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LequteMan
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According to Sahara Reporters, presidency sources have disclosedhow President Goodluck Jonathan pressured Tanko Isiaku Gwamma, the treasurer of the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), to announce his resignation on Sunday.
Mr. Gwamma earlier today had said he decided to resign “after a careful study of the unfolding events in the polity and a deep sober reflection of the consequences of the outcome of such impasse on our party.”
“I pledge my loyalty to the Bamanga Tukur leadership, while calling on all party faithful to do [the] same.”
However, two reliable sources within the Presidency revealed to SaharaReporters that his arms were twisted and he was maneuvered into leaving the splinter faction of the party and renouncing his post as treasurer.
“Alhaji Tanko Isiaku Gwamma resigned after he was promised a juicy political appointment,” said one source.
“He initially insisted that he needed to consult before tendering his letter [of resignation], but Alhaji Gwamma was asked to bring his letter immediately and speak with reporters at the [Presidential] Villa. He could not reject the offer,” the source added.
Mr. Gwamma was not warned beforehand that cameramen and reporters would be brought in and he would be asked to speak to them immediately announcing his departure from the Baraje faction of the party. One source said he hesitated a little before consenting to speak to the press.
Another source said the Presidency, Mr. Bamanga Tukur, who heads a faction of the party, and Tony Anenih, the faction’s chairman of the Board of Trustees, had decided that the best strategy for confronting the Baraje group was to use cash and political appointments to woo some of its members back to the Tukur fold.
The source stated that former Vice President Abubakar Atiku was the main financier of the group, and that most of the seven governors with the Baraje group were scared of funneling money to it for fear of the Presidency sending the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after them.
“Atiku has money, but he can’t match Federal financial power.. In the game of politics, money talks. And the fact is that Alhaji Baraje’s group cannot mobilize the kind of money that Dr. Bamanga Tukur commands,” said the source.
The source added that the Jonathan administration was confident of using the same strategy to persuade more members of the Baraje group to defect to the Tukur group.
