Posted by MATTHEW OGWUCHE, Bureau Chief, Abuja and COSMAS EKPUNOBI, Abuja on
ROW between President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar further deepened at the weekend with the latter's supporters alleging that they had uncovered a plot to expel their mentor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
ROW between President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar further deepened at the weekend with the latter's supporters alleging that they had uncovered a plot to expel their mentor from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Consequently, they called for the immediate dissolution of the party's National Working Committee (NWC).
They further accused the committee of being a stumbling block to the growth of democracy as well as taking sides in the on-going face-off between the two leading citizens.
Similarly, strong indication has emerged that the battle to save Atiku's job had shifted to the National Assembly as his loyalists reportedly regrouped to stave off possible impeachment move against him by pro-Obasanjo forces.
However, at a news conference in Abuja, weekend, the Turaki Vanguard which claims to be an amalgam of 118 groups made up of PDP members supporting the presidential ambition of the Vice President, said only the sacking of the party's NWC would save PDP from an imminent collapse.
Reading from a statement signed by three of the group's national officers, the national secretary Hon. Lanre Fayemi, dismissed the PDP NWC as an appointed illegal body clearly working only for President Obasanjo.
He said they were aware of a plot by the NWC in conjunction with members of PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) ahead of the latter's September 9 meeting, to expel or sanction Atiku, which the Turaki Vanguard warned will not be binding on its supporters.
"The NWC as presently constituted is an illegal unelected body unknown to the PDP constitution", he noted.
Atiku is the Turaki Adamawa. The other officers, who signed the statement are Chief Eze C. Eze, National Director of Public Communication, and Alhaji Nasir Galla, National Coordinator.
The organization also called for the immediate constitution of a caretaker committee that will conduct state and ward congress and national convention of the party before the end of the year, insisting that it is the only way PDP can reclaim its democratic credentials.
"Why is the party's national leadership afraid of Organizing National Convention and Congresses this year as required by the party's constitution?" it queried.
It described speculations of possible impeachment moves against Atiku and his pulling out from the PDP along with his supporters as a rumour and a huge joke, warning that they intend to stay in the party to fight for their rights.
The Turaki Vanguard dismissed recent press briefing by the PDP National Secretary, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, in which he denounced the Vice President, and described it as evidence of the growing sycophancy within the party's national leadership as it sought to pander to the President's whims.
It denounced the accusation of disloyalty against the Vice President as part of the alleged third term plot to extend the President's tenure, insisting that "despite the denials in some quarters and some political sycophants, there are strong hints that those determined to ensure an extension of President Olusegun Obasanjo's tenure are perfecting their plans."
They warned that the Vice President will not succumb to any intimidation or threat to resign from office, declaring that he (Atiku's) loyalty to the constitution and the people is more appropriate than any demanded by the President.