Gov. Akpabio |
Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko was suspended by the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday for not recognising the PDP
Governors Forum, it was learnt last night.
Wamakko was also said to have refused to accept the leadership of the
PDP Governors Forum, headed by Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill
Akpabio.
But the PDP yesterday denied that the governor was suspended because of his activities at the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
Wamakko was also accused of failing to pick the persuasive calls of
National Chairman Bamanga Tukur, on the party’s Governors Forum.
A top party source said: “In spite of the directive of the party,
Wamakko has refused to either recognise PDP Governors Forum or attend
its meetings. He has been sticking to the Nigeria Governors Forum headed
by Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
“Wamakko believes the PDP Governors Forum is unnecessary because it
was borne out of political mischief. But the party tried to sell the
idea behind the Forum to the governor, who was not persuaded.
“When the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, called
him many times, he refused to pick his calls. The party saw this as
disdain for its leadership.
“So, the NWC felt it should suspend Wamakko as part of its new policy to enforce discipline in its fold.”
Another source said: Wamakko was suspected to be one of the “rebel
governors” who voted for Governor Rotimi Amaechi during the NGF poll.
“So, some forces in the Presidency are uncomfortable with Wamakko
because of his “independent mindedness on issues,” said another source.
But an associate of Wamakko said: “Was Tukur phoning the right
telephone lines? We are in an era where governors change lines because
of fear of bugging by some agencies and mischievous elements.
“Those who are desperate for 2015 poll have been hijacking lines to
measure loyalty. Since most governors have discovered this trend, they
stay off their lines. I am sure Tukur might have been phoning wrong or
dead lines.
“Assuming that Wamakko refused to pick Tukur’s calls, is there any provision in PDP’s constitution for such an offence?
A statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh yesterday
said the decision to suspend the governor was reached after “very wide
and exhaustive consultations”, in accordance with the provisions of the
constitution of the PDP and in the overriding interest of the party.
The statement said: “It is important to note that the reason for the
suspension of Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko predates the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum’s election.
“Sometime in early April, the leadership of the party was concerned
with the statements and conduct of the governor whereupon the national
chairman placed several calls to draw the attention of the Governor to
the matters concerned.
“However, it was not possible for the national chairman to speak with
the Governor despite several attempts. The national chairman thereafter
vide a letter dated 12th April, 2013, requested an explanation to the
NWC within seven days.
“Instead of replying the national chairman, Governor Wamakko directed
the Sokoto State Secretary of the party, Mallam Aminu Bello Sokoto, to
reply the national chairman.
“The state party secretary, in a letter dated April 14, 2013 and on
the official letterhead of the Sokoto State Government House, replied
the national chairman on behalf of the governor.
“This amounted to gross disrespect and act of insubordination to a
national officer and a lawful organ of the party, which is in violation
of Articles 58.1 (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP constitution, which
prescribe sanctions for any member who (c ) ‘disobeys or neglects to
carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the
party’, (h) ‘engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among
members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and
efficient conduct of the business of the party’ and (m) ‘fails, refuses
or neglects to treat a petition, complaints or appeal timeously’.
“Nevertheless, the NWC, vide a letter dated April 17, 2013, kindly
requested His Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, to appear
before it on the 8th of May, 2013 to clear the issues thereof.
“The NWC also wrote to the State Secretary, Sokoto PDP, Mallam Aminu
Bello Sokoto, requesting explanations for his actions as a state party
officer, in replying the national chairman.
“Regrettably, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko never honoured the
invitation and refused to respond in any way despite repeated
invitations from the NWC, an action which is in clear violation of
Article 58.1 (c), of the PDP constitution. In the same vein, the State
Secretary, Sokoto PDP, also refused to respond to the National Working
Committee (NWC).
“Consequently, the NWC at its 336th meeting held on May 22, 2013
suspended the State Secretary, Sokoto PDP, Mallam Aminu Bello Sokoto and
communicated the decision to him in a letter dated May 22, 2013.
“The NWC thereafter extended yet another invitation to His
Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, in a letter dated May 23,
2013 in which it requested him to appear before it on Wednesday, June 5,
2013 to clarify the issues.
“Unfortunately, in complete disregard to a lawful organ of the party,
His Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, instead of appearing
before the NWC, travelled out of the country on Tuesday June 5, 2013
without any form of response to the party.
“The NWC frowned at this act of gross indiscipline and disrespect to
the party and was, therefore, left with no other option than to invoke
relevant articles of the PDP constitution in furtherance of the
determination to enforce discipline at all levels within the party.
“We wish to state that the leadership of the party has immense
respect for all elected and appointed political office holders and in
the same vein, expects all political office holders to reciprocate by
respecting the constitution and lawful organs of the party upon which
platform they hold office.
“The NWC hereby restates that no individual or group within the party
is, and must be seen to be above the constitution and lawful organs of
the party. All party members are under the rule of the constitution of
the party and must so abide”.
source: the nation
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