By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Recent allegations of money bag politics emanating from party adjudged to be youths and people’s liberation movement in Nigeria, the Peter Obi led Labour Party (LP), may not be far from reality.
The Kaduna state executive members and supporters of the party are sharply divided and are seriously at loggerheads over a number of intraparty wrangling including the N50 million contestant forms matter.
The bubble burst when the national executive of the party reportedly collected the said amount from Engr. Michael Auta who’s vying for Senatorial candidate of zone C, against the party’s wishes and national interest.
Trouble started when a factional state party chairman Mr Peter Hassan who allegedly introduced three powerful politicians to the party’s national officials Abuja for governorship position of the party in Kaduna, was declared suspended from the party
Investigation revealed that the national secretariat collected monies from 3 people and allocated governorship candidates status to each of them without the consent of the other, prior after the closure of INEC official time table for primary elections.
While the first person to fall victim of party’s intrigues reportedly paid the some of N2. 8 million, the second person allegedly dropped N2 million with promised, although the later has not been fully confirmed.
The last, but not the least that broke the Carmel’s back is the third person, Engr. Michael Auta, who reportedly paid the sum totalling N50 million for the party’s forms for himself and several other contestants from same zone c.
The breakdown of the amount according to an authentic state exco source shows that N30 million is for Governorship, N15 million for Senatorial, N5 million for House Reps, while 400, 000 to N600,000 is for State Assembly seats respectively.
Shortly before the town hall meeting recently organised by Mr Hassan led faction of the exco in conjunction with state NLC, for Obi/Datti-Ahmed supporters, the authentic party exco and occupants of the state party secretariat suspended Peter Hassan from the party on alleged cross misconducts.
This was contained in a statement signed by four state exco officials namely Mr. John Dominic Buayin state secretary, the deputy state chairman Group Capt Peter Haruna (Rtd), the Youth Leader Comrade Austin Aniagu and State publicity secretary Amiru Bello respectively.
Also during the town hall meeting held at Green Suit Hotel, Barnawa, the second governorship candidate Dr. Shunom Adinga was not invited but his opponent and third candidate, Hon. Jonathan Asake was invited by the suspended chairman.
Although Dr. Adinga was later invited impromptu, he refused to go until several persuasion by some party fateful and supporters, mostly done by the authentic exco members.
He was however unhappy over the development in which most of his supporters blamed the national officials especially the secretary Abubakar Mairacumi who is from Kaduna state.
Recalled that Dr Shunom Adinga obtained and was given contestant form and filled in as Kaduna gubernatorial candidate of the LP like other intending contenders, according to insider sources within the party.
Even though yet to be heard from the relevant authorities, the existing presence of two state party secretariat in Kaduna is a clear indication that the coast is yet cleared about the resolution of the factional state party leadership.
However, recent unconfirmed reports alleged that the governorship tussle might have been settled with Dr Adinga reportedly asked to go down for state assembly position, while his opponent Hon. Asake, runs for 2023 Kaduna LP Governor.
Contacted, some state exco members who confirmed the allegation, threatened to spill the beans if justice is not done, also alleging that the suspended chairman pocketed N2 million.
