INEC should deregister Tukur’s PDP – Aggrieved govs, others

PDP National Chairman, Dr Bamanga Tukur

The  parallel Peoples Democratic Party led by Abubakar Baraje has said the faction of the party led by Dr. Bamanga Tukur should be deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

It hinged its position on what it described as the failure of the faction to complying with Section 222(D) of the 1999 Constitution which requires a political party to notify INEC of any  alteration of its constitution.

It was learnt on Tuesday shortly after the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenh,  said the seven  governors who aligned with a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,  and others   to form the Baraje -led faction  had genuine grievances.

The position of the faction known as the ‘New PDP’ is part of the  statement of claims    before the Lagos High Court,Ikeja . The faction is also seeking the declaration of  Tukur as illegal chairman of the PDP on the grounds  that he was not properly accepted as a member of the PDP  after his expulsion by the National Executive Council  of the party  in 2001.

According to the statement of claims, “It will be recalled that the 2009 PDP Constitution was amended which brought about the 2012 PDP constitution.

“Evidence has surfaced to prove that strange clauses which were not part of the proposed amendment to the 2009 Constitution  was inserted into the originally  produced version of the 2012 Constitution and those alterations were not approved by the party’s  convention and the NEC, thereby making the document a forged document which is invalid.

“The forged 2012 Constitution was not equally filed before INEC as required by the  1999 Constitution, thereby making the PDP constitution upon which the 2013 convention was held an invalid document and the outcome of that convention invalid, as it was held with no valid constitution.

“The proof  of these evidences can be seen in the approved memo by the PDP NEC upon which the amendment was done in the 2012 and the original version of the PDP constitution filed with INEC will as well prove these violations.”

On why  Tukur was not capable of presiding over the PDP convention, the statement of claims  noted that, “exactly on  May 31, 2001, the PDP NEC, after its meeting  in Abuja, expelled eight members of the PDP   in accordance with the PDP constitution which gives the NEC the powers to discipline NEC members who breach  the constitution.

“They were expelled after NEC considered and adopted the report of the Iro Dan Musa-led PDP Disciplinary Committee. Alhaji   Tukur,  Chief Don Etiebet, Asheik Jarma,  Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (late), Emmanuel Ibeshi, Harry Marshal and Gbenga Olawepo, were the ones expelled from the PDP.

“Note that Article 10(b) iii of the PDP 2009 constitution and Article 8(17) of the 2012 amended constitution which holds that any member of the party who loses his membership by expulsion can only return to the party with the approval of the party executive at his ward, state and national levels, who shall give him a waiver.

“Since the expulsion of   Tukur in 2001, he has not complied with the above requirement  , meaning that his purported participation at the 2012 convention where he was elected was a fraud and invalid, as he is not yet a member of the party.”

The Baraje’s faction is also asking the court to declare the August 2013 convention   as illegal based on the  participation of “illegal delegates;”   the disqualification of duly elected delegates; and the failure of the party to comply with the provision of Section 85(1) of the Electoral Act.

Section 85(1) of the   Act states, “a registered political party shall give INEC at least 21 days notice of any convention, congress, conference or meeting convened for the purpose of electing members of its executive committees, and other governing bodies.”

Also on Tuesday,  a group,  the PDP Stakeholders Forum, filed a fresh law suit at the  Federal High Court in Abuja,  seeking the nullification of PDP  mini- convention  and the sacking  of  Tukur.

In the  suit, the forum  also asked  INEC to deregister the   Tukur-led PDP faction  for allegedly using a forged 2012 constitution to hold the convention.

The Chairman of the forum,  Chief Ikenga Ugochinyere,  said, “We insist that this act of brazen criminality must not go unpunished. The perpetrators of this heinous crime against the party and the law of the land should be arrested and charged to court.

“Tukur is ab-initio not a bonafide member of the PDP that is capable of being elected into the office he currently occupies. Alhaji  Tukur was expelled by the National Executive Committee of the party after being indicted for “high level anti-party activities” alongside five others in May 31, 2001.”

Tukur   however denied the allegation that he was not a member of the party.

Speaking through his aide, Mr. Oliver Okpala, he  asked  for  evidence that he was  no longer a member of the party.

 “Tukur is among the founding fathers of the PDP. He has paid his dues and the allegation that he has been suspended should be ignored. Let those making the allegation show evidence that he is no longer a member of the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP BoT Chairman,  Anenih, has  said  the seven  aggrieved  PDP  governors had  genuine grievances.

