A meeting between the seven governors of the new Peoples Democratic Party faction, and members of the House of Representatives has ended after fighting broke out.
A member of the House from Bayelsa State, Mr. Henry Ofongo, was punched and shoved repeatedly by his colleagues for daring to oppose the visit. His jacket was pulled off by some members.
Most of the members who crowded Ofongo, were from Kano State, including Mr. Aminu Suleiman, Mr. Baballe Murktar, Mr. Ali Madakaki and Mr. Ado Dogoa.
Mr. Dakuku Peterside and Andrew Uchendu, both from Rivers State, also shoved Ofongo, preventing him from moving close to the high table.
In the ensuing fracas, other members , who were in solidarity with Ofongo, attempted to throw chairs.
One of the lawmakers, who lifted a chair but was prevented from throwing it, was Mr. Ini Udoka from Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Emmanuel Okon, also from Akwa Ibom State, joined the fighting on the side of Ofongo.
Udoka and Okon, like Afongo, are pro- Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the PDP lawmakers.
The governors in the New PDP that visited the lawmakers were Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Abdul-Fatai Ahmed (Kwara).
They arrived the House in company with the National Chairman of the New PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje.
The Speaker of the House, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, and other principal officers received them in Room 0.28.
Other principal officers in attendance were the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; the Majority Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola; the Chief Whip, Mr. Ishaka Bawa; the Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor; and the Deputy Whip, Mr. Murktar Ahmed.
As Baraje was introduced and asked to state the purpose of their visit, Afongo stormed the venue with Betty Apiafi (Rivers); Bethel Amadi (Imo); Kingsley Chinda (Rivers); Bitrus Kaze (Plateau).
Afongo shouted “point of order”, “point of order” and charged in the direction of the high table in a bid to register his protest.
He said the meeting must not hold because he did not believe that many of the people at the venue were PDP members.
But, the pro-Baraje members stopped him, shoving and throwing punches in the process. Afongo too responded with punches.
When Baraje ignored the disruption and tried to proceed with his speech, more protesters trooped in, chanting anti-New PDP slogans.
They sang, “No, way, no way; PDP, Tukur; PDP, Tukur.”
The loud protest drowned the speech on the efforts being made to “address the culture of impunity in the PDP.”
One of the protesters, Apiafi, complained that the House was supporting “illegality.”
She fumed, “This is illegality; we have only one PDP, they should stop this rubbish. How can we legalise it in the House? The Speaker should not do this (receive the Baraje delegation).
Kaze, who is from Plateau State, also said, “Tukur is the only known Chairman of the PDP.”
A lawmaker from Kogi State, Mr. Tajudeen Yusuf, described the visit as “unnecessary” because it would worsen the party crisis.
Outside the venue, Afongo told reporters that the presence of a “large number of non-PDP members” at the meeting angered him.
He said, “Baraje is a leader in the party. If he is coming to address us, no problem.
“But, I saw a crowd and non-party members among them. I wanted to ask why and they started pushing me and shouting me down.”
Responding to Baraje’s speech, Tambuwal carefully avoided the factional crisis in the party.
Rather, he berated politicians for being on a voyage to destroy democracy.
The Speaker observed that self-interest, rather than the welfare of the majority of Nigerians, was uppermost in the minds of politicians.
He said he could not comprehend why politicians, who constitute less than “25 per cent” of the country’s population, were taking the majority for a ride.
Tambuwal added. “We are deeply concerned about recent political developments in our country, especially in the PDP.
“Democracy belongs to all Nigerians and not to politicians alone. Many people died fighting for democracy. This is a reason we must conduct ourselves according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We must abstain from heating up the polity unnecessarily because of our personal ambitions.”
Earlier, Akande-Adeola had welcomed the delegation, expressing hope that the visit would be the “beginning of the end to the crisis in our party.”
The meeting ended hurriedly as tension escalated.
Some pro-Baraje lawamakers later addressed journalists after the meeting and condemned the disruption of the proceedings by those loyal to the Tukur-led PDP.
Led by Uchendu,they explained that the delegation merely came to brief their loyalists on the steps taken so far to reform the party.
He said, “It is most unfortunate that some people came to disrupt the meeting. This is the type of lawlessness that takes place in the PDP.
“That is what we are saying, no, not anymore. But, we all saw what happened.”
