Is President Olusegun Obasanjo's proposed National Dialogue the way forward for Nigeria?
PDP Resolves Obasanjo/Ogbeh Feud
Both men made mistakes, says party committee �Group insists on suspension of NWC By Yusuph Olaniyonu in Lagos and Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 12.16.2004
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it has resolved the misunderstanding between President Olusegun Obasanjo and its National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh. The resolution of the disagreement followed a verdict by the party's National Working Committee (NWC) in which it blamed both Obasanjo and Ogbeh for making public their exchange of letters on key national issues. But a group within the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) is insisting on moving for the suspension of the NWC led by Ogbeh on allegations of constitutional violation maladministration and financial irregularities. The NWC is the 12-member body charged with the day-to-day running of the party. In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Venatius Ikem, the party stated that: "The misunderstanding resulting from the recent communication between the National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh and the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo have now been resolved. Consequently, normalcy and mutual understanding have been restored in the relationship between the two foremost leaders of our great party." According to the statement "the resolution follows a successful meeting between members of the NWC and President Obasanjo where issues were heartily analysed and amicably resolved in the true party spirit. The meeting with the President was held on the night of December 14, 2004.� Ikem however disclosed to newsmen at the end of the NWC meeting in Abuja that, "of course we appreciate that mistakes were made, we also have spoken to the President on that. We made our opinions known to him. Mistakes were made and largely on both sides." " But mostly because, we started it so to speak, we felt that the National Chairman should not have written, because we have better ways of communicating with each other. The President was only responding to the mode of communication. Largely like I said, we resolved that last night," Ikem stated. The Publicity Secretary said the NWC also approved the agenda of the NEC meeting, which will take place today. Noting that the agenda for the NEC meeting had already been drawn before the controvercy started, he said all the same, the meeting will take final resolution on the face-off between the National Chairman of the party and the President. He denied insinuations that the NWC advised the Chairman to resign. Ikem also described as rumours, allegations that some members of the party are collecting signatures to force Ogbeh to resign. Ogbeh had in a letter dated December 6 called the President�s attention to the gravity of the Anambra crisis and the seeming inaction of the Federal Government to stem the descent into anarchy in the South-east state. In his reply on December 12, Obasanjo accused Ogbeh of incompetence, insubordination and mischief making. But the anti-NWC group which consists of members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and some governors are moving for the suspension of the committee on the ground of breach of party constitution, maladministration and financial irregularities. Article 14a of the PDP Constitution lists the members of the NWC as the national chairman, two deputy national chairmen, national secretary, deputy national secretary, national treasurer, national financial secretary, national organising secretary, national publicity secretary and national auditor. Other officers of the party who are members of the NWC are national legal adviser, national woman leader and national youth leader. In a 15-page motion on notice which the group hopes to sponsor at today's NEC meeting of the party, it alleged that "a lot of rot has afflicted the party through sheer mismanagement and unlawful misconduct on the part of those charged with the responsibility of the day-to-day running of the party i.e the national officers of the party (NWC)." The anti-NWC group noted that the committee had failed in its duties to compliment the Federal Government controlled by the PDP in its reform programmes and "this is exemplified by the discordant tunes of party officials at various fora and in the media." While listing the constitutional breaches committed by the 12-member NWC, the group noted that contrary to Article 14 Section 13 of the party's constitution, the committee "has persistently usurped the powers and functions of NEC." It added that "verbal notices were served on the national chairman on these abuses at several meetings, unfortunately, there has been no noticeable change in the reckless and arrogant mismanagement of the party by the national officers." According to the group, an instance of the usurpation of NEC powers by the NWC was when some state chapters of the PDP were hit by crises which necessitated the seting up of crises resolution committees. The NWC was alleged to have single handedly set up the committees without resorting to the NEC contrary to Article 14 Section 16 of the PDP Constitution. The anti-NWC group stated that while the committee shirked its important duties, it is always quick to usurp NEC powers in other areas where its leaders have vested interest. "For example, they displayed this propensity during the last presidential primary, where Northern candidates paid their fees and were screened by NWC, even though the decision had earlier been taken to zone the presidency to the South," it noted. The NWC was also accused of not presenting its budget for ratification by the national convention as required by Article 14, Section 16b of the party's constitution. Also, the group stated that Article 20 of the party's constitution, which states that 'no member shall be qualified for nomination or appointment into party office unless he has been a registered member for at least 12 calendar months, were violated in the cases of Enugu, Anambra and Kwara States. "Election guidelines were never ratified by NEC before the 2003 primaries. Candidates who were not cleared by states' executive committees of the party were allowed by NWC to contest for elections, especially for Senate and House of Representatives in Enugu and Anambra States and virtually in all PDP controlled states in the federation," he stated. On the issue of maladministration, the group stated that "there are clear evidence of lack of focus and direction by the National officers of the party, exemplified by the non-implementation of party manifesto and programmes, resulting in policy conflict between the organs of the party and the executive, and the legislative arms at all levels." Other charges stated by the group against the NWC are inconsistency in dealing with party affairs, lack of discipline among party staff members, election losses in Borno, Yobe and Jigawa, and flagrant suspension of elected public officials. The group also alleged that the NWC lacks accountability in the handling of party funds. For example it noted that over N5 billion collected for sale of forms, donations and levies during the last elections were not accounted for. It alleged a case in which the NWC claimed to have paid N30 million for hall rentage and got the money through voucher numbered 012892 37/PV1670. Also, stated cases where NWC members collected sitting allowances amounting to over N5 million per sitting. "From available and authentic information at our disposal, the party borrowed N374.3 million from Habib Nigeria Bank Limited without the approval of NEC, as this was never tabled or discussed at any of our meetings," the group alleged while also claiming that PDP operates 18 bank accounts with 11 different banks without approval of NEC. "It is therefore hereby moved that the NWC should be suspended forthwith and a care taker committee be put in place under the provision of Article 16(c) pending investigation in accordance with Article 16, Section B(1a)," the ground stated. A source close to the group told THISDAY that it had the support of 90 members of NEC which is four more than the required 86, two-third of the total 129. The source however noted that their plan to get Ogbeh and other NWC members suspended from their positions will not be affected by yesterday's resolution of the feud between Obasanjo and Ogbeh.
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