By Danlami Nmodu
Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP has suspended Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto state.His suspension was announced Wednesday night by Olisa Metuh spokesman of the party who signed a communiqué of the party’s National Working Committee ,NWC meeting.
The communiqué said, “The NWC notes that on several occasions, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko had ignored invitations and lawful directives of the NWC in this regard and has continued to show complete apathy to the affairs of the party and contempt to an organ of the Party.
“Consequent upon the refusal of the Governor to honour yet another invitation by the NWC to appear before it today, Wednesday, June 5, 2013 without any reason, the Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 57 (7), 58. 1(c ),(h), (f) and 59 (1),(2), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko as a member of the party and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.”
Wamakko is the second governor to be suspended by the party since the crisis following the re election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi as chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum.The party swiftly suspended Amaechi days after his victory.
Today’s suspension of Sokoto state governor came a day after Newsdiaryonline.com reported that there have been moves by PDP to suspend and possibly impeach Speaker House of Representatives,Hon Aminu Tambuwal.The speaker is known to be a political associate of the governor and hitting the governor may be interpreted as going for Tambuwal’s Jugular at his Sokoto PDP base.The suspension further confirms reports of lingering unease in the party
Today’s decision may have a negative implication on PDP in 2015 as Alu as Wamakko is called is believed to be extremely popular in Sokoto.Is PDP ready to give up Sokoto?Only time will tell.
Read the statement suspending Sokoto state governor below:
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END THE NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE PDP ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2013.
The National Working Committee (NWC) at its 338th meeting held on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, extensively discussed the state of the Party across the nation and its members as well as the repeated breaches and disregard to the Party’s Constitution by his Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State.
The NWC notes that on several occasions, Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko had ignored invitations and lawful directives of the NWC in this regard and has continued to show complete apathy to the affairs of the party and contempt to an organ of the Party.
Consequent upon the refusal of the Governor to honour yet another invitation by the NWC to appear before it today, Wednesday, June 5, 2013 without any reason, the Committee, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 57 (7), 58. 1(c ),(h), (f) and 59 (1),(2), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko as a member of the party and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.
This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the Party to enforce discipline at all levels within the Party.
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