None of the governors uttered a word, as they hurriedly left the venue.
Baraje also led his team members to the Senate where they briefed the Senate leadership about their grouse with the Tukur-led National Working Committee of the PDP.
Baraje said they decided to visit the Senate leaders because of its strategic importance in the resolution of the PDP crisis.
He noted with concern that the democratic image of the PDP started declining in recent years due to the lack of internal democracy caused by the interference of the Presidency.
The New PDP chairman said the development had affected the quality of the party and style of leadership “that now takes pride in illegal dissolution of states’ party structures and other acts of impunity.”
Apart from the initial demands of the governors, Baraje asked the Senate leaders to ignore the calls on them to declare the seats of Senators loyal to the New PDP vacant.
Responding, the President of the Senate, David Mark, assured the team that all the issues it raised would be addressed dispassionately.
He said the Senate would not declare the seat of any Senator vacant on account of the current crisis within the PDP.
Meanwhile, the Tukur faction of the PDP has explained that its national officers did not go to the National Assembly on Tuesday as earlier planned because of the ceasefire agreement entered into by the aggrieved governors and the President.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, told journalists that there was the need for the ceasefire to be kept.
He said, “ We are abiding by the decision reached at the Sunday meeting where we were directed to avoid anything that would be seen as inflaming the crisis.
“This was why we were not at the National Assembly. We don’t want to do anything that would be seen as stalling the ongoing reconciliation.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Good comment but where does all these help Nigerians. It tanatmounts to :that looters of Nigerian money use the money to boost their ego. This asssessment is for all.
ReplyDeleteLet me also add that the Press has to come in here and expose them based on factual journalism and not witch hunting and taking bribe or blowing the trumpets of those paid them highest.
Let me make one observation here--- The politics in Nigeria is becoming more sophisticated and have a lot of webs which I am not in position to analyze due to lack of space. The populace are becoming wiser. Time has gone when one ethniic or regional sentiment form one region is seen by the other region as sacrilege. Suffice to say that some of our old politicians failed us. Our old military men came in and they were biased by some of our old Politicians, Emirs, Onis, Obis, Chiefs and Elders around the country with no excepption.
The young politicians have not learnt any lesson. They are now going through the same process even worse than their predecessors. They are even relying on these old military guys and old politicians who are not only pot belleied but who automatically are the god fathers, advisers, sponsors and political mentors-- People who have enriched themselves and their offsprings ad infinitum. Let me remind them that the only people out of this feast now is the young boys who enrolled in the force. They also promote these young boys remotely for doing their biddings. One day the cat would not be belled and your guess would be as good as mine.
They are having feasts everyday while the commoners are left hungry.
For my young politicians "Listen if you have ears to hear with & to be forewarned is to be forearmed". God bless Nigeria.
this is a dance of shame !!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy is this devilish group call Baraje-led rebel PDP cannot allow peace reign, they have entered agreement with the main PDP to cease provocative action, yet they keep heating the polity. Do they want Nigeria to go up in flame before they can rest? Why can't these rascals desist from hooliganism and trouble-seeking? What do they want from Nigeria? I am disappointed in the so called Speaker who feels minorities are not Nigerians and should be treated as fourth class citizen. Such a man in a position like that to make a statement, (that "he could not comprehend why politicians, who constitute less than “25 per cent” of the country’s population, were taking the majority for a ride) is an embarrasment to entire Nigeria. With his act of illegality of fuelling and encouraging division in PDP. If they are comfortable let move out and allow Nigeria have peace. These people are dangerous to this Country who believes only them are entitled to rule the country. Every Nigeria has a say in the project Nigeria. I wonder what will become of Nigeria if power goes back to North, everybody will be forced to islam, as the Borno and his counter-parts have started implementing. I am not sure of Nigeria after 2015, with the way our northern partners and some supporters from west are going about it looks as if Nigeria belongs to them alone. These people are playing gods, We shall wait and see if God took permission or begged them before he put other tribes within Nigeria. We all know that the population in the north are mostly illegal immigrants from Niger Republic, Chad, Mali, Senegal, Benin Rep etc, who smuggled themselves through borders around northern part of the country into Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteWhat he said was that old PDP, new PDP, APC, Labour Party and all political parties and politicians existing in Nigeria in number account for less than 25% of Nigeria population! And they shuld stop acting as if the country belong to them alone... Odun Tutu
DeleteHonorable dummies
ReplyDeleteWhat is happening is our politics is chop chop,the politicians are less concerned about the welfare of the commoners,our lawmakers are the highest paid in the world,the presidency has 10 aircraft in it's fleet while ordinary nigerians are left to die of hunger,the politicians children attend the best schools all over the world while the children of ordinary people spend 6 yrs for a 4 yrs course due to incessant strike by ASUU,all this encourages people in position of authority to steal,steal and steal,I weep for my dear country,all the fight is for nothing but self interest,nigerians this is the time to rise and not allow politicians who are not up to 20% of the population to hold us to ransom again,let us fight for our right by voting and ensure our votes count,what happen in egypt,tunisia and the rest can happen here and prove to this monsters call politicians that the people are more powerful in any democratic setting.Rise Nigerian Youth.
