PDP faction emerges in Niger, to declare support for Tukur in Abuja

A group in the Niger State Peoples Democratic Party loyal to the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur faction has emerged and is set to storm Abuja this week to formally declare support for the embattled national chairman.
This development has nullified the repeated claim by the leader of the party in the state and Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, that there is no division in the party in the state.
The group, which has serving and former members of the National and State Assemblies, ex-ministers and leaders from the 25 local government areas of the state, are set to formally present a letter to Tukur in Abuja any moment from now.
A source within the group told our reporter that the group differed its plan in declaring support for Tukur in line with the agreement that the two factions in the party should hold their peace until the planned peace meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the G7 governors.
The source said: “We are set to formally and publicly declare our loyalty and support to the constituted leadership of the party under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
“This we would have done but we are waiting for the outcome of the 7th October meeting.
“Now that it is clear that they (G7 governors) are bent on destroying the party, we had patiently been waiting for the outcome of tomorrow’s (Monday) meeting but now that the meeting may not hold, we shall be making our position known to the world.
“We are mobilising a minimum of 10 buses per local government for the Abuja trip, while all our National Assembly members are to receive us at the Wadata House.”
When asked to be specific when the group will be going to Abuja, the source offered: “I cannot disclose the day for tactical reason but what I can say is that the visit will take place within the next few days.”
Meanwhile the efforts of the retired Colonel Aminu Kontagora-led elders committee set up by the governor and the State Working Committee of the party at a stakeholders meeting on Thursday to meet with and persuade the three prominent leaders supporting the Tukur group in the state to stay action, may have hit the rock as none of the leaders was available to meet with the committee over weekend.
The committee was directed to meet with a former Governor of the state, Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure; a former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; and Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.
A member of the SWC, who was at the Thursday meeting, told our correspondent in confidence: “The governor is disturbed about the development.
“If this group is allowed to go to Abuja, it will show that the claim that the party is one in the state is false.
“So the governor, who belongs to the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led faction and the state party chairman are not comfortable, hence today’s meeting.”
Last Tuesday, Aliyu said he has uncovered plans by the Presidency to use money to induce some “disgruntled elements” in the state to cause problem.