Anenih,   in   a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, also said that the Tuesday (yesterday) peace talks between President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP governors, including the aggrieved ones, had been postponed till next Tuesday.

He explained that the shift was at  the  instance  of the aggrieved governors, adding that   the peace talks   would continue next Tuesday after selected party leaders of the party would have met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday as part of the wider consultations demanded by parties to the crisis.

He said,  “I believe some of them have genuine grievances; but I have hope that, once the grievances are addressed, they will come back.  I am happy that the PDP has an internal mechanism for effective conflict resolution. At the end of the day, the problems will be addressed and the PDP will come out of the crisis stronger.

“Part of the wider consultations is the meeting of selected party leaders with Chief  Obasanjo on Friday morning and thereafter, we will meet with the governors on Tuesday, next week.”

He disclosed that the aggrieved governors told the Presidency and the PDP leadership that they needed more time to make wider consultations. Anenih  explained that the Presidency and the PDP leadership were taking advantage of the postponement to also consult widely on how to amicably resolve the crisis.

The BoT chairman, who read out the resolution of the marathon meeting that held in the Presidential Villa from Sunday night till the early hours of Monday, expressed optimism that the problems would be resolved.

Anenih had at  the end of the  meeting read  a short resolution   to the hearing of the  PDP governors.

Police arraign driver for abandoning pregnant wife

The police have arraigned a 27 year old commercial bus driver, Oluwole Ajao, before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly neglecting his five-month pregnant partner, Yewande Awofeso, and attempting suicide while in the police cell.

The police said Ajao abducted Awofeso, 20, from her parent’s custody between December 2012 and July 21, 2013 before impregnating her without her parent’s consent.

He was alleged to have also abandoned Yewande at Somolu General Hospital, Lagos,for seven days, and failed to contribute to her ante-natal care.

The three counts added that after his arrest, he attempted to commit suicide in the police cell by hanging himself “in the burglary of the cell.”

The charge read in part, “That you, Oluwole Ajao, m, between December 2012 and 21st July, 2013 at No 17, Jebina Street, Bariga, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did abduct one Yewande Awofeso, f, aged 20 years, from custody of her parent, with intent to marry and to have sexual intercourse with her, without her parents’ consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 267 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.

“That you, Oluwole Ajao, m, on the July 29, 2013, at about 2pm, at Bariga Police Station, Bariga Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District did attempt to commit suicide by hanging yourself in the burglary of the cell and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.”

The defendant said he was not guilty of the charges.

In his testimony, the defendant said he did not abandon his lover in the hospital but had gone to work for money, and had been sending money to her through her sister.

This was confirmed in court as the woman was asked to rise and attest to the statement.

There was also no evidence to show Ajao abducted Awofeso as the police claimed or that their union had not been by mutual consent.

The magistrate, Mrs. M.O Ladipo, said the case lacked merit, saying it was a “love affair” that could be sorted out among the parties involved.

The matter was subsequently struck out.

DPP recommends manslaughter for man who killed lover

Regina James

The Directorate of Public Prosecution, Lagos State, has said George Iheanacho, who allegedly killed his live-in-lover and mother of his three children, Regina James, will be charged with manslaughter.

It was exclusively reported on May 29, 2013, that the accused, who worked in a shipping company, had a misunderstanding with Regina sometime in April, 2013.

It was reported that the argument led to Iheanacho beating up Regina, and in the process, she fell into a coma. The victim died before she could get medical attention.

Iheanacho was subsequently charged to court for the crime, and was granted bail pending the DPP’s advice.

According to the DPP’s advice dated August 30, and signed by Ms Olayide Eboda for the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Lagos State, the facts from the police case file indicated a case of manslaughter, and not murder.

The DPP’s advice read in part, “After a careful perusal of facts contained in the duplicate case file, this office is of the opinion that a prima facie case of involuntary manslaughter contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, is established against the suspect, Ihenacho Nkem.

“Facts available in the police duplicate file revealed that the deceased ran into the hands of fraudsters at Iyana Ipaja who defrauded her of N200,000, made her drink a concoction and then, beat her up.

“On getting home and informing her husband about what happened, her husband also beat her with a cable wire, during which she excreted twice on her body. She died thereafter.”

The advice stated that the facts did not satisfy all the ingredients of a murder case, hence a charge of involuntary manslaughter was preferred in the absence of intention.

It added that though the act of beating the deceased as alleged by one of the witnesses, Peace Effiong, might have aggravated the situation, it was not enough to conclude that the defendant indeed deliberately killed the deceased.

