarawa, Ondo, Lagos, Gombe, Ogun, Osun and Plateau states and the FCT. The Chairman of the Conference of the PDP State Chairmen, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo, confirmed to journalists that some of his colleagues who were absent from the meeting attended the post- convention dinner. He said some of the chairmen from states such as Bayelsa, Enugu, Edo and Ebonyi sent apologies that they were returning to their respective states on Monday morning. He said, “The decisions we took at the meeting were endorsed by our colleagues, whether present or not. But if you doubt me, I can call and put them on the speaker phone.” At the meeting, Tukur said it was only the PDP that could guarantee Nigeria’s unity and that of the entire Africa. He said, “Today, no party in Nigeria has spread like PDP and that means that people accept our party. It means also that it is a big responsibility, hence the people believe there must be equity and justice. I am analogue, while you are digital. I will give you wisdom to tackle tomorrow and we believe that every member of the party has the right to express himself. But the majority will always have their way while minority will have their say.” The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Chief Olisa Metuh, said the election of a parallel NWC by the Baraje-led faction was a mockery of the peace process. Metuh added that it was sad that the faction decided to continue its “rebelling behaviour” in spite of the peace process. He said, “I think it’s a mockery of the peace process. As it is now, we don’t know how serious this is. “The party will meet and review its position accordingly. We will meet and consider the current happenings and review our position and what we need to do in the circumstance.”