ReplyDeletewon't this fight soon come down? these sectional fighting once united a big war for Nijars or should i just say a good revolution. my hand akimbo i just still they look o. common man when fighting, the fight will be common fight.
ReplyDeleteShameless Politicians. One day Nemesis will catch up you people who have continued to feed fat at the expense of the Poor Masses.
ReplyDeleteSHAME! SHAME!! SHAME!!! NATIONAL HOUSE OF COMMOTION! All fighting for their OWN INTEREST. NEW PDP, OLD PDP, the same OLD POLITICIANS that have been involved in POLITICS since 1979 to date.
ReplyDeleteI wish they(POLITICIANS) will use HAND GRENAD to BOMB themselves to DEATH one DAY.
RUBBISH!
SHAME! SHAME!! SHAME!!! NATIONAL HOUSE OF COMMOTION! All fighting for their OWN INTEREST. NEW PDP, OLD PDP - same OLD POLITICIANS that have been involved in POLITICS since 1979 to date.
ReplyDeleteI wish they will use HAND GRENAD to BOMB themselves to DEATH one DAY.
RUBBISH!
why not you guys to kill your self there,
ReplyDeleteShow of shame! God help Nigeria!
ReplyDeleteWhy must the Baraje led faction go to visit the parliament after they had agreed with the Tukur faction to sheet their swords for the meantime.
ReplyDeleteI think they are insincere and have hidden agenda. They are really the problem in the party. They are the ones deliberately setting the house on fire. President Jonathan should deal with this group with a very long pole.
Pls can some one share d video.I realy wana c d fighting
ReplyDeletePls someone should share the video
ReplyDeleteBro JONA is not A military, can the do this when OBJ is in power ??? or IBB, the see that Bro JONA can not do them anything,that is why?
ReplyDeletethis useless and shameless people that called themselves honourable were fighting for their pockets, personal ambition, selfish interest. How does this fight promote the life of common man on the street. they never legislate good laws, their concern is sharing, lets share the money. I Only have my say through this platform and I believe many people share my opinion, lets call on GOD to erase all of them PDP, APC, and the rest of them because they are running this country as a cultism.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pity that these politicians are exhibiting power tussle for 2015. The lord of Heaven is watching them. The giver and taker of life is watching them.
ReplyDeleteIt is now clear to all that this Bareje led group is all bent in destroying PDP so that the agenda of producing a northern president come 2015 can be achieved. It is a plot that must be executed come one may even if it means the disintegration of Nigeria° when he was in the mainstream PDP as chairman, what did he do differently? For Amaechi to be the only person to join them in this dance of death, he will soon reap it. Watch out
ReplyDeletePDP is d problem Nigeria is facing 2day. b4 2015 Divine 'perfect will' will be done in Nigeria.God is patient 4 them 2 repent, otherwise destruction awaits them, AMEN.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is that our corrupt politicians want to have everything to themselves because of their selfish interests. They want to have the power for themselves. They want to have all the money for themselves. See our Senators who are paying JUMBO salary to themselves. They have legislated against the Financial Autonomy of the Local Governments in Nigeria. They have legislated against Labor Issues to be in the Executive list in favor Concurrent Lists. All these are meant for them and the Governors to squeeze the common man to death. That is why there is in-fighting here and there. God is not happy with them. If this continues there is going to be a serious Revolution that may engulf all of them. They should re-think, retreat and think of the common man now if they want to be safe. A word is enough for the wise.
ReplyDelete