Counsel for the defendant, Spurgeon Ataene, urged the court to allow the defendant continue on bail before the matter would be taken to the High Court for trial.

However, the lawyer for the complainant, Mr. Destiny Takon, objected to the plea.

He said, “I want to observe that the bail granted to the defendant was pending the DPP’s advice. The advice is out, his bail has expired. Since the substantive charge is going to the High Court, and this court cannot handle the matter, it also means it cannot take its preliminary part. The proper thing is to give the defendant’s bail a burial. ”

The magistrate, Mr. O.O. Olatunji, said the law gave him the power to exercise his discretion over the issue of bail.

He said the defendant should be allowed to continue on bail if his four sureties could express their willingness to continue standing for him in writing.

The matter was adjourned till October 18.

NDLEA seizes liquid drug disguised as vegetable oil

The drug

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized the “first illegal shipment” of liquid methamphetamine to South Africa.

The methamphetamine which weigh seven kilogrammes was disguised as vegetable oil.

 It was learnt that anti-narcotic officials made the discovery at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos during a routine check.

A customs-licensed agent, who brought the consignment for shipment through a South African Airline flight, was also said to have been arrested by the agency.

 NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr. Hamza Umar, confirmed the arrest and seizure.

He said, “This is the first seizure of liquid methamphetamine. There were six containers in all but only two were found with vegetable oil, while the remaining four contained liquid methamphetamine. With the assistance of our forensic personnel, we were able to extract the crystallised methamphetamine which weighed 7kg.”

Liquid methamphetamine is said to be formed when methamphetamine crystals are dissolved in water. The water can be heated, leaving the drug in solid forms.

The NDLEA had in 2012, uncovered three methamphetamine factories in Lagos and one in Anambra states.  The production of methamphetamine is said to have grave health implications for those involved and others living within the immediate vicinity.

The suspect, a 31-year-old native of Imo State, Ugochukwu Okoroji, said he owned the seized drug.

He said, “I started living in Lagos in 2003, but I started working as a clearing and forwarding agent in 2008. I have been struggling to make ends meet without success. I have already told the NDLEA officers before their examination that the consignment belonged to me. By the time they discovered the drug, I was very unhappy.”

Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, commended the discovery.

He said, “The NDLEA will continue to prevent illegal drug trade through effective drug law enforcement as well as anti-drug abuse advocacy campaign.”

Driver’s death in LASTMA custody stirs controversy

Okechukwu Osaka

Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos State, are investigating the cause of the death of a commercial bus driver, Okechukwu Osaka.

Osaka was said to have died in the custody of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority on March 15, 2013.

It was learnt that on the day, Osaka had parked his vehicle by the side of the road and had gone to a nearby canteen to eat. It was said that while he was eating, some people told him that a team of six LASTMA officials were towing his vehicle.

It was learnt that in a bid to stop them, he had an altercation with the LASTMA officials.

Eyewitnesses said despite Osaka’s efforts, the vehicle was towed. The deceased was said to have jumped into the vehicle, which was taken to Iponri operational base of the agency.

Colleagues of the deceased at the Ojuelegba Motor Park told our correspondent that it was the last time they saw Osaka alive.

But the spokesperson for LASTMA, Bola Ajao, had said Osaka died suddenly, shortly after arriving at the LASTMA office. She insisted that there was no foul play.

Ajao in a statement, said, “A commercial bus with number plates, XS 318 LND, was abandoned at Ojuelegba with no occupant inside as of the time of the arrival of LASTMA officials at the scene. The vehicle was eventually towed by the officials to the LASTMA zonal yard, Iponri, Surulere.

“The young man (Osaka) later made an appearance and was asked to provide evidence of ownership, and thus went to his parked vehicle. He was later discovered to be vomiting, shaking and foaming whitish substance from the mouth. He fell down and convulsed. The officials quickly made an emergency call to LASTMA control room.

“The medical team of the Lagos State Ambulance Services pronounced him dead on arrival. The case was immediately reported at Iponri Police Division, where his remains and the vehicle were taken to for further investigation.”

It was learnt that the Iponri Police Division tagged the matter as a case of “Sudden and Unnatural Death,” while the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Adelakun Ewunmi, transferred the corpse to Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.

However, the deceased’s colleagues were insisting that the LASTMA officials killed Osaka.

The Igbo community in the state has taken over the case and was also alleging foul play.

President General, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos, Chief Ebere Ubani, said it was the strong belief of the group that the deceased was murdered by LASTMA officials.

