Patience Jonathan Threatens PDP Governors Over Tukur

The First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan
has continued to meddle in the affairs
of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), as it has emerged that she has
been haranguing the party's governors
into sparing the embattled National
Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga
Tukur.

Tukur has been blamed for much of
the crises that have bedevilled the
party, leading to calls for his removal
by the governors.
His removal was also one of the key
demands of the seven aggrieved
governors of the party, five of whom
have defected to the All Progressives
Congress (APC).
Their departure notwithstanding, the
remaining governors of PDP have
continued to push for his ouster on the
grounds that it would usher peace and
reconciliation in the party.

However, in the bid to stop his
removal, the first lady, THISDAY
learnt, has in recent days been
summoning the governors of the party
and mounting pressure on them to
drop the idea of Tukur's sack.
It was gathered that some of the
governors she has met with include
Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada,
with businesswoman, Ms. Bola
Shagaya, in attendance.

Sources said that at the meeting, the
first lady made it clear that the
governors should throw his support
behind Tukur, failing which she would
use her influence to ensure that he
does not get the ticket of the party for
a second term.

The sources also disclosed that Mrs.
Jonathan extended her campaign to
the Akwa Ibom Governor, Godswill
Akpabio, and his Abia State
counterpart, Theodore Orji.
When she met with them individually,
the source said, she informed them
that should they insist on Tukur's
ouster, she would impede their efforts
to determine who their successors will
be.

They said: "The first lady is very
determined to ensure Tukur remains
the chairman of the party, as she is of
the view that his sack could make her
husband, the president, vulnerable.
She also does not have confidence
that if Tukur is removed, there is a
guaranty that his successor will
protect the interest of the president as
the elections draw near.

"Others, however, say that the reason
she is interferring is because she is
backing other governorship aspirants
in many states, and a Tukur
chairmanship will guaranty her
candidates a free ride.
"But her meddlesomeness in the
affairs of the party is causing anger
and disquiet among the governors who
have vowed to resist any attempt on
her part to foist her demands on
them."

The governors had at a meeting last
Friday in Abuja unanimously agreed
that Tukur should be shown the door,
but given a soft landing to facilitate his
exit from office.

They are proposing, among other
sweetners, an ambassadorial posting
for him to quit as chairman.
The sources said the governors
determination to have Tukur sent
packing was made worse following his
meeting with senators last week,
where he promised them that he will
back them against the governors and
make them full National Executive
Committee (NEC) members.

The governors are expected to meet
with the president today after the
National Economic Council (NEC)
meeting to insist on Tukur's ouster.