The drama surrounding the 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued yesterday.
PDP national ex-officos and two former national publicity secretaries of the party, lambasted the PDP acting national chairman, Amb Umar Illiya Damagum, for disowning comments made by the national publicity secretary, Hon Debo Ologungaba, on the 100th NEC meeting scheduled for June 30.
Damagum had scolded Ologungaba for faulting Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) response to PDP’s notification letter on the NEC, citing compliance concern because it was not jointly signed by the national chairman and national secretary.
The acting national chairman accused Ologungaba of speaking with authorisation, especially as the party leadership was to meet the commission yesterday. Good
Reacting on behalf of the PDP national ex-officio members of its chairman, Hon. Chief Faboyede O. Clement, and national secretary, Hon. Comfort Yassan, described Damagum’s statement as shocking especially as “he ought to be the custodian of the Constitution of our Party and ensure that resolutions of every organ of the Party are faithfully implemented.”
“The media interaction by the National Publicity in line with his constitutional duty in conveying the resolutions, activities, policies and programs of our party.
“The National Ex-Officio members hereby reaffirms our confidence in the National Publicity Secretary and express our solidarity and support for him in the performance of his constitutional duty in the overall interest of our Party,” they said.
Similarly, former national publicity secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, faulted
Damagum for publicly denying the press interactive session by Ologunagba.
“I do hope this is fake news at work. Otherwise, this is an act capable of bringing the party into great disrepute, and this is a cardinal offence against the party’s constitution.
“Besides, how can the press and the public continue to believe future statements from the party’s National Publicity Secretary.”
Although he had retired from partisan politics, Metuh said the issue was of concern to him because he gave the best part of my youth and middle age to the party.
“We need the PDP and other parties to remain strong and act as credible opposition platforms to help strengthen and deepen our democracy. Nigeria deserves a democracy where policies and programmes will be debated openly and options and alternatives proffered by all interests,” he said.
Another former national spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Damagum’s attack on Ologunagba is a heavy affront to NEC.
Ologbondiyan said, “Damagum came after Ologunagba for re-echoing the unanimous resolution of our National Executive Committee (NEC), that the next meeting (100th) would be held on June 30th.
“This latest action by Damagum is completely unacceptable and a major affront to the authority of NEC, the NWC and the sensibility of all PDP members.
“There are two cardinal offences against the spirit of the PDP from this latest action of Amb. Damagum; he has sought to torpedo a decision of NEC and secondly brought our party to a public odium.
“The leaders of the PDP must take action immediately to stem this attempt by Amb. Damagum to destroy the legacy party, the PDP,” he said.
