Ogbulafor: Why I Resigned

By Chuks Okocha
The out going National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Vincent Ogbulafor has explained that he took the decision to resign on Thursday in order to face squarely the corruption charges filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission.
His resignation was received with considerable relief by Governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State who in a statement yesterday commended Ogbulafor, saying that “he eventually listened to the voice of reason to toe the path of honour.”
Meanwhile, following Ogbulafor’s formal resignation, the search for an interim successor heightened yesterday as five state governors - Bukola Saraki (Kwara); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Timi Slyva (Bayelsa) - were speculated to be wooing former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim for the job.
In his resignation letter dated May 13, 2010 and exclusively obtained by this newspaper yesterday, Ogbulafor said the resignation would give him ample opportunity to prepare and face his case “frontally in order to prove my innocence and for the interest of our party and the nation at large.”
In the letter addressed to the National Executive Committee of the party, and copied to President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Saraki, Ogbulafor said he would finally quit after a 30-day notice, in line with the party’s constitution.
The letter reads: “In view of my recent meeting and discussions with Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party extraction, I hereby give 30 days notice of my intention to resign as the National Chairman of the PDP.
“This is in strict compliance with the provision of Article 14.4 of the constitution of the PDP, 2009.“This resignation was informed by the case I have in court with the ICPC, for it will give me an ample opportunity to prepare and face my case frontally in order to prove my innocence and for the interest of our party and the nation at large.
“Moreso, this resignation will prove to the world that some Nigerian leaders can vacate high office in order not to be seen as using such offices to obstruct justice,” said Ogbulafor in his letter.
Ogbulafor also insisted that he was innocent of the ICPC allegations “and I am confident that I will be vindicated.”
Ogbulafor’s ouster from the party started on Tuesday when President Jonathan was reported to have told some PDP governors to persuade Ogbulafor to step down on moral grounds because of the corruption allegations against him.
Three PDP South-east governors namely Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Ikedi Ohakim of Imo and Martins Elechi of Ebonyi conveyed the president's message to Ogbulafor, urging him to quit.
Sources said he initially agreed with the South-east governors and even dictated a resignation letter in front of them to his secretary, only to turn round and renege on his word.
His argument was that he got his position with the support of all PDP governors, National Assembly members and all members of the party, and therefore would not succumb to the pressure of only three governors.
"I have not resigned from my office as the national chairman of the PDP. I want to gladly tell you that it is speculation in the air.
“I have not resigned from my office as the national chairman of PDP," he said on Wednesday.
He vowed to fight on until proven guilty by a court of law. But by Wednesday night, the number of PDP governors asking Ogbulafor to go had grown to 23.
Sources said this convinced Ogbulafor that the game was over and he subsequently threw in the towel on Thursday.
With his departure, the search for Ogbulafor’s successor is already gathering momentum with Anyim being tipped to take over, following overtures made to him by five governors of the PDP.It was gathered that if Anyim accepts to declare interest in the job, the five governors would convince their colleagues to support him as the next national chairman of the PDP.
As at press time, it was not clear whether Anyim had accepted the governors’ proposal. Other PDP chieftains said to be interested in the job are the former governor of Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and Thomas Aguiyi Ironsi, a former minister during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime.
The new chairman, however, would only occupy the position for not more than six months to make way for a national convention where all the national executive offices of the party would be thrown open for all interested members to contest.
In a related development, Governor Ohakim commended Ogbulafor for eventually listening to the voice of reason by toeing the path of honour, adding “I commend him for his courage and show of love and concern for his country.”
Throwing more light on the position of the governors from the South-east on Ogbulafor, Ohakim recalled that the three “PDP governors from the South-east geopolitical zone, including my humble self, had on Tuesday May 11, 2010, at the Imo Governor’s Lodge Asokoro Abuja, met with Prince Ogbulafor and gave him our candid view on the situation we all found ourselves with a request that he should resign.
“After listening to us, the then chairman agreed and in our very presence dictated his letter of resignation to his secretary through his cell phone.
“The atmosphere was very brotherly and on his request, we adjourned the meeting to enable him go and sign the letter and bring back for onward transmission to the party.”
Ohakim said Ogbulafor reneged on that agreement and “a big drama ensued amid insinuations that the three of us were being used by the presidency to cajole Prince Ogbulafor. We were accused of bad faith.”
The Imo State governor said he was glad that the controversy was over and that Ogbulafor had eventually listened to the voice of reason “to toe the path of honour” and commended him for his courage and “show of love and concern for his country.”
Ohakim added: “Prince Ogbulafor may be down but not out. So far, he has not been found guilty. If he is innocent of the charges against him, he would get justice and history will vindicate him.
“The position we took on the matter was in the national interest and not hinged on any personal hatred or animosity against him.
“Prince (Chief) Vincent Eze Ogbulafor remains the great friend I have come to respect so much.
“I recommend the example of Prince Ogbulafor to other Nigerians to be ready at all times to put national interest above personal, group or sectional interest.”
Source: Thisday Newspaper