Rimi Plots To Control Kano PDP

Abubakar Rimi

Former member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Mohammadu Abubakar Rimi may have commenced subtle moves to regain control of the party machinery in Kano State and by extension, whittle down the influence of the former governor of the state, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Credible party sources say although everybody in the party recognises the need for forgiveness and unity if the party hopes to dislodge the All Nigeria Peoples Party (PDP) in the Kano State Government House, there is still a lot of intrigues and power play going on in the party.

It was gathered that the current move to redress the alleged imbalance in the party structure being championed by some of elders and prominent party leaders, otherwise known as the Stakeholders is just a surreptitious way to attempt to wrest the party machinery from Kwankaso and his supporters.

The party sources revealed that the Stakeholders include such chieftains like Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghalli Umar Na’ Abba, Alhaji Umar Yakuba Danhassan, Alhaji Aminu Babba Danpaffa, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Alhaji Dauda Dangala and Alhaji Ibrahim Amin including a few former gubernatorial aspirants in the 2007 primaries, among others.

Rimi and Na’Abba, it would be recalled, just reunited with the party after they had cross-carpeted to the Action Congress (AC) to fight the Third Term Agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Similarly, Danhassan, a 2003 gubernatorial contender, also left the PDP in the state for the Peoples Salvation Party in search of greater relevance.

Their sudden return had, therefore, placed them on the fringes of the party’s politics, while their initial exit had provided a window of opportunity for Dr. kwankwaso to strengthen his grip on the party machinery.

In seeking to redress the alleged imbalance in the party structure, their first demand is that the State Executive, as is presently composed, be dissolved in favor of a Caretaker Committee, ahead of the ward congresses and the party’s national convention, whenever it is scheduled to take place.

In fact, Rimi and his group are said to have met severally and in one of the meetings, worked out a power sharing formula for the new look party they are advocating.

However, their quest has so far met a brick wall with Kwankwaso making it clear that he would not take part in any meeting that has Rimi in attendance until their differences were resolved.

He said he takes exception to the accusation that he had a hand in the murder of late Sadiatu, wife of Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, by her husband.

But in making their case, the Rimi group have argued that the executive council as composed was rather too apologetic to Kwankwaso.

It is their view that such a situation, if allowed to continue, would only perpetuate the current disproportionate and slanted representation of the various groups and interests in the party, which might be exploited to negate internal democracy in the party in the future.

In contrast, the pro- Kwankwaso officials insist that the former Defence Minister would engender some degree of stability in the party, if given the choice to determine the flow of events.

They maintain that his preference, besides his personal interest, is prompted by the credible performance of the party executive, which has led to the upward swing in its popularity in the state and now posts a dangerous threat to the rival party, the ANPP in subsequent elections in the state.

When contacted on the issues, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Ishaq Mukhatar told the Sunday Sun that for now, no official petition, with respect to the dissolution of the executive, in favor of a Caretaker Committee has been received.

Mukhatar said if such a demand was to be considered then it should not be limited to PDP Kano State alone.

He noted that since the PDP is a national party, any decision in this regard, would have to be central in application and may have to start from the national offices, then down to the state level and further down.

Saying that there is a strong bond of unity in the party, he reaffirmed Kwankwaso’s leadership of the party in the state.

The former governor, he said has been responsible for the funding of the party since 1999 when he was the governor of the state.

But for once when Alhaji Amin Ibrahim came to the aid of the party, no other key party member has been consisting in supporting the party, financially as Kwankwaso, he stated.

He noted that under such a climate, it is not a surprise that he (Kwankwaso) has so much influence in the party.

On the differences between Rimi and Kwankwaso, he disclosed that leaders of the party, a lot of persons and party men have been working night and day to reconcile them.

He disclosed that a reconciliation meeting recently took place at the residence of the former deputy governor, Alhaji Umar Ganduje.

He said Kwankwaso and Rimi both drove in the same car to the office of Alhaji Aminu Danbaffa for the stakeholders meeting.

Oga, Source?

damn. when is i.b.b turn.

Yorubas are planning to assassinate IBB.

^^ am tempted to say that you are very very silly for such a insane stuff you wrote up there.

I think there should be a limit to this kind of "joke". Very, very silly indeed.

The fact that we all believe in freedom of speech should not warrant such unguarded and inflammatory statement.

IBB, hav to be careful, Yorubas are planning to kidnap and assassinate him.

False and misleading Infomation, Rimi was not shot to death. Story has no source. Topic locked