Posted by By MARIAM ALESHINLOYE AGBOOLA, Jos on
Following the expiration of his ultimatum to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to resign as chairman of the PDP's Board of Trustees or face a legal action, the Assistant National Auditor, (North Central) of the party, Chief Godwin Daboh has said 36 members of the party have prevailed on him to tarry a while and give President Umar Musa Yar'Adua time to look into his complaints.
Following the expiration of his ultimatum to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to resign as chairman of the PDP's Board of Trustees or face a legal action, the Assistant National Auditor, (North Central) of the party, Chief Godwin Daboh has said 36 members of the party have prevailed on him to tarry a while and give President Umar Musa Yar'Adua time to look into his complaints.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Jos, Chief Daboh stated that in 'the meeting held with PDP leaders who came from several parts of the country from 8pm on Sunday to 4am today (Monday), it was decided that since I had lodged a complaint with Mr. President who is the leader of the PDP, I should give him time to look into my complaint before I will go to court."
He said the decision was based on the premise that it will be unfair as Yar'Adua just came back from Geneva and he went for a burial at the weekend while Monday was actually his first day in office.
'As my letter has been waiting for him, it is necessary for us to give him time to look into my request contained in the letter where I told him that former President Obasanjo is not a fit and proper person to be the chairman of board of trustees because of the reasons adduced," he stated.
Chief Daboh also pointed out that it was the consensus at the meeting that Chief Ahmadu Ali's explanation, that what happened between former President Obasanjo and his daughter-in- law was a family affair, be rejected totally because Obasanjo represents the image of the PDP of which he (Daboh) is one of the leaders.
He reiterated that 'it is completely unacceptable to us for Obasanjo's private life to so adversely affect us as a political party. What happened is not a private affair. Obasanjo is a former head of state and he is currently the leader of the PDP."
He explained that as the chairman of the board of trustees, Obasanjo is the highest person in the party because the board of trustees is the highest body within the party and it is the reflection of the people in the party and what they stand for.
Chief Daboh pointed out that any thing which Obasanjo did in his capacity as the president affects the party; pointing out that the story would have been different if after the former President resigned as the president, he had forgotten being chairman board of trustees and went to settle in Otta farm. 'Anything he does is his business and we are not interested. But as long as he remains the chairman board of trustees, he has no private life."
He said the meeting also supported the petition by Masari and Nnamani that Obasanjo should be removed and promised to 'work out how we can coordinate and work with them and make sure that Obasanjo ceases to be chairman."
He described the former leader as a pathological corrupt leader; stating that he is now the richest African today adding that when he came out of prison, 'he was worth only N20,000 in his bank account and today, he is a multi- millionaire."
According to Chief Daboh, the meeting of the PDP leaders also agreed that they will ensure and support President Yar'Adua's re-election in the unlikely effect that his election is annulled.
This, he said, is because from all the signals they are getting shows that the President is doing a wonderful job by healing the nation's wound and restoring security as armed robbery has dropped by 42 percent nation wide.
He said they have also commended the president for his call for the removal of immunity clause; which if it happens would eliminate 50 percent of the battle against corruption and Nigerians can look forward to happy days.
Chief Daboh who would not disclose the names of those who attended the meeting; commended all the former members of the PDP who left to other political parties and attended the meeting with him on Sunday; urging them to come back to the PDP because there is no other political party in Nigeria except PDP.
He said the members had re-affirmed their commitment that Obasanjo must be removed as the chairman of Board of Trustees and Ahmad Ali leaves for ambassadorial posting before they would return to the party.