Ubani, in a letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, urged the police authorities to ensure that justice was done; saying that investigation by the Iponri Police Division was summarily conducted.

Ubani argued that the division should have transferred the case to the SCID since divisions had no power to investigate such cases.

In response, the IG, in a letter dated July 25, 2013, and signed by his Principal Staff Officer, DCP Murtala Mani, ordered that the case be transferred to the SCID for further investigation.

Investigations at the SCID, however, hit a brick wall when it was discovered that nearly six months after the alleged murder, no autopsy had been conducted.

It was also gathered that the corpse had decomposed considerably.

Osaka’s boss, John Nwachukwu, said he was surprised that the police at the Iponri station did not take the corpse for an autopsy despite the fact that he had paid for it three days after Osaka’s demise.

He said, “Three days after his (Osaka’s) death, the IPO, Adelakun Ewunmi, collected N30, 000 from me for an autopsy. It was not until August 15, 2013, after the matter had been transferred to the SCID, that he hurriedly demanded that an autopsy be carried out.

“The corpse was not well preserved at the general hospital and due to its decomposed state, we were told that the test  was inconclusive.

“I strongly believe that the IPO had an ulterior motive because he did not go to nearby government hospitals to conduct the autopsy. He did not go to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, or Gbagada General Hospital which are not too far from Iponri. He chose to go to Ikorodu and dumped the corpse there, thereby undermining investigations.”

Nwachukwu said the deceased was not sick prior to his death and alleged that LASTMA officials assaulted Osaka in the presence of his colleagues before his death.

He said he suspected that Osaka was beaten up in LASTMA custody shortly before his demise.

When our correspondent visited the SCID last week, it was observed that the team of LASTMA officials had been arrested.

It was, however, learnt that they had been released on bail following intervention of the state government.

It was gathered that the corpse would be transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, for a second autopsy.

When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said she would call back.

Boy orphaned at nine wins Shell varsity scholarship

Ayolu

At nine years, Master Lucky Ayolu, from Ekeni in Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa State, lost his father and mother.

Expectedly, life became cruel to him as he learnt to fend for himself. He told our correspondent that he took to fishing to pay for his fees in primary and secondary schools, as his grandmother, whom he stayed with, did not have enough.

However, as someone who is destined to succeed in life, Ayolu, now 17 years, has become a beneficiary of Shell Petroleum Development Company’s overseas scholarship.

The scholarship scheme, whose yearly budget is about N120m, and managed by Bassan West Cluster Development Board, saw Ayolu as one of the 14 beneficiaries.

Ayolu, said his life was a testimony that “absolute faith in God and hard work are very important in life.”

He said, “Life has been unkind to me. But today, I have every cause to glorify God for lifting me up beyond my imagination.

“At a point, I lost hope completely and started nursing the idea of taking my life. It was so bad that when I heard about this scholarship, I could not raise transport fare to the venue of the examination.”

Ayolu said one of his cousins assisted him financially to obtain the scholarship form and also gave him transport fare from Ekene to Yenagoa where the test took place.

“At the end of the test, I was successful. I am going to read Computer Science at Wisconsin University, Ghana. The discipline has been my lifelong ambition and I am grateful that God has used my community and Shell to make the dream a reality.”

He advised other youths in difficult situation not to give up, saying that with hard work and trust in God, they would achieve their desires.

He also urged the governments at all levels to look into the plight of the orphans in the country.

“Governments should look into the plight of orphaned children in the country. They should not abandon them. The government should institute a scholarship scheme for the orphaned,” Ayolu said.

Corpse of nine-year-old flood victim recovered

The body of Gbenga Gbadamosi, the nine-year-old boy said to have been swept away by flood in Oke-Ekoro, Sango area of Ogun State, has been found.

He was found dead on Wednesday afternoon, under a bridge in Ilo Awela, some distance away from where the water overpowered him.

According to the community leader, Emmanuel Keshiro, the youths in the area found his corpse around 4pm.

He said, “We intensified our search for his body last week Wednesday, a day after his sisters told us they saw him being swept away by the flood. After much effort, we found his body logged between tires under a bridge in Ilo Awela, where the water had taken him. He was dead.”

Keshiro said the community reported its discovery to the police and obtained a report in order to bury him.

Lawal Monsour, a resident who was part of the search party, said the youngster was buried same day, near the water at Toll Gate.

It was reported last week how young Gbadamosi fell into the canal after a heavy downpour in his area.

