Posted by By LANRE SORUNKE, Ado Ekiti on
Scramble for money following the crisis in Anambra may have been the cause for Wednesday's sacking of principal officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Scramble for money following the crisis in Anambra may have been the cause for Wednesday's sacking of principal officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At the end of a meeting of the National Executive Committee on Wednesday, members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) including Vincent Ogbulafor, national secretary, Inuwa Labaran, national organising secretary, Umaru Kareto Lawal, national treasurer and Shuaibu Oyedokun, deputy chairman (South) were said to have resigned their position.
Revelation that the NWC members were sacked over their "divergent interests" in the Anambra political crisis came to light, just as the National Chairman, Dr Ahmadu Ali clarified at a press conference in Abuja that contrary to media reports the entire NWC with the exception of the national chairman was shoved out.
The report of Chief Tony Anenih - led committee that reviewed the job of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola panel on Anambra crisis made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday stated that "the Oyinlola's panel has recommended the dissolution of the NWC for not acting swiftly, dispassionately and sincerely in resolving the Anambra political crisis, due to the divergent interests of some of its members."
The report adopted at the party's NEC meeting on Wednesday concluded that ``the former NWC had lost control, credibility and was incapable of leading the party."
``There was need for a change of guard at the party headquarters, so that the party will have credibility and a new beginning," it noted.
It also stated that the two factions of the party in Anambra, led by Gov Chris Ngige and his estranged godfather, Chris Uba, flouted orders of the NWC as the matter degenerated to press wars, litigation and constitutional breaches.
It said when the crisis initially began, the NWC members set up various committees towards the resolution of the matter, ``but later relaxed because of lack of political will and individual interests."
"The decisions of the NWC were flouted by both groups and no punitive actions were taken against the offenders to instill discipline and decency on Anambra State PDP because members of the NWC were sharply divided on the Anambra crisis," it stated.
The report also indicted the defunct NWC of looting the N2 billion collected on nomination forms during the build-up to the 2003 general elections.
It said only N1.5 billion of the amount was admitted by the sacked national treasurer, Alhaji Lawal Karatu, while the ex-national organising secretary, Alhaji Inuwa Labaran sent returns for about N678 million.
It added that the N264 million received by the party in grant from the INEC was also misappropriated, and that petitions by some concerned members over the matter to the former national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe, fell on deaf ears.
In specific reference to the crisis that rocked Imo chapter of the PDP under the last NWC, the committee said party members were frustrated with the high level of indiscipline at the national secretariat.
"All in all, they were interested in conducting congresses in the states, particularly states that are rich," the report stated.
The report, however, objected to the reference of the cases of fraud among the sacked NWC members to the EFCC and ICPC, because of the adverse political impact it could cause the party.
It further stated that no case was established against the PDP national publicity secretary, the national woman leader, national youth leader, the deputy national secretary and the national auditor.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Dr Ahmadu Ali said:
"You will recall the 26th National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party which took place yesterday, 8th June, 2005. The NEC took far-reaching decisions at the well-attended meeting.
"The NEC's decisions can be summarised as follows: The dissolution of the National Working Committee of the party, with the exception of the newly elected National Chairman of the PDP. Dr. Ahmadu Ali. All other members of the NWC, in effect, have been relieved of their positions."
Shortly after the press conference, the new national secretary of the party, Ojo Maduekwe came into the national secretariat with a retinue of aides and other well-wishers. He did not say anything to journalists present.