Trouble in PDP as Group Asks Haliru, Metuh to Resign

Bello Haliru 

•   Party accuses APC of using its members

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Some members of the national executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) made up of mainly deputy national officers of the party have asked the acting Chairman of their Board of Trustees (BoT), Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, and the party’s spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh, to resign pending the disposal of the various charges brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The members also demanded the audit of the accounts of the party from March 24, 2012 to date.

In a statement yesterday and jointly signed by the Deputy National Youth Leader, Hon. Dennis Alonge-Niyi; Deputy National Legal Adviser, Bashir Maidugu; Deputy National Organising Secretary, Mr Okey Nnaedozie; and Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Jalo, they demanded the convocation of a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to formalise the appointment of a new spokesperson.

They held that the PDP stands dissociated from the ongoing trials of Dr. Mohammed and Metuh on various charges by the anti graft agencies, adding that the charges against them are in their individual capacities and not acting on behalf of the party.

“As a consequence of the wide public interest which this trial has generated, we urge the National Caucus, the Board of Trustees and the PDP Governors’ Forum to prevail on the two accused persons to honourably step aside until they clear their names, thereby saving the party from any further damage,” the group said.

According to the concerned NEC members, they observed with grave concern the current state of affairs of the party especially the negative impression being created by persons who have little interest of the party at heart.

“It is disheartening that a party which was formed as a vanguard for popular democracy, good governance and the restoration of national values is now being deliberately ridiculed by both the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and some of its compromised officers.

“We find it therefore regrettable that this great party with such great vision and reach is now being ridiculed by the selfish actions and omissions of a very few individuals who parade themselves as leaders.

“All those mentioned in the ongoing corruption trial are therefore on their own and the party was not involved financially or in anyway with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) or any other organ of the federal government in the last regime.

“They are said to have received funds using accounts of their private companies without the knowledge and instructions of any organ of the party.

“They must bear full responsibility for their actions and must henceforth refrain from dragging the name of the party into the mud,” it said.

The group added that PDP fully supports the anti corruption war but called on the federal government to apply the principles of objectivity in order not to create the impression of a witch-hunt.

“In the light of this, the deputy national officers of the PDP along with other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) having carefully deliberated upon and reviewed the current situation of our party wish to state and demand that National Executive Committee (NEC) convene a meeting immediately in order to formalise the appointment of a new spokesperson in line with the party’s constitution that is not weighed down by integrity issues,” the group said.

The PDP NWC members also said that it “is in our common interest and the interest of democracy that the Abuja High Court ruling of 15 December, 2015 on the national chairmanship be respected and implemented”.

“This is a declaratory ruling where no order of stay of execution from any other court has been granted. The NEC must do the needful by selecting a suitable national chairman from the northeast to complete their tenure in accordance with our tradition and the party's constitution.

“In pursuance of this therefore, Prince Uche Secondus should revert back to his constitutional position of deputy as a matter of urgency. The pursuit of national chairman of the party of any appeal against this ruling which sought to interpret our constitution was not only selfish but inconsiderate in view of the sanctity of our zoning arrangements,” it stated.

Reacting to the group’s statement, the acting national chairman on the validity of his chairmanship of the party, Secondus, said that the PDP was still in court.

In a statement yesterday, Secondus accused the group of being a tool in the hands of those who want PDP dead.

“They took us to court and we have appealed. They are ignorant of the law. The constitution is clear that in the absence of chairman, the deputy assumes the position.

“They are doing it out of malice and ignorance. They are being used by the other party to destabilise us, but we aren’t going to be distracted, we are strong.

“I haven't assumed the office of chairman, I am still the deputy chairman. I am only administering in acting capacity. They aren’t the authorised organ of the party. There is nothing like an association of deputies,” he said.

Similarly, the PDP has blamed the ruling APC for trying to draw political capital from the present challenges facing the opposition party.
The party in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Prof. Adewale Oladipo, said the attention of the national leadership of the PDP had been drawn to reports in the media credited to some members of the party regarding the ordeal of some of its leaders with the EFCC as well as issues relating to the position of the national chairman.

It said: “Indeed, we understand the concerns of our members especially since the unfortunate electoral setback, its attendant trauma and disagreements within the party, as well as the recent development leading to the probe of some of our leaders and of course our campaign funding by the APC-led government.

“In the same vein, we have noted the desperation of some opportunistic and selfish individuals, including those being used by the APC, to draw political capital from the present challenges facing our party.

“However, whereas the PDP remains a platform for all Nigerians to aspire, we note that our constitution is clear on the mode of election, tenure, succession in the case of vacancy, and removal from office of our officers at all levels.

“Also the constitution and laws of our country provide that an individual remains innocent until otherwise proven by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“While we await the judicial determination of the cases involving some of our leaders at the EFCC, it is important that all party members show commitment to our rebuilding effort by ensuring utterances that encourage and unite rather than further discourage and divide our members.

“Anything contrary to this would be playing into the very hands of those who want to decimate our party, destroy our common destiny as a people and install a one-party state in our country.

“Our earnest attention for now is our ongoing rebuilding efforts, the amendment of our party’s constitution and our scheduled National Convention in March this year to produce new leaders in line with the statutory requirements of our great party.

“All the statutory organs are aware of the laid out plans by the NWC, which would soon be presented to them appropriately and accordingly.

“Moreover, any person or group which in any way feels aggrieved by any issue regarding our party should, as responsible party members channel such through the appropriate internal mechanisms instead of resorting to dragging our party in the mud in the media.

“Such only portrays pursuit of personal ambition and interest instead of the collective good of our great party at a critical time as this.

“We therefore urge all loyal and dedicated members of the PDP to be at alert and wary of antics of certain external forces bent on causing confusion in our great party, all with the aim of ensuing that we do not unite as a formidable opposition and a government in waiting.”

THISDAY