WITH governors planning to resist the removal of sacked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) seems set for a stormy meeting today.
There are plans to bar Oyinlola from the meeting in Abuja, based on his removal by a Federal High Court. But, governors, who are said to be against such a move, plan to “either walk out of the meeting or create a scene”, a source said last night.
In the PDP civil war, Chairman Bamanga Tukur is believed to be leading a faction loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan. Oyinlola, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s nominee, has the governors’ sympathy.
The popular thinking is that the bickering and intrigues are all about the 2015 elections.
There are plans to instal Deputy National Secretary Onwe S. Onwe as Acting National Secretary.
But Oyinlola, whose counsel will head for the Court of Appeal today to argue a motion for a stay of execution of the judgment of the High Court, which removed him, has vowed to be in the office today.
The hardline posture of the two sides to the conflict has generated tension.
Investigations by our correspondent showed that the PDP leadership, in conjunction with some forces loyal to President Jonathan, have resolved to ask Oyinlola to obey the court’s order.
It was learnt that Tukur and some leaders of the party alleged that the High Court gave a declaratory order, which must first of all be complied with by Oyinlola before seeking redress.
A party leader said: “The judgment of Justice Abdu Kafarati was declaratory and emphatic that Oyinlola should vacate office with immediate effect and a fresh zonal congress should be conducted in the Southwest.
“In challenging a declaratory order, Oyinlola would have to first of all obey and return to the same high court to file a notice of appeal and file a motion at the court for injunction to restrain the PDP from enforcing the judgment.
“After doing that, Oyinlola will also proceed to the Court of Appeal on his intent to appeal the judgment. He cannot rush to the Court of Appeal, unless he has access to the entire proceedings and records of the high court.
“PDP leadership has got legal opinion on the matter. So, while Oyinlola is complying with the high court judgment and fighting the legal battle, the Deputy National Secretary will be asked to act as the National Secretary.
“Based on legal advice, Tukur will issue a letter of acting appointment to the Deputy National Secretary on Monday.
“Technically, Oyinlola is out and if he cannot get redress within 21 days, the party will conduct a fresh Southwest Zonal Congress to elect a new National Secretary.
“As a matter of fact, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delete Oyinlola’s name in its records as the National Secretary of the party.”
But PDP governors and Oyinlola have maintained that the order of Justice Kafarati was not declaratory.
A source in Oyinlola’s camp said: “Well, as far as we are concerned, Oyinlola will resume in his office on Monday and discharge his duties as the National Secretary because he has filed a motion at the Court of Appeal for a stay of execution of the judgment.
“The PDP governors and most members of the NWC are backing Oyinlola. They have asked him to go to his office on Monday.
“I can tell you that meetings are ongoing in Oyinlola’s camp on a counter-strategy against the plot by Tukur and other forces. We are set for a long-drawn battle.”
There were strong indications last night that Oyinlola might be “locked out of the office of the National Secretary on Monday”.
A suspected pro-Jonathan-Tukur organization, The Nigerian Renewal Group, yesterday called for the disbandment of Governors Forum, especially the PDP Governors Forum.
The group made the demand yesterday in Abuja, in a statement by its President, Alhaji Mansur Usman and Secretary, Ms Adejoke Olagoke.
The statement said: “The Nigerian Renewal Group, consisting of young professional men and women members of the Peoples Democratic Party, has watched with great concern the discordant tunes emanating from the ruling party, the PDP.
We are concerned because the governors elected on the PDP platform, who constitute the majority, have practically abandoned their primary responsibilities in their various states. They have turned themselves into an unholy pressure group and trade union under the inglorious Governors Forum.
“Indeed, we view the Governors Forum as a club for idle talk and mischief making. Our stand is validated by the recent gang up of PDP Governors against the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
“We hold no brief for the elder statesman, but we are worried that if these governors are not checked, they will soon hold the nation’s political apparatus to ransom. That will not augur well for good governance and democracy.
“In their various states, the governors hold the political and economic aces. They install local council chairmen, hand pick members of the state legislature, influence the election of members to the National Assembly and cajole the President to pick their cronies as ministers. Not done with the enormous influence and financial resources they control in their states, our governors are also jostling to remote control the party at the national level.
“This attitude of the governors portends great danger to the polity. They must be called to order. We advise President Goodluck Jonathan and Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to work together in clipping the wings of these governors. This is necessary to salvage our party from ultimate disintegration.
“We shall watch developments on the horizon. Our ultimate intention is to approach the courts to declare the Governors Forum as an illegal body, an aberration to our democracy, and a disincentive to good governance at the various states of the federation.
“Now, the cat is out of the bag. It is an open secret that the crisis in the PDP has been contrived by the governors in the attempt to control the National Working Committee and dictate to the National Chairman.
“Their intention is to position themselves for office as President, Vice President or Senators after completing their tenure. But why can’t they pursue these legitimate ambitions without employing crude, strong arm tactics?
“We ask the National Chairman to call the bluff of these governors. When Bamanga became governor of Gongola State in 1983, most of the present governors were toddlers or in primary schools. The old man deserves some respect. We commend his resolve to re-position the party by avoiding business–as-usual. We vote for due process, equity and fairness in running the affairs of the party. We deplore the antics of these governors who throw money around to hijack the party’s political apparatus. We say enough is enough.”