He was said to have attempted recovering his sibling slippers that had fallen into the water, when the tragedy happened.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the recovery of the corpse,  adding that the remains had been buried by the family.

Rivers crisis: Police declare Amaechi’s ADC a deserter

Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi

THE Rivers State Police Command, on Monday, declared Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s Aide De Camp, Seimeikumo Debewari, a deserter.

The state police command said Debewari had seized to be the ADC to Amaechi since his disappearance and refusal to obey directives from the force.

Debewari, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, was said to be involved in the free-for-all that took place in the State House of Assembly on July 10, 2013.

A statement by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Mr. Augustine Sanomi, on behalf of the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, indicated that the governor’s ADC had refused to report to Mbu or the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, as instructed.

The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that AP/No. 100659, acting ASP Seimeikumo Debewari, who has ignored all lawful directives to see the Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police has not been seen either in Rivers State Command or at the Police headquarters since 10th July, 2013.

“As the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, and by the powers conferred on me by Section 398 [1] of the Police Act and regulation cap 359, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, the officer is hereby declared a deserter from Nigeria Police Force subject to the approval of the Inspector General of Police.’’

According to the statement, Amaechi’s ADC has been implicated in the Rivers assembly crisis.

It said the video clips captured the governor’s ADC assisting Leader of the House, Mr. Chdi Lloyd, to hit a member, Mr. Michael Chinda, with a mace.

“While the House Leader, Chidi Llyod, turns  himself up to the police authorities in Abuja, the governor’s ADC refused to honor the invitation,” the police statement added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has accused Amaechi of being responsible for the circulation of posters bearing his photograph and name for the 2015 governorship election in the state.

In a statement signed by Wike’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, the minister said, “It is unfortunate that Governor (Rotimi) Amaechi and his allies are still playing an uncivilised and vengeful politics, using primitive tactics in trying to destroy someone who is building a united, peaceful and progressive Rivers State.”

Reacting to the allegation that the Amaechi administration was responsible for the circulation of the Wike’s posters, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Mr. Tony Okocha, said the governor had no hand in such act.

Okocha said, “A man who is busy setting up campaign outfits cannot pretend not to be aware that his overzealous supporters are responsible for the circulation of his governorship posters.

“A man who was declared the next governor of the state during an event in Ahoada East and he did not refute it should know the real source of the posters.

“Those supporting him (Wike) are overzealous and are doing this to impress him. We are too busy to be involved in such an inconsequential act.”

PDP crisis gets messier … as faction sues Tukur, Chikwe, others • Jonathan, govs continue meeting today • Party elders to parley on Thursday

PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur

In spite of the troubleshooting efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the  faction of the Peoples Democratic Party led by  Alhaji Abubakar Baraje  has  said it will  not  abandon its mission to salvage the PDP.

To prove its seriousness, the faction known as the New PDP, has gone to  a Lagos High Court in Ikeja,  seeking to stop  officials of  the National Working Committee of the  Bamanga Tukur-led faction  from parading themselves as members  of  the National Executive Committee of the party.

Besides the suit which was  heard on Monday  by Justice Ganiyu  Safari, and adjourned till Monday, September 9, the New PDP will on Tuesday (today) open a parallel secretariat at the Maitama District of  Abuja.

In the suit, the plaintiffs – Baraje, Dr. Sam   Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the PDP –   asked the court to restrain Tukur, Prince Uche Secondus, Mrs. Kema Chikwe, Olisah Metuh and others from parading themselves as PDP NEC members.

 The plaintiffs, according to  a  statement by Oyinlola, who is the national secretary  of the faction, also sought a motion exparte, asking for the  leave  of the court to serve the defendants outside their  jurisdiction.

They said in the statement which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, that the  court  granted them  leave to serve the defendants in their various locations.

 On the claim by the faction that the NWC officials    parade themselves   as NEC members,  the court said  there was no urgency as to the fact of who should hold what office. It then  directed that the status quo  be maintained  till  September 9 when their  arguments on  the motion on notice would be heard.

“What this means is that in the meantime,  both executive committees are to remain until the court resolves the matter,” the statement explained.

Before the statement was made public, the Baraje faction which has  a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa);  Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto);  Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara);  Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers);  and Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano) as some of its key leaders, had said that it  was  encouraged by the overwhelming support it had  been receiving  across the country.

 Because of this, the group said  in another statement by Oyinlola, that it would not abandon its mission of rescuing the party.

