Rabiu Omaku
Critical stakeholders of the People’s Democratic Party in Nasarawa state 0has accused the state chairman of the party, Honorable Francis Orogu for hijacking the party, This was the complaint made by members of the state faction of the party.
The majority of party supporters are nagging on the weakness of the state chairman of the party’s excesses as an achievement recorded under him which they said is the unabated suspension of any member that stands his way, It was uncovered that Hon. Mohammed Tanko AKA Dan’majen Azara, Jacob Ogiri, a contestant for the House of Assembly from Doma, and other core members of the party were expelled a week after the assumption of office of Hon. Orogu reason has been they attended a meeting of a new platform in Keffi, the first step was a serious setback to the party.
A two-time member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Awe/Doma/Keana federal constituency, Hon. Mohamed Ogoshi Onawo gave the indication in an exclusive Interview with selected Journalists at his abode in Gwarinpa Abuja.
Onawo speaking aftermath of the manipulations exhibited during the ward, Local Government and state congresses of the party described the entire system as a sham, says Nasarawa PDP must go back to the drawing board if really the party wants a better outing to come in 2023.
He further explained that the party was a mortgage by Orogu whom he said has nothing to offer the party if not the intermittent suspension of members of the party, Ogoshi Onawo averred that the achievements recorded under Hon. Francis Osuwena was massive suspension and expulsion of those that matter in the party, adding that the party was slowly descending to the abyss.
Onawo however gave reasons why his own faction of the PDP which comprises of the highest number of former state chairmen and Zonal officers and key elective officials distancing away from the one-sided state congress as very unfortunate to the then ruling party in the state.
“If the likes of distinguished Senator Solomon Ewuga, the first Deputy governor in the current dispensation, a former Minister and Senator was sidelined, Ewuga was a critical grass mobilizer in Eggon land,
If the likes of former Minister of Justice and Member House of Representatives representing Awe/Doma/Keana federal constituency, Musa Elayo, a critical stakeholder in the politics of Alago land and Keana was humiliated by Orogu, If me Hon. Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, a former Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and two-time member House of Representatives representing Awe/Doma/Keana federal constituency was humiliated and frustrasted during my quest for a senate seat to represent Nasarawa South who do you think would not suffers humiliation under Orogu.
“With us are the former state chairmen of the party, Polycarp Azige, a former ambassador, Chief Yunana Iliya who also held the position of the state Secretary and subsequently state chairman of the party, Yusuf Ayitogo who also held the position of state chairman and Zonal chairman North-Central are in this group”.
He explained that the nagging issues why the boycotted the process were the hand-in-glove of the national executive of the party to play the game according to the role instead of supporting Francis Orogu to use his manipulative tendencies to sink the party, He further asked questions why complaints and petitions were forwarded to the appeal panel forward and Local Government congresses and the chairman of the committee, Senator Abba Moro after explaining to them that no election was held in Lafia, Keffi and Awe but allowed ward and Local Government congresses and went further to conduct state congress.
He further accused the caretaker committee chairman under the headship of Theophilus Dakas Shan for organizing the worst congress in the history of PDP from 1999 to date, He explained that wards and Local Government congress were conducted around 11:00 pm to 1:00 am with an outcome of manipulation orchestrated by Francis Orogu and the national Secretariat of the party, except for the one in Doma because they were given close marking.
“Dakas has contributed in a negative way to the hiccups the PDP was passing through, he was in-charged of North -Central zone of the party and I can attest to the press that the party has a serious problem in Plateau, Niger, Kogi, Nasarawa state were plunged into intra-party confusion, asking pertinent questions that on whose interest and to whose advantage ahead of 2023 election year ?.
“You people are aware of the way and manner former American President, Donald Trump was running the country, and his utterances and was defeated in the recent election, what I expect from a democrat should be all inclusive process” Onawo added.
He further accused the chairman of running religious politics in a state where every household have a Christian, Muslims, and pagans interacting with each other, Honorable Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo when asked whether his faction of the PDP has a plan to jump ship to another platform, He stated that the decision would be an all-inclusive decision to either remain in the party or to join a political party with a national outlook.
The running mate to the governorship candidate of the party in 2019 governorship election thanked their supporters for boycotting the state congress of the party which was wrongly planned by the national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party.
HON.MOHAMMED SIDI BAKO
The chairmanship aspirant of the party, Honorable Mohammed Sidi Bako in an interview shortly after the announcement of Orogu by the chairman of the election committee, Ibrahim Shehu Shema described the entire process as anti-democracy. He confided that Orogu and the party leadership perfected their plan and one-sided congress by allocating votes to him.
He however said only two persons contested for the state chairmanship seat, not three as announced by the former governor of Katsina State, Shehu Shema, adding that one of the contestant, Jibrin Sabo Keana AKA JSK step down for him through consensus. He buttressed that the announcement was a clear indication of playing the script handed over to them by the power that be.
“I will exhaust all legal means to ensure that the right thing is done, I keep on wondering how can State congress held while the appeal panel is still working on petitions presented before the panel, there was no congress in the chairman’s award in Kadarko, no election in part of Keana, Adudu in Awe and the entire Keffi but the chairman of the committee went ahead to conduct state congress”.
