ABUJA—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in ferment last night after its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu‘azu and chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih resigned their positions.
Mu‘azu resigned in a letter addressed to his erstwhile deputy, Prince Uche Secondus, while Anenih’s letter was fetched from his residence last night after the National Working Committee, NWC, issued a deadline due today for him to review his position.
Anenih in his resignation, however, said that he was resigning in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan to take over as Chairman of the BoT, a suggestion that a senior member of the NWC, last night, dismissed as untenable.
National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo in accepting the letter of resignation, however, said that the Secretary of the BoT, Senator Walid Jibrin would hold fort pending the election of a new BoT chairman.
The NWC had in a stern communiqué earlier in the afternoon confirmed Mu‘azu’s resignation, and affirmed that it would today make a firm pronouncement on Anenih’s fate.
In a related development, the party also, yesterday, directed its Osun State chapter to confirm the status of presidential campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode as a member of the party with the intent of applying disciplinary measures on him.
The wrath of the PDP NWC was also turned on the deputy national organising secretary, Chief Okey Nnadozie, who was accused of withholding N2.5 million set aside as transportation allowances to state chairmen of the party for the national convention.
Also yesterday, the party constituted a seven-man disciplinary committee which is expected to decisively address issues of insubordination to the party hierarchy.
Mu’azu’s resignation was effected in a letter he addressed to the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, the next in the party hierarchy who is to also take over from him as acting national chairman pending the appointment of a substantive chairman from Mu‘azu’s Northeast geopolitical zone.
Anenih’s letter
Anenih in a one-page letter he signed and sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated May 20, 2015, wrote: “Your Excellency will recall that in a conversation I had with you a few weeks ago, I had offered to step down from the office of the Chairman of our party’s Board of Trustees and proposed to hand over to you as its new Chairman in a ceremony that would have taken place on the 23rd of May, 2015. I had also repeated this position in our subsequent meetings.
“As a follow-up to the above proposal and in view of the current state of affairs in our party, I have decided to formally put my offer in writing to enable you effectively assume the Chairmanship of Board of Trustees or approve a process that will enable any other member of the BoT who is considered competent, to assume the position.
“Kindly accept, therefore, this letter as notice of my decision to step down from the position of Chairman of the BoT of our party with effect from today, the 20th of May, 2015.
“I am happy to inform you that, I remain a loyal foundation member of our great party and will continue to pray for the prosperity of Nigeria, our party, and for you and your family.
“Your Excellency, kindly accept the expression of my highest regards.”
Earlier yesterday, the PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo at a press conference at the end of its 399th NWC, disclosed that the party received Muazu’s letter of resignation, and said that it was accepted and wished him well in his future endeavours. He added that the NWC would today disclose whether or not Anenih remains Chairman of the BoT.
Seven-man committee
The secretary also announced that the NWC has set up a seven- member Disciplinary Committee with Chief Michael Addul as chairman, while former Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe; former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; Dr. Akilu Indabawa; Dr. Hassan Kafayas; and Nonye Nwangwu, with Tony Caesar Okeke to serve as secretary. He added that the committee would be inaugurated on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the National Secretariat.
Oladipo said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 399th meeting today, Wednesday, May 20, 2015 received and accepted the voluntary resignation of the National Chairman of our great party, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu.
“Consequently, in line with the provisions of sections 45 (2) of the PDP constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus acts in place of the National Chairman pending a replacement from the North-East zone.
“On the correct position of the status of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, the NWC will make its position public tomorrow, Thursday, May 21, 2015 (today).
“Furthermore, the NWC expressed complete confidence of the party in the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh and commended him for his outstanding performance, exemplary commitment and sacrifices, particularly in the way and manner with which he conducts the affairs of the Publicity Directorate in projecting the positive image of the party and its government.”
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh first gave a hint of the developments about to unfold when he told newsmen of the Mu‘azu resignation.
“I can confirm that we have received the resignation letter of the party’s national chairman. The national chairman, who had health challenges, stayed on for the party’s primaries, the campaigns and the elections after which he traveled abroad for medical treatment.
“Upon his treatment and after consultations with his family and on personal interest, he has decided to resign as national chairman. In line with the constitution of the party, the deputy national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, has taken charge as the acting national chairman of the party with immediate effect pending replacement from the North-East.”(Vanguard)
