PDP Suspended Wamakko For Disrespecting Tukur .

We Suspended Wamakko Because He Did
Not Take Tukur's Calls - PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party has said it
decided to suspend Governor Aliyu
Wamakko because he refused to pick calls
made to him by the party's national
chairman, Bamanga Tukur.
In a statement released in Abuja today,
PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh sought to
explain why the governor was suspended.
He stated that Mr. Tukur had called to ask
the governor to explain his recent
comments, but that the national chairman
was unable to get across to Mr. Wamakko.
Mr. Metuh also said the governor refused
to respond to a query sent to him, but
instead asked Bello Sokoto, the party’s
then secretary for the state to reply on his
behalf.
Mr. Metuh argued that Mr. Bello Sokoto
was too junior in party ranking to have
responded to Mr. Tukur.
In addition, Mr. Metuh stated that it was
improper for Mr. Bello Sokoto to have
used the official letter head of the state
government in his reply.
Metuh’s full statement:
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
wishes to set the records straight on the
reasons for the suspension of the
Executive Governor of Sokoto State, His
Excellency, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda
Wamakko as a member of the PDP.
The decision to suspend His Excellency,
Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko came
after very wide and exhaustive
consultations, in accordance with the
provisions of the constitution of the PDP
and in the overriding interest of the Party.
It is important to note that the reason for
the suspension of Governor Aliyu
Magatakarda Wamakko predates the
Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s election.
Sometime in early April, the leadership of
the Party was concerned with the
statements and conduct of the Governor
whereupon the National Chairman placed
several calls to draw the attention of the
Governor to the matters concerned.
However, it was not possible for the
National Chairman to speak with the
Governor despite several attempts. The
National Chairman thereafter vide a letter
dated 12th April, 2013 requested an
explanation to the NWC within seven days.
Instead of replying the National Chairman,
Governor Wamakko directed the Sokoto
State Secretary of the Party, Mallam
Aminu Bello Sokoto to reply the National
Chairman. The State party Secretary in a
letter dated April 14, 2013 and on the
official letterhead of the Sokoto State
Government House, replied the National
Chairman on behalf of the governor.
This amounted to gross disrespect and act
of insubordination to a National Officer
and a lawful organ of the party which is in
violation of Articles 58.1 (c ), (h) and (m) of
the PDP constitution which prescribed
sanctions for any member who (c )
“disobeys or neglect to carry out lawful
directives of the party or any organ or
officer of the party”, (h) “engages in any
conduct likely to cause disaffection among
members of the Party or is likely to
disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient
conduct of the business of the Party” and
(m) “fails, refuses or neglects to treat a
petition, complaints or appeal timeously”
respectively.
Nevertheless, the NWC, vide a letter
dated April 17, 2013 kindly requested His
Excellency, Dr. Aliyu
MagatakardaWamakko to appear before it
on the 8th of May, 2013 to clear the issues
thereof.
The NWC also wrote to the State
Secretary, Sokoto PDP, Mallam Aminu
Bello Sokoto requesting explanations for
his actions as a state party officer, in
replying the National Chairman.
Regrettably, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda
Wamakko never honoredthe invitation and
refused to respond in any way despite
repeated invitations from the NWC, an
action which is in clear violation of Article
58.1 (c), of the PDP constitution. In the
same vein, the State Secretary, Sokoto
PDP also refused to respond to the
National Working Committee (NWC).
Consequently, the NWC at its 336th
meeting held on May 22, 2013 suspended
the State Secretary, Sokoto PDP Mallam
Aminu Bello Sokoto and communicated
the decision to him in a letter dated May
22, 2013.
The NWC thereafter extended yet another
invitation to His Excellency, Dr. Aliyu
Magatakarda Wamakko in a letter dated
May 23, 2013 in which it requested him to
appear before it on Wednesday, June 5,
2013 to clarify the issues.
Unfortunately, in complete disregard to a
lawful organ of the Party, His Excellency,
Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, instead
of appearing before the NWC traveled out
of the country on Tuesday June 5, 2013
without any form of response to the party.
The NWC frowned at this act of gross
indiscipline and disrespect to the party
and was therefore left with no other
option than to invoke relevant articles of
the PDP constitution in furtherance of the
determination to enforce discipline at all
levels within the Party.
We wish to state that the leadership of the
Party has immense respect for all elected
and appointed political office holders and
in the same vein expects all political office
holders to reciprocate by respecting the
constitution and lawful organs of the Party
upon which platform they hold office.
The NWC hereby restates that no
individual or group within the party is, and
must be seen to be above the constitution
and lawful organs of the party. All party
members are under the rule of the
constitution of the party and must so
abide.
Signed
Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary