By Danlami Nmodu
It was the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,Adamu Muazu who stunned Nigerians recently when he admitted openly what many insiders have considered the undoing of the party’s chieftains :the proclivity to use and dump members and loyalists.
During the inauguration of Ahmadu Ali-led PDP Presidential campaign organization in Abuja recently,Muazu dropped the bombshell accusing the party of “injustice”.
Telling truth to power in the most unexpected way,the national chairman said“Mr. President, I want you to discuss with your governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives and other elected officials.
“We say that members of the PDP should not be used and dumped again. People leave the party because of lack of equity or injustice.
“Monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. That must stop. This time round, monkey must work and monkey must eat.
“A lot of people who left (our party) did so because of injustice in our party. The party is full of injustice.
“The membership of the APC, LP, APGA and others are increasing because of this. All these members are from our party. We must find out what is wrong and correct it.”He got a standing ovation at the end of his presentation.
Newsdiaryonline has learned that the “use and dump” syndrome has been a major problem which has caused the defections of members not only at the federal level but also in some states.
Exclusive reports reaching Newsdiaryonline indicate that Vice President Namadi Sambo has particularly lost many loyalists after they felt “used and dumped”.Some of them have felt so frustrated that they have quit politics and are in private business full-time; after working for the success of Sambo in Kaduna only to be dumped at the state level.Worse still, one victim of sambo’s use and dump act claimed that even when he came to Abuja as vice president, only people who belong to his ex-college circles were found worthy of compensation,leaving those who felt they gave their all in ensuring his success at the polls in Kaduna frustrated.
“I was used and dumped.I don’t want to have anything to do with these people.Some of us have gone into private businesses.”one self confessed “victim” told Newsdiaryonline under condition of anonymity.
“I can tell you that many people who are not in private business have aligned themselves with the opposition all along instead of PDP.It’s terrible”,he said.
Sources revealed that one typical example ex-loyalist of Sambo who was dumped afterward was the case of Major Bilyaminu Musa Mohammed (retired) and his intelligence boys.
Insiders told Newsdiaryonline that during the 2007 gubernatorial election campaigns,Major Bilya as he is popularly called was the director “ int& sy”(intelligence and security ) of the presidential /gubernatorial campaign in Kaduna state.He was said to have been so effective that he received several letters of commendation from Sambo’s Mutunchi 2007 gubernatorial campaign.
Newsdiaryonline sighted three of such letters.Two were endorsed personally by Sambo while a third one was signed by Alhaji Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi,director General,Kaduna State PDP Campaign Committee (Mutunchi 2007)
One of the letters signed by Sambo after his election as governor was addressed to “Maj Bilya Mohammed.” Titled :”Letter of Appreciation and Commendation”, the letter signed by Arch Namadi Mohammed Sambo Governor-elect,dated 16 April,2007 said “ I wish to congratulate you and commend your worthy contribution towards winning the gubernatorial elections.As we count our gains, we must not relent our efforts towards the last lap of the election”
“May Almighty God strengthen us all as we strive to deliver our beloved state,on this last lap of the elections”.
Newsdiaryonline learned further that Major Bilya and his intelligence and security team were however were dumped afterwards.Sources said that after the elections, several developments in Sambo’s Kaduna caused disquiet within the ranks of Bilya’s boys in the intelligence and security directorate of Kaduna PDP campaign.
Our sources said perhaps having seen the signs of abandonment, Bilya also begn to seek ways of taking care of himself elsewhere.So he started shuttling between Kaduna and Abuja.This got his boys angry and they decided to cry out in writing about their growing frustration about the emerging signs of being used and dumped by the Mutunchi 2007 campaign.
Six members of the directorate of Intelligence and Security of the Mohammed Sambo Gubernatorial Campaign Organization Kaduna wrote a petition dated 27th July,2007 which they addressed to the ir director ,Major Bilya.The petition was signed by E.Dennis, secretary,Usman Sani ,liason officer,Ibrahim Ahamdu,asst in. officer, Isa Babajo Yakassi,coordinator zone 1,Bashir Kokori,coordinator zone11 and Donatus Adamu,coordinator zone 111 for members of the directorate.
