Jonathan, PDP leaders meet on new chairman

Labour, Oshiomhole oppose politician as INEC boss


THE appointment of the next chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday received the attention of leaders of the ruling party and organised Labour in Nigeria.

While leaders of the PDP, including President Goodluck Jonathan, held secret talks in Aso Villa, which sources said was on the appointment of Chief Vincent Ogbulafor’s successor, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened to resist any partisan Nigerian from being made the next INEC boss.

The PDP Deputy National Chairman, Haliru Mohammed Bello, led some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to the meeting with Jonathan yesterday in the Presidential Villa.

The Guardian learnt that the meeting of the party’s leaders was to discuss the issue of the next national chairman of the PDP zoned to the South East geo-political zone.

Later yesterday, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Senate President David Mark were seen at the Villa. Although the mission could not be established, it was the first time, Obasanjo came to the state house since Jonathan assumed office. Obasanjo is also the PDP Board of Trustees chairman.

Following the resignation of Ogbulafor, the party had turned its searchlight on the South-East for his successor but it has been difficult picking a consensus candidate for the office.

However, worried by the delay in the emergence of a consensus candidate, the PDP leadership met yesterday with Jonathan on the way forward.

PDP sources told The Guardian that the party wants the process concluded before the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) expected to hold on either June 9 or 10, 2010. It was also learnt that the meeting discussed the allegation of bribery against Bello, for which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited him.

It was not clear yesterday whether the meeting took a decision on the fate of Bello as there were speculations that he might be asked to resign for the allegations against him to be investigated since Ogbulafor toe the line.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, could not be reached for details of the meeting but a senior officer of the party confirmed the meeting with Jonathan. He said: “I don’t exactly know what the issues to be discussed will be but they have gone to the Presidential Villa for a crucial meeting.’’

It was also learnt yesterday that the party had tentatively fixed the meetings of National Caucus, Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Executive Committee (NEC) for June.

According to party sources, the National Caucus meeting has been fixed for June 7, 2010 while that of BoT will come up on June 8, 2010 and after which the NEC meeting is expected to hold either on June 9 or 10, 2010.

Among those alleged to have shown interest in the PDP topmost office are its former National Secretary, Okwesilieze Nwodo, incumbent Vice Chairman (South-East), Olisa Metuh, erstwhile National Vice Chairman, Fidelis Ozichukwu, Mao Ohabunwa, Polycarp Nwite, former Senate President, Pius Anyim Pius, among others.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, who gave the warning yesterday in Abuja, also called for the sack of all top officials of INEC that served under the tenure of Prof. Maurice Iwu.

Amid the controversy trailing the alleged zoning of the Presidency by the PDP, Labour said it should not be used to exclude competent Nigerians from the office or infringed on their rights.

Omar appealed to Jonathan to ensure that the processes of the 2011 elections are free and fair. He said the President should give the choice to the people and not manipulate anything even if he wants to contest.

The NLC chief said the Congress would mobilise its members “to resist anybody that is card-carrying member of any political party, including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, to head the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Omar spoke yesterday in Abuja at an event organised by the Alliance for Credible Election to mark the removal of Iwu. He held that if the processes that would lead to the 2011 are credible enough, the President can work his way into the hearts of Nigerians but should also be prepared to handover to the opposition if his party loses the election.

To ensure good governance in the country, the governor prescribed the evolvement of a truly democratic system through electoral reforms. In achieving this, the governor sides with the Muhammadu Uwais report on electoral reform, insisting that the President should not solely appoint INEC chairman.

Also, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has opposed the appointment of INEC chief solely by the President.

He told the audience at a forum by Island Club in Lagos yesterday that in situation where the President insists on appointing INEC chairman, the appointee should be a card-carrying member of any party. He further charged the President to use the short time he had to institute a credible foundation for Nigeria’s democracy so that history will be kind to him.

Oshiomhole urged Jonathan to look at the human rights and civil society community for the appointment of the next INEC boss because they risked their lives fighting for the return to democratic rule.

The governor would also wants to see attitude changes in the electoral reforms beyond the legal frame-work whereby the President instructs the INEC chairman to work for Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that the right things are done and even if it meant the President’s party losing at polls based on the choice of the electorate.

The NLC boss argued that it would be tantamount to trampling on Jonathan’s fundamental human right to exclude him from contesting the election simply because of the zoning arrangement by the PDP, which he lamented had helped thrown up politically incompetent people to rule the country.

Omar submitted that what the Nigerian people are desirous of is somebody that would guarantee them good live and not necessarily where he or she comes from.

He argued that if organising credible elections, which will have Jonathan as a participant, would not be achievable under him, he should take the path of honour and allow posterity judge him.

His words: “Though Congress may not wish to also dictate to Mr. President the direction he should take in terms of his personal political ambition, we would state unequivocally that it would be in his greater personal interest and integrity to prioritise the conduct of a free, fair, just and credible election. History and indeed, generations yet unborn will remember him more if he chooses the path of honour to engage his energy and focus attention towards instituting an electoral system that is trustworthy and which will attract the confidence and respect of all civilised and democratic nations.”

Labour also called for the removal of Mr. Solomon Soyebi, saying the interim chairman of INEC is nothing but “a member of five leprous hands of Iwu-led commission that organised the worst elections Nigeria ever had.

The Secretary-General of Alliance for Credible Election, Mr. Emmanuel Ezeazu asked the National Assembly to jettison on-going debates on two-party system and focus on electoral and constitutional reforms.

Ezeazu also declared that Jonathan’s entering into the 2011 election might jeopardise the rotational principle, which he said, had helped to stabilise the country, especially after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election that was presumably won by the late Moshood Abiola.

He said: “Those who are supporting Jonathan to run further argue that he can still run and conduct credible elections. Our experience in Nigeria compels us to disagree with them. Those of us who are telling him not to run are not urging him to do what has not been done before. He needs to make this sacrifice for the good of the nation. We urge him not to contest and also not to impose somebody on Nigeria.”

Ezeazu finds an ally in former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina, who yesterday urged the President to ignore the call to contest and concentrate on how to better the lot of Nigerians.

Adesina, in an interview said since there is a zoning arrangement, it will not be in the best interest of the President to scuttle it.

Rather than listen to the advice of praise singers, Adesina urged Jonathan to focus on how to tackle the epileptic power supply, the vexed issue of electoral reform, corruption and insecurity.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, Jigawa State Chapter, Garun Gabas, has said there is no alternative to the multi-party arrangement in Nigeria.

The NBA boss, who is also a member of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said the multi-party system creates room for new ideas and gives people the opportunity to express themselves without fear or favour.

He pointed out that the multi-party arrangement helps to open up the democratic space and that all that is needed is for electoral reforms, the report of the Uwais panel should be implemented.

Gabas, who spoke against the zoning policy of the PDP that it is the turn of the North to field a candidate for the 2011 presidency other than Jonathan, said the alleged clause is a violation of the Nigerian constitution.

“Any political party that has no respect for the constitution of the country should beware of the doomsday. The constitution does not bar Jonathan from contesting any election merely because of zoning policy of the PDP even though PDP has done that for convenience.”

Also, another legal practitioner based in the state, Abubakar Yusuf Gumel, has challenged Jonathan to leave an enduring legacy through positive changes rather than devote his energy to the call by sycophants to contest the 2011 election.

Considering the circumstances of Jonathan’s ascendancy to the Presidency, he said it is proper for him to be focused and to deliver on his promises within the one year, adding that if he can impact positively on Nigerians in the area of power supply, education and health, Nigerians will support him for another term.
 
Source: The Guardian