PETER OBI’S BID FOR SGF JOB DIVIDES PDP,
" Ex-Anambra governor angered by Anyim’s role in loss of ministerial nomination
" Tussle for power in Ebonyi also a key factor
A cold war is simmering in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the bid by former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, to replace the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Already, top Presidency officials, leadership of the PDP and governors are divided over Obi’s ambition. Both Anyim and Obi are courting the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, and the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, for either retention or nomination as the SGF, as the case may be.
A source stated that Mu’azu is favourably disposed to Obi’s emergence while Anenih is undecided on the matter. Mu’azu’s tacit support for Obi is reportedly affecting the relationship between the PDP helmsman and the SGF.
Senate President David Mark is also on the radar of lobbyists. Mark is supporting the retention of Anyim. President Goodluck Jonathan had long wanted Obi on board either as a minister or SGF. But his wife, Dame Patience, prefers the retention of Anyim as SGF.
The former governor recently lost a ministerial slot for Anambra to Mr. Osita Chidoka, the new minister of aviation. His loss was as a result of his not being a member of the ruling party.
A source in the Presidency told our correspondent that sensing the implication of having Obi in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as minister, Anyim had lobbied the First Lady, Dame Patience, some PDP governors and ministers to support Chidoka’s ministerial nomination. This action was said to have angered Obi. As it is, the ambition of Obi has polarised the PDP into two camps: pro-Anyim and pro-Obi.
Those who are supporting Anyim believe that the SGF has not done anything to warrant his removal as he has been a loyal party man and discharging his responsibilities effectively.
The pro-Anyim supporters also argue that it is political miscalculation to change the SGF when the 2015 election is barely six months way. “Lobby is part of politics and appointment is also at the discretion of Mr. President.
There is no denying the fact that Mr. Peter Obi is close to the president but there are some decisions you don’t take when election is at your doorstep. I’m not saying the President is averse to the choice of Anyim, but just the timing. Replacing an SGF at this time is dangerous.
Maybe after election, the president can make the necessary changes,” an aide of the president told New Telegraph on Saturday. But the pro-Obi backers are insisting that the former governor has more electoral value in the South-East than Anyim.
They cite the point that that he was for several years the chairman of South East Governors’ Forum until he left office on March 17, this year, Those rooting for Obi also argue that in terms of votes and money, Anambra where Obi hails from has more voters and resources which they believe offer bigger benefits to the PDP and President Jonathan than Ebonyi, the home state of Anyim. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Anambra has 1, 784,535 registered voters while the figure in Ebonyi is 1,020,011.
Obi’s loss of the ministerial portfolio, it was learnt, informed his decision to resign as chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), preparatory to his presumed defection to the PDP. Four of the APGA lawmakers in the House of Representatives from Anambra have already defected to the PDP.
A source told New Telegraph on Saturday that Obi had intensified efforts in recent days to clinch the SGF job. “Obi is working tirelessly to get the SGF job.
He has reached out to stakeholders in government and associates of President Goodluck Jonathan on the need to have him on board. “We are aware that he has met with the leadership of the PDP and some serving and former governors to rally support for his ambition,” a source said.
Chief Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State, who had a bitter tussle for power with Anyim between 2001 and 2003 when the latter was Senate President, is leading the lobby for Obi- Anyim is from Ebonyi.
Source: #New_Telegraph
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