I have not resigned as PDP Chairman – Tukur

 Mr. Tukur said he has the backing of President Jonathan

The embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, has denied media reports that he resigned his position.

Mr. Tukur’s statement comes amidst reports, Tuesday, on the internet, that he resigned his position ahead of the meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, on Thursday.

The statement also comes amidst high-level politicking within the PDP; with an emergency meeting ongoing between party leaders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday evening as at the time of this report.

In a statement by his media aide, Oliver Okpala, in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr. Tukur said he has not resigned and has no plan to resign his position.

Mr. Okpala said the reports should be disregarded because the national chairman was busy fashioning out new structures and areas of taking the party to greater heights.

“Be informed that contrary to the reports making waves in the internet and other social media, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur has not tendered any resignation letter to any person or quarters,” the statement said. “Please, disregard any information or report in this regard since the national chairman is busy fashioning out new structures and areas of taking the party to greater heights.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Tukur had, in a separate statement signed by Mr. Okpala, denied media reports quoting him as saying that only a national convention of the PDP, and not the leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan, could remove him from his position.

Mr. Tukur was elected at the March 2012 national convention of the party and has faced stiff opposition since before his election.

The party chairman said the reports were aimed at pitching him against Mr. Jonathan, whom he had great respect for and could not challenge his powers as president.

While condemning the report that he dared Mr. Jonathan, the national chairman said he was sure that the president would “easily see through this shallow mischief.”

The PDP national chairman said it was totally out of place for him to lecture the president as suggested by a cross section of the media.  He said he is working with Mr. Jonathan to transform Nigeria.

Mr. Tukur said his role as the Chairman of the ruling party was to help the further growth, preservation, and wellbeing of Nigeria using a disciplined platform like the PDP.

“Given the back ground which I have stated, it is totally out of place for me to lecture Mr. President as suggested in the scurrilous article and write up. It is preposterous and smacks of an indiscipline mind,” he said.

“The sad aspect of these mischief makers is that they tarnish the image of Nigeria at home and abroad. They present a picture which must be scaring to the investors. They join the enemies in fanning the ember of disunity.”