The statement reads in part, “Alhaji Baraje and other leaders of the party appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of support and encouragement from genuine members and leaders of the party across the country. We assure them that we will not disappoint them in the mission to make the PDP work again in the interest of Nigeria and its people.

“We also appreciate the efforts of leaders of the party, particularly President  Jonathan and former President Obasanjo who, we note, have scheduled a meeting of the party elders for this week.

 “We respect the elders and will be guided by them.”

Baraje had earlier on Monday  told an online news agency on the telephone that the parallel  secretariat of the New PDP  was    equipped with “the needed paraphernalia of office” ahead of its opening on Tuesday.

“Our plan is   to address the media and announce the names of other members of our National Working Committee at our own secretariat,”  he  added, declining to give the exact address of the secretariat in Abuja.

If the faction  opens  the secretariat, it would be the second time in PDP’s history that  it  would split into two groups, each operating from separate secretariats.

  A group led by   Lar, and a former Deputy National Chairman, Shuaib Oyedokun,  had on June  9, 2006   formed  a parallel faction after accusing the  then Ahmadu Ali-led leadership of sidelining many founding members.

The group then proceeded to open a new secretariat  in the Jabi District of Abuja. The Obasanjo administration   promptly deployed security agents to  seal the  secretariat.

A  meeting  on Sunday night between Jonathan and the PDP governors, including Aliyu, and Ahmed over the factionalisation of the party had  ended in a deadlock.

A top source in Abuja, who disclosed this, said   the meeting, which would  continue  at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday  (today), might also end in a deadlock.

“This is  why the  elders or  leaders   would  meet  in Abuja on Thursday to chart a new course and see if they could achieve anything new,” he  stated.

It was learnt that the elders’  meeting which is being convened by Obasanjo would have among others, a former  Vice-President, Alex Ekwueme, a former Chairman of the party, Chief Solomon Lar, and  former military President Ibrahim Babangida in attendance.

Obasanjo had  on Sunday implored the two  factions to “maintain the status quo” while efforts were being made  by the elders to broker a truce.

The  Tukur-led faction  however said on Monday that  it would make   its position on the action of the G-7 and Abubakar  known at the end of its consultations.

Its  National Publicity Secretary , Chief  Metuh, said   after the inaugural meeting of the newly constituted NWC in Abuja  that,  “Consultations are  going on at the highest level of this party. The President, national chairman of our party,  the chairman BoT and the   PDP governors are meeting on this and their discussions so far have been very encouraging.”

Plateau: Gunmen kill five family members, one other

Gunmen

GUNMEN suspected to be Fulani herdsmen on Sunday night shot dead five members of a family in Kungte village, Kanadap, in the Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The victims were identified as Peter Dung; his wife; and three children.

The gunmen also killed another person whose identity was yet to be determined as at the time of this report.

Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, who confirmed the killings, described the incident as “inhuman and utter display of insensitivity to the sanctity of lives.”

Spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Felicia Anselm, also confirmed the incident.

Anselm said the police had been working round the clock to apprehend the killers. She said no suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that the remains of the victims had been deposited in the mortuary.

Reacting on behalf of the state government, Abraham, in a statement, said, “The unprovoked killing of six members of two families in their home in Kungte village, Kanadap (near Marraraban Jama’a) in Kuru District of Jos South Local Government Area by gunmen on Sunday, September, 1, 2013, is an evil and wicked act that should be condemned by all members of society.

“The killing is also a display of cowardice by the perpetrators who under the cover of darkness deliberately chose to visit violence on vulnerable members of society, women and children, to achieve clearly devilish designs.

“Such an attack, coming at a time when the state has been mostly peaceful for quite some time appears a desperate attempt to reverse the gains of our hard-earned efforts in breaking down the barriers of ethnic and religious intolerance and thereby rebuilding the bridges of communal consensus.

“Such intentions will fail because Plateau people have made up their minds to live in peace with one another and, together with the state government and security agencies, they will frustrate every attempt aimed at taking the state back to the days of bloodshed and gloom. The current level of peace in the state is for consolidation, not evaporation”

The Sunday killing occurred less than a fortnight after 10 people were killed in similar fashion in Foron district of Barakin Ladi thus raising fears of resurgence of killings in Plateau after months of peace.

The Kungte murder also came barely 24 hours after the redeployment of the Commander of the Special Task Force, Maj. Gen. Henry Ayoola.

Our correspondent learnt that the attackers invaded the home of their victims between the hours of 8pm and 9pm on Sunday when the family members had finished dinner and were preparing to go to bed. The sixth person was killed as the gunmen were retreating.