The permutations in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have begun following the defection of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. There are discordant tunes over the next moves of the Waziri Adamawa. Will Atiku clash with some of the presidential aspirants over the party’s presidential ticket? SAMINU IBRAHIM reports.
Atiku versus Makarfi
There are indications that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, may clash over the presidential ticket of the party ahead of the 2019 general election.
Former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and others being speculated as having interest in the 2019 presidential race includes the Gombe State Governor, Hassan Dankwambo, former Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana, are likely to clash with Alahji Atiku Abubakar, if the former Vice President eventually rejoins the PDP as is being speculated later this week.
Atiku, who left the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, 24 November, in a statement which he personally signed, had adduced so many disheartening experiences he had in the fold of the APC noting that he had to call it quit with the party largely due to the failure of the party to govern well and truly improve the welfare of the people. He alleged that he was excluded in all activities of governance and that the APC’s arbitrariness and unconstitutional actions were unbearable to any true democrat.
Consequently, he said “after due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters and the Nigerian people whom I meet in all walks of life, I, Atiku Abubakar (Waziri Adamawa) hereby tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress while I take time to ponder my future”.
Though the Waziri Adamawa may have not made public his next destination clear, but it seems crystal clear that Atiku’s next political moves will be where he could most likely be availed the opportunity to realise his political ambition: contest for the president of Nigeria, a thing that he could not realise on the APC platform because of the looming influence of President Muhammadu Buhari. So, the PDP, a party he was a founding father naturally becomes the most attractive port of call. Should he eventually pitch his tenet with the PDP in the hope of having a platform to vie for the presidential ticket, he may have to slug it out with strong contenders, particularly the former Governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who is the National Caretaker Committee of the party and who is also allegedly preparing grounds to clinch the ticket.
Historically, if Atiku eventually joins the PDP as is being speculated, it will be the second time he would be leaving and rejoining the party in a spate of ten years. Although he has not officially announced the party he is going to, there is huge speculation that the former Vice President will return to the PDP to contest for the 2019 presidency.
Likely brick walls
Getting an automatic ticket may not be easy however as other PDP members who have expressed interest are intensifying their own campaigns. Alhaji Sule Lamido, who is a member of the party has shown interest in running for the presidency on the platform of the PDP.
Little wonder, the PDP in a swift reaction to Atiku’s resignation of his membership from the APC declared that the former Vice President is welcomed but added that there will be no automatic ticket for those seeking for its presidential ticket.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat, the day Atiku dumped the ruling APC, the PDP spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, said that the decision of Atiku to dump the APC openly is a good thing for him as a politician who has seen the light.
“Therefore, being a founding father and because we have an umbrella that is big enough to accommodate everybody, PDP is a democratic party. PDP is a free party and was conceived for all Nigerians and is free from all religious, ethnicity and geographical divisions”.
But when asked if the PDP will give Atiku automatic ticket to contest the 2019 presidential election, Adeyeye said that the party will not do so, but will provide a level playing ground for him, like everyone who might want to seek the party’s ticket for the 2019 presidential contest.
“So, if he comes in, the PDP offers everyone a platform to aspire to any position they want without any problems, without any hindrance.
“As a democratic party, once you come in and meet all the constitutional requirements of our constitution, of course, you are free to contest for any position, but we will not give ticket to anybody just like that. We will follow up all the normal democratic processes,” Adeyeye said.
Presently, there is seemingly a silent war in the party ahead of the December 9, national convention and it is obvious that Makarfi may be preoccupied with the preparations for the convention and therefore unlikely to be publicly concerned with his ambition for the party’s ticket until after the convention.
Similarly, a top hierarchy of the PDP who pleaded anonymity added “I don’t want to comment on Makarfi’s presidential ambition now, but I will be vindicated after the national convention. Already, I have been vindicated by comments by Adeyeye, saying there will be no automatic ticket for anybody”.
Positioning Secondus to clear coast?
Meanwhile, Makarfi, has refuted insinuations going round that he is presently nursing presidential ambition; conversely, as part of the scheme to position himself for the ticket, the former Kaduna state governor is allegedly supporting the aspiration of former acting national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. Though Secondus has refuted the allegation recently at a press conference held in Abuja by claiming that neither Ahmed Makarfi nor Governor Nyesom Wike drafted him into the race for the national chairmanship of the PDP.
“There is no truth in it that Governor Wike wants to do this or that, like I said I consulted him and move to Bayelsa, why are they not calling Bayelsa governor. I am even close to virtually all the governors, the BoT chairman and others like and I consulted Wike as I do others. People just sit down and imagine all sorts, I have not sat down with Makarfi to suggest that if I am the chairman how he will become…..all these are speculations” Secondus said.
Significantly, the former vice president, who is also reportedly engaging in national consultations with the PDP stakeholders ahead of his declaration for the party is said to be enjoying the backing of the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, for the party’s presidential ticket. This, according to sources, has polarized the PDP Governors’ Forum under the leadership of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose.
Moreover, Atiku may have, for strategic reasons, distanced himself from the political horse trading and intrigues ahead of the PDP convention. The Waziri Adamawa it was further gathered may have pitched his tent with former Minister of Education, who also doubles as former Nigeria Ambassador to Germany, Professor Tunde Adeniran for the chairmanship position.
Divided interest
Interestingly, the PDP is said to be further divided following Atiku’s defection from the APC as some have identified the argument that the national chairman seat should go to the South west, while others would want the South south all of which are desperately trying to draw Atiku to their side.
Speaking on the brouhaha and the build up to the party’s convention, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the PDP, Barrister Abdullahi Jalo put it succinctly: “At the earlier stage when Atiku left the PDP, political analysts in the country concluded that he had made a mistake.
“Atiku is welcome to the PDP, so we will wait and see what he does next and the party he would want join. But the pride of all party members is that they are happy that the person who built a house, particularly his (Atiku) contribution in the political terrain of the country is recognized. Atiku has come back and we will see what he wants”, Jalo said.
