Fallout of Obasanjo-Ogbeh face-off: IBB Camp Jittery �Presidency regroups towards Ogbeh�s ouster �Governors advise Ogbeh not to resign �Bode George, five other national
Yussuf Alli
Barely 24 hours after the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbeh, survived a plot to sack him, there were indications that the political camp of ex-military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, is jittery over the control of the party by Vice President Atiku Abubakar and some governors.
It was also learnt that the Presidency might regroup to launch a counter-offensive against those who frustrated its plot to remove Ogbeh.
But most of the governors of the party have advised Ogbeh not to resign anymore. He was reported to have indicated at Thursday�s NEC meeting that he would step down in a month�s time.
In what appeared a move to allow Ogbeh to consolidate, all the six National Vice Chairmen of the party will now have roles to play as �co-opted members� of the NWC.
Findings by our correspondent showed that the NEC meeting of PDP on Thursday was a test of strength between the Presidency and the elements of the defunct Peoples Democratic Movement in the party, led by the Vice President.
Investigations revealed that when the anti-Ogbeh plot was almost going through, the PDM and a faction of the Governors� Forum rallied round him.
It was gathered that the move caused a stir in pro-Babangida circles. Babangida is planning to return as civilian president in 2007.
A member of the NWC said, �It was obvious yesterday that the Atiku-Governors� alliance has taken over the affairs of the party. They appear to be in control.
�I can tell you that the IBB camp is jittery because the sack of Ogbeh would have been a fundamental political advantage in PDP for the former military Head of State ahead of 2007.�
The source said, �From the look of things, Atiku and the governors now dictate the pace towards 2007 and the IBB camp may have to start all over to infiltrate PDP as a platform.
�The battle for the soul of PDP for 2007 has started and it will be a rough one.�
But after the NEC meeting, it was learnt that the strategists in The Presidency had regrouped in the last 24 hours to curtail Atiku-Ogbeh and governors� menace.
A source in the Presidency said, �Yes, we have regrouped to see Ogbeh out on or before one month�s time.
�What happened was that Ogbeh escaped the sack because of the faulty approach adopted towards the matter. We had all along enjoyed the support of all members of the National Working Committee of the party until a proposal came from Chief Chris Uba and others that the entire team should be dissolved. Uba meant well to sanitise the party but NWC members thought otherwise.
�If the issue of removal had been limited to the initial plan of ridding the party of Ogbeh, he would have ceased to be a National Chairman. The idea of sacking all NWC members led to a fresh wave of sympathy for Ogbeh.�
The source who disagreed that the presidency was humbled said, �I can assure you that Ogbeh�s days are still numbered.�
�You may be right to call us hawks but we will show Ogbeh our true colour if he does not resign within a month.
�We made a tactical error in not allowing the president to attend the NEC meeting. Some people reneged on our plan at the last minute because the President was absent.�
The Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to the President, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who spoke in the same vein, insisted that the Presidency�s plot did not fail.
He said, �I can assure you that the Presidency was not humiliated. The decisions that were taken were deemed to be the best thing for the party at this point in time.
�And in any case, nobody in PDP can humiliate the President. So, you have chosen a wrong word. The President is still the leader of the party; the power within the party and he still retains the loyalty and respect of NEC and PDP family.
�Let me tell you that if Mr. President had not decided to be generous, the outcome would have been completely different. We thank God for Mr. President�s generosity and forgiving spirit. He is a true democrat.�
�The President remains in firm control because he is the leader.�
On the latest hijack of the party by state governors, Fani-Kayode said, �That is a laughable suggestion and nothing could be farther from the truth.
�All our governors proved that they were all loyal and dedicated members of PDP. Each and everyone made contributions at that meeting.
�Of course, there may have been varied opinions, it does not mean a division between the President and the governors.�
In spite of the �softening� of the Presidency, most PDP governors went into another late night meeting on Thursday where they decided to prevail on Ogbeh not to resign.
A source said, �The governors� decision was conveyed to Ogbeh on Friday.
�They do not want Ogbeh to leave again contrary to the assurance he gave NEC. But how to go about the latest agenda is another battle between the governors and the Presidency.�
Investigations however showed that the governors had advised him to consolidate his grip on the party by curtailing the influence of all the six National Vice Chairmen of the party from NWC.
A source said, �If you look at our party�s constitution, the six Vice Chairmen are not members of NWC. They are co-opted members and they have to attend NWC meetings occasionally.
�The crisis of confidence between the President and Ogbeh had been traced to some National Vice Chairmen who shuttle on daily basis to the Presidential Villa to tell the President half-truths.
�I can tell you that these National Vice Chairmen will soon get fresh letters on their limited roles in NWC activities.�
Article 13(14)(a, b, c) makes provision for a 12-man NWC the list was expanded to 18 with the cooption of six National Vice Chairmen.
The constitution reads, �The quorum of the NWC shall be one-half of its members. The NWC shall meet at least once every fortnight.
�The six zonal chairmen shall attend NWC meetings once in every two months.�
Those who may be affected by the new development the National Vice Chairman (North West) Alhaji Bello Mohammed; the National Vice Chairman (North Central), Alhaji Abubakar Magaji; the National Vice Chairman, North East, Alhaji Ahmed Song; Chief Olabode George (National Vice Chairman, South-West); Chief Fidelis Ozi-Chukwu (National Vice Chairman, South-East); the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Mr. Vincent Ake.