The three-page petition enumerated the boys’ tale of woes after successfully prosecuting the 2007 general elections in the state.They recalled that during the inauguration of the team ,Sambo “promised that when victory is achieved, the contributions of the members of the directorate will not go unrewarded”.
“Sir”, they wrote to Bilya “we your directorate members worked and toiled Day and Night towards ensuring the success of the party at the polls.We contributed immensely and we were commended by all and sundry”We were never found wanting.
“We were usually the first to report for work and the last to close, we were the ones in Open vans working against all odds and weather inclement(sic) we were there providing security reports and close body protection to His Excellency,we were there combating and battling down all opposition at campaign venues,we were there when our security vehicle somersaulted five times only for us to be saved by divine intervention…”
They reminded their director about aow his house was almost burnt down and he had to move his family to safety because of threats from the opposition.”We were there when we lost Sqaudron Leader S.K Mohammed” they noted.
But ,they also said “sir the elections are over, victory is achieved and yet it appears the situation is changing.It is becoming everyone for himself and God for us all.This write up is therefore necessitated by the turn of events after victory was achieved.”
They complained about Bilya’s absence,which they thought was because of his confidence in Sambo and his promise “but we would like to bring to your notice that at the rate things are going,it appears everyone is only concerned about himself and his own members.”
The boys predicted that Bilya might “be schemed out”.And Newsdiaryonline learnt that, indeed many loyalists who worked for Sambo were schemed out and “they have left him”.Some of the estranged ex-loyalists who toiled for him during that campaign according to sources included, Engr.Namadi Musa in charge of logistics,Dr Durun Guwa also of logistitics unit,Makiah Tokwak among others and one Audi among others.
It was also gathered that Sambo who is currently the vice president and his the presidential running mate of PDP’s candidate,President Goodlck Jonathan has been making efforts of late to reach out to some of his ex- loyalists.One of those contacted told Newsdiaryonline that he politely turned down the attempt to bring him closer .Another source said Sambo will do all within his means to regain their confidence.One of his associates recently described the vice president as a silent achiever.
There are clear signs too that the vice president has made new friends who are also making the case for him as the 2015 campaigns hot up.A recent evidence was a statement last weekend by some young turks who are fiercely defending him.
Group Opts For Sambo, Rejects Elders’ Position
The Northern Emancipation Network (NEN) has reiterated the region’s firm support for Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo and frowned at recent claims for the adoption of General Muhammadu Buhari as the North’s sole presidential candidate by a certain group of elders.
Reacting to media statements credited to the spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi that the North would only settle for the presidency, NEN’s Coordinator Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said he saw nothing wrong having a loyal northerner in the number two position while the region prepares for the presidency in 2019.
In a statement released in Abuja last Friday, Suleiman said the North should rather reciprocate the retention of Sambo on the Peoples Democratic Party presidential ticket by President Goodluck Jonathan rather than go on a wild goose chase that could further darken its political future.
According to Suleiman, Professor Abdullahi was merely dragging the region and the northern elders into his personal war for ascendancy which must be resisted.
He advised member of the Northern Elders Forum to reclaim their statesmanship by not allowing people like Professor Abdullahi to push it into appearing to attempt taking unilateral partisan decisions for the region.
Suleiman challenged Professor Abdullahi’s locus standi for referring to others as pickpockets given his shaky antecedents with regards public accountability and probity while he was Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and as head of Obasanjo’s Food Security Commission.
“Those living in glass houses should always avoid throwing stones about,” Suleiman cautioned and reminded Professor Abdullahi to know when to keep on fighting and the time to beat a retreat.
What this means is that though Sambo may have lost some ex loyalists, there are also new turks still ready to stick out their necks for him.How much electoral value this will yield in the February 2015 general elections remain to be seen.Sambo has said he expect massive victory for the PDP in Kduna.
Only time will tell.