Sokoto Governor and His Deputy on Collision path

Muktar Shagari

Deputy Governor Mukhtari Shagari of Sokoto State has stated that he would never leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declare for the All Progressive Congress (APC) as Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko did. Mr. Wamakko is one of several PDP governors called the G-7 who had formed a splinter group of the party before most of them announced their decision to join the APC.
Speaking to journalists at his residence, Mr. Shagari said he was one of the founding fathers of the PDP in 1998, adding that the party had done enough for him to remain in it. He stated that he had twice been made a senior minister under the party, he was given the ticket to contest the Sokoto state gubernatorial election in 2007, and later agreed to be the running mate to Mr. Wamakko when the governor decamped to the PDP. “Therefore, I cannot just abandon the party that made me and even honored me with national honors of Commander of the Federal Republic,” Mr. Shagari said.
The deputy governor also added that, for the more than five months that Mr. Wamakko had been going around consulting, the governor had never even once briefed him of his intention to dump the PDP.
A SaharaReporters investigation confirmed that Governor Wamakko had since stopped allowing Mr. Shagari to act as governor whenever the governor traveled out of the state.
On Monday, Mr. Wamakko stated that the five governors who defected to the APC had resolved to dump the PDP for good. Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting of some PDP governors, including three of the G-7 governors, with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, Mr. Wamakko announced that five members of the PDP’s G-7 governors had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He explained that he attended the meeting following a presidential invitation to him and his other colleagues. He said that the meeting gave him the opportunity to explain to Mr. Jonathan that the G-5 Governors who defected no longer consider themselves members of the PDP.
“Well, the meeting went on very well because some of us came here as governors to discuss [a] PDP matter and our position has been known. On behalf of the five of us, I have already briefed Mr. President on our position as G-5 that we are no longer in the PDP mainstream and that we are already in another party,” Mr. Wamakko said.

PDP Seek Defected Governors Sack

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has commenced move aimed at unseating five of its former governors, who recently decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
It has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking among others, an order directing the Houses of Assembly in the governors’ states to commence impeachment process against them.
The affected governors are – Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara).
Joined in the suit along with the five governors is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party cited Sections 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution as the basis for which the court could declare the governors ineligible to remain in office as governor having defected to APC.
The PDP presented five questions for the court’s determination and prayed for six reliefs.
The reliefs include an order mandating or directing the State Houses of Assembly of Adamawa, Rivers, Sokoto, Kano and Kwara States to commence impeachment proceedings against the 2nd – 6th defendants (the governors) forthwith.
Other reliefs are listed as follows:
* A declaration that by the combined provisions of section 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) the 2nd – 6th defendants who were elected under the platform of the plaintiff cannot continue to enjoy the mandate given to the plaintiff by the people / electorate of the respective states as the 2nd – 6th defendants have defected to the APC.
* A declaration that in the absence of any division known and recognized by law in the Plaintiff, the 2nd – 6th defendants who were elected under the plaintiff’s platform have vacated or forfeited their seats forthwith upon their defection to APC.
* A declaration that having combined provisions of section 87 of the Electoral Act 2011 (as amended), section 177 (c), 221 and 222 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) the 2nd – 6th Defendants defection from the Plaintiff the APC, the offices of the 2nd – 6th defendants have reverted to the plaintiff.

Former President, Obasanjo Should Tread With Caution, Tukur Warns

The embattled national chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, Bamanga Tukur, has called on the former chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Olusegun Obasanjo, to tread with caution. Mr. Tukur’s censure was issued in a statement issued by his spokesman in reaction to a fiery public letter by Mr. Obasanjo in which President Goodluck Jonathan was accused of acting against the interests of the PDP as well as engaging in other undemocratic acts.
Mr. Obasanjo, who was Nigeria’s president from 1999 to 2007, was instrumental in installing Mr. Jonathan in office.
Reacting to Mr. Obasanjo’s controversial letter, Mr. Tukur said it was wrong for the former president to insinuate in his letter that Mr. Jonathan was using Mr. Tukur to cause confusion in the increasingly fractious ruling party.
“For such a statement against the person of the national chairman of the PDP to come from Chief Obasanjo, a former head of state and president, is most unfortunate,” Mr. Tukur stated. He added: “Chief Obasanjo in his position as former president under the PDP platform should have known very well the constitution of the party, the party manifesto as it relates to the independence of the PDP National Working Committee.”
The PDP national chairman continued: “For [Mr. Obasanjo] to insinuate that the President is using the national chairman to cause multiple problems for the party doesn't in any way portray him as a true democrat.
“Chief Obasanjo is very much aware of the fact that Dr. Bamanga Tukur is a man of honor and proven integrity who shouldn't be portrayed as a stooge to anybody. It is well known to Chief Obasanjo that Dr. Bamanga Tukur is a man who acts according to the dictates of his conscience and conviction and in line with the party constitution and manifesto. Dr. Tukur as the national chairman and one of the founding fathers of the party can never allow his opinion or decisions to be teleguided by any external force as a principled administrator and seasoned politician.
“Chief Obasanjo's statement is certainly an attack on the personal integrity and credibility of Dr. Tukur as an outstanding statesman of international repute.”
Mr. Tukur’s statement concluded: “Chief Obasanjo is however advised to tread with caution over his personal attacks or vituperations against his fellow elder statesmen or those in exalted political positions in the country.”

