Tukur moves to tame PDP governors

National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has begun subtle moves to wrest the party from the grips of its governors and curb their overbearing influence.

To achieve his goal, Tukur plans to establish financial autonomy for the party, which will free it from over-dependence on the governors and the President.

Investigations by our correspondent indicated that the desire of Tukur and the PDP National Working Committee was based on a paper presented by a former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilise Nwodo, to the party at its December 2012 retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

In the paper entitled, “Deepening Democracy through Internal Party Democracy: Strategies for conducting credible, free and fair party congresses and primaries,” Nwodo advised the party to embark on e-registration.

A copy of the lecture was obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday.

He said this was the only way the party could act independently and equitably.

Nwodo said, “For the party as an electoral body to act independently and equitably, it must have ways and means of raising its own funds.

“We all know that he who plays the piper dictates (sic) the tunes. There are known ways enshrined in the constitution of the party by which the party is funded.

“What we are not used to in Nigeria are innovative ways of utilising these avenues. I have consistently advocated e-registration as a way of raising funds for the party.

“By this module, nobody is disenfranchised from registering in the party. The registration fees and annual dues go straight to the coffers of the party.”

He regretted that the provision in the party’s constitution, which stipulates that a certain percentage be deducted from the salaries of its elected and appointed members, was being ignored.

“This veritable source of funds has been exercised in the breach,” he stated, adding that the promise and execution of internal democracy during primaries in the party always lead to a great turnout of aspirants for elective offices.

This process, he added, would fetch a lot of money for the party.

Tukur, who had apparently accepted the idea, told our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday that the party was ready to embark on the model, adding that this would be done this year.

He said, “I’m going to embark on e-registration soon. You do that online and that will be done very soon. We will set out the criteria for this. From the online, you find your level as you go along.”

He was, however, silent on when the registration would be done and if he was going to seek the permission of the party’s National Executive Committee.

Tukur also said he was going to rebuild the party and open its doors for anyone interested in joining.

 “We are going to rebuild our party, but it will be done for justice and equity. The party is for all.

“Everybody must go to their roots. Go and reconcile from your home, village and local government, state and the centre.

“Anybody who follows the guidelines should be allowed. Anyone that is interested is welcome,” he said.

Tukur has been at loggerheads with governors elected on the platform of the party over the delayed convening of the National Executive Committee meeting of the party as well as the national chairman’s unilateral dissolution of the Adamawa State chapter.

At a three-hour meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on January 10 in Abuja, the governors had demanded the removal of Tukur.

However, on January 17, Tukur said the party was superior to the President and governors.

Reacting to Tukur’s fresh move, an Ijaw leader and a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, said this was the only way to wrest the party from the control of the governors.

Clark told our correspondent that the governors had once stopped the process, which he said, would have given the party financial authonomy.

He said, “The issue of funding of the party through the payment of membership fees and fund raisers as were characteristic at the formation stage, has now become obsolete.

“The recent attempts by the party to generate its independent income through a computerised party membership system were thwarted by the governors for no justifiable reasons.

“They simply want to maintain the status quo of the party and make it financially dependent on them. There is an adage that says he who pays the piper, dictates (sic) the tune.”