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.”
PDP crisis
The PDP crisis surfaced after the party lost its grounds in the presidential, National Assembly and governorship elections held in March and April. The loss was followed by calls for the resignation of the NWC with some caucuses, including the South-West Caucus and the governors, demanding the resignation of national officers. The NWC had reacted with the allegation that the Presidential Campaign Organisation upon the powers granted it by President Goodluck Jonathan mismanaged the election campaigns.
President Jonathan’s campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode had on Tuesday demanded the sack of majority of the members of the NWC, alleging that they betrayed the President.
“We must throw out the bad eggs in the NWC and prepare for a long-drawn war of attrition with the new incoming government. In order to survive over the next four years as a party, we must make the necessary changes at the top, otherwise we will be utterly decimated.”
In response, the NWC in a letter to the party chairman in Osun State, yesterday, sought clarification on the status of Chief Fani-Kayode in the party.
The letter dated May 20, 2015 and authored by the National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo read thus:
“You are expected to investigate the membership status of Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. If he is a registered and financial member, proper disciplinary actions should be meted against him through the Ward for engaging in acts contrary to Section (b) of the Party Constitution. If not a member, you are to reprimand him as a usurper.”
Fani-Kayode reacts.
Fani-Kayode in a swift reaction, described the action as laughable, insisting that all NWC members must resign, especially Oladipo and Metuh.
Fani-Kayode, who wondered why the party would single him out when some governors had made earlier calls for the NWC to resign said: “Why did the NWC refuse to ask Niger governor, Babangida Aliyu; Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido to be reprimanded for their comments?
“We are glad that Mu’azu is gone, we called for the resignation of the entire NWC, their action is a reflection of dictatorial tendency of the party.
“We will continue to question until all of them (NWC) resign, they should answer the call of the party members, we don’t want them any longer.”
The Deputy National Organising Secretary, Chief Okey Nnadozie was also asked to appear before it today following complaints against him on the non-remittance of the balance of N2.5 million transport allowance for state chairmen to the recent National Convention.
Oladipo in a the letter had said: “I write to inform you that the National Working Committee is in receipt of disturbing complaint from the Conference of State Chairmen about the non-payment of their transport allowance at the last National Convention. Upon investigation, the NWC discovered that you were in charge of these monies.
“In view of the gravity of the allegation, the NWC invites you to its meeting holding on Thursday, May 21, 2015 by 10.00 am at the NWC Hall, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.”
But reacting to the development, Nnadozie who spoke with Vanguard on telephone disclosed that he was yet to see such a letter and wondered why a letter inviting a National Executive Committee, NEC, member over such serious issues should be channelled through the media. He promised to present himself before the committee.
“I am coming to defend myself; no fund is missing, and it is wrong to leak a letter of invitation to a NEC member to the press. Are they looking for a scapegoat? Is it proper to summon a NEC member on the pages of newspapers?” he asked.
Few hours after taking over as Acting Chairman of the party, Secondus drove to the Presidential Villa where he met behind closed doors with President Jonathan.
The Acting National Chairman arrived the Presidential Villa at about 5.15 p.m. in the company of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.
The meeting was still ongoing at press time.
Some party stakeholders, reacted to the development, yesterday.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State:
“The resignation is a welcome development. We see it as paving way for total repositioning of the Ayodele-Fayoseparty for its new role post-May 29.
“The normal thing is for leadership of a political party to resign after losing a major election. The PDP which held power at the centre for 16 years can’t be different. The chairman ought not to have waited for people to question his continuing in office before throwing in the towel. PDP is bigger than every one of us. The party can now move forward.”
Bode George
Chief Bode George, erstwhile Deputy National Chairman of the party in his reaction commended Mu‘azu for his action saying that it would enable the party to investigate what happened during the election.
He, however, described Anenih’s resignation as a shock to him even as he called on party stakeholders to rally together to push the party forward.
It’ll help move PDP forward—Akitoye
A former acting national secretary of the party, Chief Remi Akitoye said Mu’azu’s resignation would help reposition and move the party forward. Akitoye said:
“It is a good development, it will help move and reposition the party”.
He did his best —Senator Uzamere
Commending the PDP chairman, the Senator representing Edo South Senatorial District, Senator Ehigie Edobor Uzamere said:
“I see that he has done the right thing by resigning voluntarily. He cited health reasons and we accept it. He has done his best.”
He has done an honourable thing – Babatope
On his part, a member of the Board of Trustees, (BOT) of the PDP, Chief Ebenezer Babatope said: “Mu’azu has done an honourable thing by resigning and I believe strongly that the party will move forward and play its role as the opposition party to the APC”.
The wishes of people prevailed – Opara
Also, a former deputy speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Austin Opara said:
“It is a good development for the party and it is an honourable thing that Mu’azu has resigned. The wishes of the people have prevailed and now the party will be able to reposition itself ahead of future elections. I believe his resignation is good for our democracy”.
His resignation makes PDP a regional party—Tsav
A retired Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, said:
“I think he has acted very wisely because those urging him to resign felt he is the problem of PDP. Unfortunately those who championed the calls for his resignation were the ones that are supposed to leave the PDP. I am talking about people like Fani-Kayode and Ayo Fayose, whose conducts were embarrassing during the campaign.
“His resignation has turned the PDP into a regional and tribal party because the North no longer has any top member in the PDP leadership. Now that he has resigned, lets see what becomes of the party.”
NWC should also resign—Filani
Chief Ishola Filani, in his reaction, said the NWC members should resign along with Mu’azu.
Filani, a chairman of the South West zonal caretaker committee said:
“That was patriotic of him and I hope that other members of the NWC will follow suit because he (Mu’azu) should not be the only person to make sacrifice. The failure was collective, other members should resign, including the state executives.”