New PDP holds the key to Aso Rock in 2015

The National Publicity Secretary of the New Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Chukwuemeka Eze, in this interview with OLUSOLA FABIYI, alleges persecution by the Bamanga Tukur-led factionof the ruling party and insists that the splinter group holds the key to Aso Rock come 2015

What exactly are the demands of the New PDP?

Our demands are mostly hinged on the democratisation of the party and allowing due process and democratic norms to prevail in PDP as earlier envisioned and envisaged by the founding fathers of the party. We also want a stop the draconian and undemocratic tendencies of the present leadership of the party whereby a cabal controls the affairs of the party to the detriment of the majority members of the party.

Based on this, we are asking for the reversal of some of the undemocratic acts and actions so far taken by the party. They include the reversal of the unjust suspension of Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State; acceptance of Governor Amaechi as the  authentic Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum after he was duly elected by the majority votes of the governors, defeating his opponent, Governor David Jang of Plateau State, with 19 votes against Jang’s 16. We are also asking that the impunity in the Adamawa State chapter of the party, where  Tukur has set up a parallel state exco contrary to all known norms of the party must be stopped, among others.

This issue of persecution by agents of government, how true is it?

It beats my imagination that our people could be made to experience the kind of harassment we are subjected to under a democratic set-up, reminding us of the days of Abacha, where the constitutional rights of Nigerians were thrown to the dogs.

Contrary to the provisions of Chapter IV Sections 42, 43 and 44 of the Constitution, which guarantee our right as Nigerians to acquire and own property in any part of the country, our national secretariat and most of our state secretariats have been sealed off by the Police on the orders of those in power. This is despite the fact that we still have a court case against Bamanga Tukur and his National Working Committee.

Two weeks ago, the Federal Capital Territory Administration in its over-zealousness to please President Jonathan marked our sealed national secretariat for demolition on the laughable excuse that it was originally approved as a residential building. Yet, this property was being used as the national secretariat of another political party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), before New PDP acquired it – and the same FCTA kept mute! At that time, the FCTA did not realise that it violated land use but it now wants to demolish the building in a hurry simply because the authorities perceive the new owner (New PDP) to be anti-government! What is more, the Adamawa State lodge, also in Abuja, which we were using as temporary national secretariat, has also been sealed off on the flimsy excuse that the area is not for commercial activities.

Are these things true?

They are verifiable. But let me add that the use of anti-graft agencies to hound our members is no longer news. Timipre Sylva, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, and Senator Bukola Saraki are two foremost examples.

On its part, the Nigeria Police, which has woefully failed to find a solution to the menace of Boko Haram, kidnapping, assassination and other criminal acts ravaging the country, has been given a fresh mandate to frame up our members and term them criminals in order to keep them at bay. The experiment has already started in Bayelsa, the home state of President Jonathan, where 85 per cent of the citizens have indicated interest to work against his second term ambition due to the total neglect of the state and the entire Niger Delta region by the present administration.

The Bayelsa State Police Command in its press release dated October 4, 2013 and signed by the Police Relations Officer, DSP Akhigwe Alex, on behalf of the State Police Commissioner, said, ‘Bayelsa State Command wishes to inform the general public that as a result of complaints from well-meaning citizens of Bayelsa State most of which borders on criminality against one Richard Poekene Kpodo, a high powered investigation committee headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of Central Instigation Department has been set up to look into the various crimes allegedly committed by him and members of his syndicates.”

What are the crimes allegedly committed by Richard Kpodo?

He has suddenly become a criminal by joining and becoming the state Chairman of the Baraje-led faction of the PDP in Bayelsa. Curiously, his present hunters have conveniently forgotten that this was the same man who was in the forefront of the Campaign Team of President Jonathan in 2011. His state secretary, Sidi D. Godwill, was the zonal youth leader of PDP. These two, together with all other key members of the Baraje-led PDP, can no longer visit Bayelsa State just because of politics!

This ruthless trampling on our fundamental human rights leaves no one in doubt that the Jonathan administration is intolerant of opposing views. Nigerians can now see what we meant when we said these people are no democrats. They are intent on turning our country into a banana republic where the rights of Nigerians no longer count. Nigerians should prepare for the worst because today it is New PDP, tomorrow it would certainly be somebody else.

When you read that Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State had opted out of New PDP, what went through your mind?

It was a friend that drew my attention to it around 4am on that fateful day. I fainted immediately and my wife had to battle frantically to resuscitate me.

I could not stand the shame that a key member of our group could opt out at this crucial period of the struggle when our efforts are about yielding the desired results. After overcoming the shock, I put a call through to both my National Chairman, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, and National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, both of whom immediately called Governor Aliyu. By 8am, the national chairman called me back and announced that the governor had refuted the satanic report. It was then that I fully recovered to face the challenge of answering various calls coming from both within and outside Nigeria on this report that nearly sent me to an early grave.

Is your group joining APC?

This, again, is an assumption. However, the fact remains that we are today the most beautiful bride in Nigerian politics. We hold the key to Aso Rock come 2015, so if every political group wants to associate with us knowing very well that we would determine who stays in Aso Rock come 2015, so be it. Joining APC or we forming our own party depends on the outcome of our meeting with President Jonathan on our demands.

I am not saying anything new but merely repeating the recent assertion of Governor Babangida Aliyu, that the outcome of discussions between our Progressive Governors known as G7 and President Jonathan holds the key to our next move. The governor said, “There is no way you can wake up and say you are pulling out when you are already negotiating. You cannot pull out at this moment. The time for decision to be taken will be when we have concluded discussion with the President.”

What is your grouse against Jonathan & Tukur that warrants this ceaselessly attacks?

We have nothing against President Jonathan as a person because he is a good man surrounded by wolves. Once he toes the path of democracy and have respect for rule of law, I will swim with him but if he continues turning a blind eye to the impunities being committed against the Rivers State people and the government, I can’t be part of his actions.

On  Tukur, he is my uncle and I cannot have anything against him. You may not know, I spent over 20 years in Yola. I did my youth service in the defunct Gongola State in 1989. All my six children were born in Yola. Awwal Tukur, the first son of Bamaga Tukur is my personal brother but the problem I am having is that I have an assignment to do and if I have to sacrifice such an assignment on the altar of relationship or friendship, I will not be doing Nigeria and Nigerians any good. Once we are through with our national calling, we will retire to our family home in Yola and discuss issues over. That is just how I operate.