Demonstration of Craziness,Police Chase Away Rivers Lawmakers With Teargas And Gunshots

Tension Mounts Again In Rivers State As Police Chase Away Legislators With Teargas, Gunshots
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were today prevented by the police from gaining access to the Assembly to resume legislative functions.
This development comes barely 48 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the National Assembly from taking over the legislative functions of the State Assembly.
Acting on the orders of the court to resume its legislative duties, the lawmakers, numbering about 25, at about 9am proceeded to the Assembly Complex in a white coaster bus but were suddenly stopped halfway by men of the Nigeria Police in the state headed by Mbu Joseph Mbu.
The Rivers State Police Command had barricaded the road leading to the Assembly Complex, causing a heavy traffic jam on the Moscow road axis.
When the legislators, led by Deputy Speaker Leyii Kwanne, accosted the police to ask why they were being prevented from performing their constitutional duties, the police said were yet to receive the court judgement ordering the lawmakers to resume duty.
Following the resistance of the police, the legislators resorted to seating in the sun to commence their preliminary session, presided over by Hon. Kwanee.  The police responded by firing several teargas canisters to disperse them.  Some gun shots were also fired.
A few minutes later, Police Commissioner Mbu drove by but did not stop.

Obasanjo writes President Jonathan

On 2nd December, this year, an apparently angry and frustrated ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan, a letter that clearly competes as one of the most acerbic in modern history, accusing him of ineptitude and of taking actions calculated at destroying Nigeria.
“Nigeria is bleeding and the hemorrhage must be stopped,” Mr. Obasanjo said in the 18-page letter he titled “Before It Is Too Late” exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday.
He said Mr. Jonathan has failed to deliver on his promises to the Nigerian people, stem corruption, promote national unity and strengthen national security.
He said that rather than take steps to advance Nigeria’s interest and up the standards of living of Nigerians, Mr. Jonathan had betrayed God and the Nigerian people that brought him to power, and has been pursuing selfish personal and political interests based on advice he receives from “self-centred aides”.

see the raw copy as shown below:

Nigerians React to Doyin Okupe "Jonathan is our Nelson Mandela" statement

The Senior Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe has been criticized over a statement he reportedly made comparing President Jonathan to the recently deceased South African icon, Nelson Mandela.
Dr. Okupe was reported to have declared during an interview on Africa Independent Television that “the only one we call our Mandela is President Jonathan.”
He said:

“Nelson Mandela was a great leader, he lived his life for the people of South Africa.
I check through the history of Nigeria, among our past and present leaders, the only one we call our Mandela is President Jonathan. There is no president in Nigeria that has sacrificed 13 hours to discuss with ASUU.”

Nigerians have commented on the statement via social media, and these are some of the reactions:

 ”@Lady_Deelicious: Like i said his cocaine is 1st grade from colombia @DOlusegun: GEJ Is Nigeria’s Mandela – Doyin Okupe
— Habiba Ibrahim (@leschique) December 7, 2013

“GEJ is Nigeria’s Mandela” – Dr Doyin Okupe. This man shld be left in a padded room with no doors & fed thru a letterbox with a stick.
— Wale Gates (@walegates) December 7, 2013

President Jonathan should sack Doyin Okupe for making such a sick statement and send him to Yaba left too.
— Tunji (@heymode) December 7, 2013

I bet Doyin Okupe smoked high grade SK & took a lil of GEJ’s ogogoro before going on set to say ‘GEJ is our Mandela.
— ♠★♥HoLEEsinner☆★☆ (@CrownPrinceKay) December 7, 2013

South africa shuts down nigerian embassy as doyin okupe compares jonathan goodluck to nelson mandela…#NAWETINIEXPECT
— seriki david (@davylight) December 8, 2013

GEJ knows how to pick them. Okupe , Gulak and Reno. Three peas in a pod
— Olusegun Dada (@DOlusegun) December 7, 2013

But seriously why will Okupe say becos Jonathan spent 13 hours with ASUU he is suddenly equal to Mandela? This is seriously unacceptable
— I am The Godfather (@Ayourb) December 7, 2013

If President Jonathan is Nigeria’s Mandela according to Okupe, is Bishop Oristejafor also our Desmond Tutu? #Wonderingcitizen
— victor ehikhamenor (@victorsozaboy) December 7, 2013

People like Okupe are the reason Nigeria looks at least 3 millenniums away from that positive change we need. @abati1990
— Adedeji Oluwaferanmi (@Feranz_CFC) December 7, 2013

#irresponsibility@abati1990 pls sir advise your president daily to be the mandela of his time and not on the papers as okupe wld suggest.
— guv (@guvnorjr) December 8, 2013

Celebration Of Mandela In Death

Rest In Peace, Madiba