Dasukigate: Olisa Metuh, others won't resign

The Peoples Democratic Party has reacted to the call by some leaders of the party, for the acting National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, acting Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Bello Mohammed, and the National Publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, to resign from their positions.

Four deputy national officers of the party had Monday asked Mr. Secondus to step down and allow someone from the north east take office as chairman.

They also demanded the resignation of Messrs. Mohammed and Metuh over their ongoing trial over corruption charges.

The PDP National Secretary, Adewale Oladipo, in a statement late Monday, said the leadership of the party understood the concerns of its members especially since the “unfortunate electoral setback, its attendant trauma and disagreements within the party as well as the recent development leading to the probing of some of our leaders and of course our campaign funding by the APC-led government”.

The national secretary said the leadership had also noted the “desperation of some opportunistic and selfish individuals, including those being used by the APC, to draw political capital from the present challenges facing our party”.

“However, whereas the PDP remains a platform for all Nigerians to aspire, we note that that our constitution is clear on the mode of election, tenure, succession in the case of vacancy, and removal from office of our officers at all levels.

“Also the constitution and laws of our country provide that an individual remains innocent until otherwise proven by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“While we await the judicial determination of the cases involving some of our leaders at the EFCC, it is important that all party members show commitment to our rebuilding effort by ensuring utterances that encourage and unite rather than further discourage and divide our members.

“Any thing contrary to this would be playing into the very hands of those who want to decimate our party, destroy our common destiny as a people and install a one-party state in our country.

“Our earnest attention for now is our on-going rebuilding efforts, the amendment of our party’s constitution and our scheduled National Convention in March this year to produce new leaders in line with the statutory requirements of our great party.

“All the statutory organs are aware of the laid out plans by the NWC, which would soon be presented to them appropriately and accordingly.

“Moreover, any person or group which in any way feels aggrieved by any issue regarding our party should, as responsible party members channel such through the appropriate internal mechanisms instead of resorting to dragging our party in the mud in the media.

“Such, only portrays pursuit of personal ambition and interest instead of the collective good of our great party at a critical time as this.

“We therefore urge all loyal and dedicated members of the PDP to be at alert and wary of antics of certain external forces bent at causing confusion in our great party, all with the aim of ensuing that we do not unite as a formidable opposition and a government in waiting.

“The public and the media are by this made aware of the fact that the PDP remains a big family despite our temporary electoral setback.

“Also, our leadership and statutory organs, the NEC, NWC, Caucus, Board of Trustee, forum of Governors and caucuses of various legislative houses, are all united in the common effort to rebuild and reposition the party, especially with preparations for our National Convention in March,” he said.