Posted by From JACOB EDI, Abuja on
The G21, an organization within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) angling for a review of the party's constitution has called for a National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to fix fresh date for the party's congresses and convention.
The G21, an organization within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) angling for a review of the party's constitution has called for a National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to fix fresh date for the party's congresses and convention.
A statement signed by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, on behalf of the G21, said the last NEC meeting of the party, which adopted March 8, 2008 as date for the party's national convention, was misled by the Ahmadu Ali-led National Working Committee (NWC). He said that laid the foundation for an unsuccessful congress and convention.
The statement entitled: 'Repositioning the PDP: Our Stand," explained that the motive of the G21 is informed by patriotic, truthful and unbiased self-examination of the state of affairs of the PDP, adding: 'Our struggle cannot be situated as a witch-hunt of any member of the party or as emotional or self-serving."
According to Masari, the interval between the dates for the congresses and convention makes no provision for the logistic demands of such occasion and the appeals that would follow after the convention.
The proposed NEC, according to the statement, should consider the notice by G21 for the amendment of the PDP constitution and also constitute an all-inclusive and credible convention organizing committee.
The committee, the statement said, should comprise representatives of the executive arm, the legislative arm as well the party, but without the members of the current NWC 'so as to provide a level playing ground for all contestants."
Two weeks ago, the G21 had filed notice of proposed constitutional amendment as required by the PDP constitution, but was turned down because, according to the party's National Secretary, Bernard Eze, the notice was late and unacceptable.
Masari said the group believes that the next convention of the party should mark 'a watershed in the history of the party and chart a clear trajectory out of the infamous era of impunity, tyranny and recklessness in tandem with the principles of the current leadership of the party.
'Therefore, the weird manner the Dr. Ahmadu Ali-led NWC treated our notice of the proposed amendment dated January 16, 2008 to NEC meeting of January 28, 2008, was very undemocratic, illegal and not in the interest of the party."
He argued that it was not for the NWC to decide for NEC the timeliness or otherwise of their proposed amendment except if the NWC has usurped the powers of NEC.
While expressing surprise at the emergence of party officers over the years, the former speaker noted: 'The party's constitution was unscrupulously amended for self-serving and vindictive motives. One of the self-serving amendments inflicted on the constitution in 2006 vests the powers of the Board of Trustees in its chairman as well as transformed the office of the chairman to that of almighty super-executive arm of the party and government."