Reacting over the position of Francis Orogu saying Onawo faction of the party is working for another political party, Hon. Sidi Bako termed the revelation by Orogu as quite unfortunate for a person of his character to head a formidable party as PDP, Hon. Bako said he benefitted as an elected official under the umbrella of the party as a two time Local Government chairman of Obi as well a two-time member of the House of Assembly more than Francis Orogu who was just once a member of the House of Assembly.
“My legacies are everywhere in Obi for people to see, in fact, I done my own part to unchained my people from the shackles of poverty”.
Mohamed Sidi Bako when asked whether he will jump ship with his teeming supporters, He opined that he will follow the legal means with an alternative which he said would be made known to the broad -spectrum populace of the party.
THEOPHILUS DAKAS SHAN CARETAKER COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN called on members of the party to embrace one another ahead of the 2023 general election, Dakas described the entire process as a family issue which would be resolved amicably.
He however expressed optimism over the turnout and maturity exhibited, as he said the target of the opposition party in Nasarawa state is to be formidable ahead of the task ahead.
IBRAHIM SHEHU SHEMA
The former governor of Katsina state, Ibrahim Shehu Shema,who is the chairman of the state congress after the announcement of winner of the election said the victory was for PDP not an individual as he appeal to all aggrieved members within the party to eschew crisis.
THOSE ABSENT AT THE STATE CONGRESS OF PDP AT LION GATE ARE
1.Onje Gye Wado,former Deputy Governor
2.Damishe Luka Barau,former Deputy Governor
3.Michael Abdul former Deputy Governor
4.Mathew Akwe
5.Senator Philip Aruwa Gyunka, immediate past senator, Nasarawa North
6.Angama Webe
7.Yunana Iliya-former chairman
8.Musa Elayo,former Minister of Justice
9.Senator Solomon Ewuga former Minister FCT
10.Jibrin Sabo Keana
11.Yusuf Ayitogo,former chairman of the party
12.Hon.Abdulkarim Usman,member representing Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba federal constituency
13.Hon.Mohammed Sidi Bako
former member House of Assembly
14.Hon.Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo,PDP Governorship running mate in 2019 election
15.Hon.Mohammed Baba Ibaku,former member NSHA representing Udegi/Loko constituency
16.Hon.Anthony Obande,former member NSHA representing Doma South
THOSE PRESENT AT THE STATE CONGRESS IN KEFFI ARE
1.Francis Orogu
2.Senator Suleiman Adokwe
3.Walid Jibrin (BOT chairman)
4.Mike Omeri,former DG National Orientation Agency
5 Hon.Ibrahim Hamza
Former member NSHA
6.David Ombugadu-2019 Governorship candidate
7.Hon.Gaza Gbefwi-MHR
8.Hon.Adamu Oyanki- former state party Secretary
THOSE FORCEFULLY
SUSPENDED FROM THE PARTY ARE
1.Senator Solomon Ewuga
2.Hon.Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo
3.Hon.Musa Elayo
THOSE EXPELLED OR FORCE TO DUMPED PDP
Below is the list of those expelled or defected from the party
1.Yusuf Agabi ,governorship candidate in 2015
2.Yusuf Musa Nagogo
3.Musa Ahmed,former speaker NSHA
4.Mohammed Tanko (Danmajen Azara)
5.Jacob Ogiri
6.Peter Mbucho
7.Hon.Mohammed Aga Muluku
member NSHA
8.Mohammed Alkali member NSHA
9.Patricia Agwashiki,former Minister
10.Philip Dada
Former SSG under Akwe Doma
11.Florence Ayih
12.Ngargbu
13.Senator Sodangi,two time senator Representing Nasarawa West
LIST OF EARLY DEFECTORS FROM PDP TO OTHER PARTIES
1.Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura
2.Aliyu Bello
3.Senator Abdullahi Adamu
4. Yusuf Loko-former commissioner of Education
5.Abdullahi Mustapha-former commissioner of Information
6.Maryam Ama Buba
7.Hajiya Rakiya
8.Reps.Ahmed Aliyu Wadada
9.Labaran Maku-former Minister of Information
10.General Aboki
11.Amb Musa Illu
12.Musa Saidu-former ALGON chairman
13.Bar.Sani Bawa -chairman LGSC
14.Musa Dangana
15.Simon Egya
16.Adams Nyisana-former member NSHA
17.Hussaini Zanwa Akwanga-former Minister of Labour
18.Ali Abubakar,former TMC chairman,Doma Local Government
19.Mohammed Egwa-former commissioner of Agriculture
20.Dr.Rebbeca Issac Umaru
21.Hon.Elisha Agwadu-former Deputy Speaker
22.Tanko Wambai
23.Musa Hussaini
24.Hon.Abdulhamid Kwarra
25.Hon.Haruna Osegba
26.Hon.Tanko Zubairu,former member House of Representatives representing Awe/Doma/Keana
And amongst others
Only time shall as the party chairman assured that the PDP would retired Engineer Abdullahi Sule from politics come 2023.
