Posted by Olaolu Oladipo on
The Pro-National Conference Organisations on Wednesday said it had uncovered a plot by some elements within it to sabotage its conference beginning on Saturday.
The Pro-National Conference Organisations on Wednesday said it had uncovered a plot by some elements within it to sabotage its conference beginning on Saturday.
The Chairman of PRONACO, Chief Anthony Enahoro, who made the allegation at a briefing in Lagos, said members of the association would not be intimidated.
He said, "We have received several intelligence reports that certain groups within PRONACO have been hired by outside forces to discredit and distort what the Peoples National Conference is about.
"We have been told that certain personalities have even designed a full page newspaper advertisement to announce the postponement of our conference date."
Enahoro, however, gave assurance that the antics of 'fifth columnists" would not in anyway deter genuine PRONACO members from using the conference as an avenue for all segments of the society to air their grievances on the way the country was being managed.
"We did not think of a possible organisational break down or factionalisation because PRONACO is more of a collegiate body of organisations with equal rights. Organisations which do not have stated principles and objectives have the right and the grace to pull out," the elder statesman said.
He said that the current wave of intrigues within the organisation had historical antecedents.
He described those believed to be involved in the acts that could lead to breaking the existing solidarity within the PRONACO as agents of sabotage.
He said, "The old Nigerian Democratic Party; the old Nigerian Youth Movement; the old National Council for Nigerian Citizens; the Action Group, and of late, the Alliance for Democracy; Afenifere; Oodua Peoples Congress; Campaign for Democracy and Committee for the Defence of Human Rights were all organisations with great future before them but they were destroyed or slowed down due to internal frictions and even treachery."
Affirming that the October 1 commencement date of the conference remains sacrosanct, Enahoro said, "The agenda for the event have been drawn up and many great Nigerians have expressed their willingness to attend."
The PUNCH, Thursday September 29, 2005