Jonathan’s Police chase five governors, senators, others from ‘New PDP’ meeting...

REPORT ACCORDING TO PREMIUM TIMES For the second time in one week, the police, on Sunday night, disrupted the meeting of the Kawu Baraje faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja.
Governors of the faction, also called the “New PDP” had converged on the Kano State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for a meeting, but were prevented from doing so by policemen, who stormed the venue to dislodge them.
The governors dislodged were Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger).
Two members of the G7 governors were absent. They were Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara).
Five of the governors, alongside some former governors, namely Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), were last Sunday stopped from meeting at the Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, forcing them to shift the venue to the Kano State Governor’s Lodge. Messrs Goje and Adamu, serving senators, were also at Sunday’s disrupted meeting.
Some groups, including the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, condemned the action of the police, which they accused of working in concert with the Federal Government to deny the governors the freedom of association as enshrined in the nation’s constitution. It also said the action was a threat to democracy.
Prior to that, an Abuja High court had declared the new PDP illegal. The court asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize the National Working Committee, NWC, led by Bamanga Tukur.
The splinter group has since indicated its plan to appeal the judgement.
The latest abortion of the governor’s meeting was confirmed by a member of the faction, who spoke on the condition of anonymity with journalists in Abuja.
The member, who was present at the meeting, said that the armed policemen stormed the Kano State Governor’s Lodge and ordered those in attendance, including the five governors, to leave the premises.
It was further gathered that the operation was led by Nnnanna Ana, a Superintendent of Police, who reportedly told the attendees that they (policemen) had order from above to flush them out of the venue.
The spokesperson of the faction, Chikwuemeka Eze, in a chat with journalists, condemned the action, stating that it was an infringement on the rights of the state governors and party chieftains who were in attendance.
“This is the impunity we have been complaining about. When is the impunity going to stop,” he said.
“Where is the government dragging Nigeria to, when they cannot control the security organs, because we have been complaining about what the Police is doing, infringing on human rights of governors. Is this normal?
“We once again plead with President Jonathan to call these people to order before they plunge this country into confusion.”
Mr. Eze later released a statement late on Sunday night about the police’s action. Read his statement below.
IMPUNITY UNPRECEDENTED AGAINST NEW PDP AS POLICE ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTS TO DISRUPT THE G7 CAUCUS MEETING AS IT MEETS TO ACCEPT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND PLOT PARTY’S FUTURE
The Caucus of the New Peoples Democratic Party (New PDP) met this evening, Sunday, on 3rd November, 2013, at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, to review progress reports, accept the reports of committees and take important decisions on the future of the movement. The Caucus comprises the G7 Governors, former Governors, present and past Senators, past and present members of the Federal House of Representatives, National Working Committee (NWC) members and some elders and stakeholders of the party.
Sadly, midway into the meeting, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Asokoro Police Unit, CSP Nnanna Ama, burst into the scene and ordered the meeting stopped, threatening to mobilize troops to abort it if his order was not obeyed. According to CSP Ama he has the directive from the Villa to arrest the Governors if the meeting is not stopped. For a DPO to be sent not only to disrupt meeting of Governors duly elected by Nigerians but to arrest them if they fail to heed his counsel is a sign that these people can decide to disrupt the association of any group of Nigerians at any time knowing that such an act is a breach of the Constitution of our country. Not minding all our past complains about the impunity and disregard of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by our Security organs and it is sadden that the Federal Government has continued to maintain stoic silence and bluntly refused to call our security agencies to order accordingly to us is one of the wonders of the present administration in Nigeria. What is baffling to us the more is the continuous silence of our elders and past Heads of State on these various acts of impunity perpetuated by this administration knowing the grave danger such acts will lead this country to. Let it not be assumed that we are the only one to suffer for this desperation and frustration by some of these misguided elements in this administration as they will go after other Nigerians if they are not called to order on time.
Though before the arrival of CSP Ama the Governors have gone very far in their deliberations as the meeting has considered the Mobilisation/Contact Committee’s recommendations on how to receive the five new Governors joining the group and directed the NWC of the party to set in motion a machinery to receive the new entrants. The NWC was also directed to critically examine the available options and recommend to the Caucus the platform to be used for the 2015 general elections. The Caucus is to deliberate on this during its next meeting to be held immediately after the proposed peace talks with President Goodluck Jonathan. The options to be considered include either to remain in PDP or adopt any of the three other options, namely, accept the proposal of APC or join PDM, VOA or form a new political party.
The Caucus also noted the majority request that seeing that we have majority of our members in the National Assembly and majority of the Governors, the idea of continuous waiting for the meeting with Mr. President before deciding our future is no longer ideal in view of the lukewarm attitude of Mr. President and his lieutenants in restoring peace to the party and refusal to attend to most of our demands. The Caucus decided that we should give the President some weeks grace before finally deciding on our next line of action.
The Caucus also stated total displeasure at the lack of reasonable effort to sort out the lingering ASSU/FG face-off which has kept our children at home for over four months. It counseled the Federal Government to urgently arrest this ugly incident by declaring a state of emergency in the education sector to enable the Government meet up with the demands of ASUU.
The Caucus concluded by encouraging members to continue to keep faith with the leadership of the party at this trial period, fully aware that it is only a matter of time before we take a final decision that will auger well for our nascent democracy and the nation at large.
Governors Aliyu Babangida of Niger, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa (attended), Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara State could not make it to the meeting due to urgent state matters but sent their apologies, which were accepted by the Caucus. Others that attended include Danjuma Goje (Gombe State); and Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa State).Others included the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; Deputy Chairman Sam Sam Jaja; National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and Vice-Chairman, North-West, Ibrahim Kazuare, among others.
Long live NPDP!
Long live Nigeria!!!
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze