THE call by a section of Pro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) asking for full democratization of the organisation seems to be another step prolonging the crisis rocking the camp of "democrats and progressive elements" in the country again.

This time, those who believed that the organisation is not walking the path of democracy has called for elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro to relinquish leadership of the conference to pave way for a structure in order to organise a General Assembly where they would elect officers to run the affairs of the conference. They have called for dissolution of the unelected protem leadership of PRONACO.

The group led by Ambassador Olu Otunla, Chairman Conference Organising Committee, PRONACO declared at a press briefing last week that the problems leading to their (PRONACO) inability to organise a credible conference was due to the fact that their decisions were not democratically taken and that they have no elected and standing executive officers running and coordinating affairs of the group.

Ambassador Otunla told pressmen that the progressive elements in PRONACO had decided to take action to save the idea and ensure that the objectives are met. The visibly angry PRONACO chieftain said at the inception of the conference, it was hoped that the conference would achieve success in the areas where the government have failed by addressing issues affecting the socio-economic and political structure of Nigeria, however, their hopes is declining daily. He however, said they would not relent in achieving the purpose for which PRONACO was set up.

His statement read in part: "At its inception, a number of prominent Nigerians among them Chief Anthony Enahoro and Prof. Wole Soyinka were entrusted with the management and nurture of the affairs of the newly formed PRONACO in the expectation that they will set up democratic structures and organise the election of leaders of the organisation for the purpose of convening a Sovereign National Conference and drafting a new constitution for the cohabitation of the 200 composite nationalities within the Nigerian state.

"But up till now, and in complete defiance of protests and pleas from the late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, supported by a large section of PRONACO membership, the organisation is still being led and managed by the unelected protem officers under Chief Enahoro who has frustrated moves by members to democratize the organisation.

"As at the time of writing, these steps have not been taken and PRONACO is being managed like a cult, through subterfuge, utter lies, gerrymandering and fascist pranks like physically baring dissent opinion from participating in PRONACO meetings."

He said this had led to series of protests from some of those opposed to the idea, a development he added is dragging the conference backward from achieving its objectives.

For them to move forward he requested that " we call on Chief Enahoro, Prof. Soyinka and other members of the protem leadership to :- act in accordance with the charter of the organisation and hold a general assembly at which a leadership of the movement will be democratically elected. Letting the elected leadership reconvene plenary. Also allow the new leadership to have the draft proposed constitution recrafted to reflect the true wishes of our peoples before being presented afresh to an enlarged plenary where at least eighty percent of the 197 acknowledged nationalities will have delegates.

"Preventing them from engaging in negotiations, entering into any agreements on the subject of the new proposed constitution which would emerge at the end of the SNC without the prior consent and approval of the general assembly of PRONACO."

However, in response to the allegations, Chairman, Publicity Committee of PRONACO, Mr. Adebisi Adegbuyi said those opposed to the leadership of the organisation were out to convert PRONACO to a Non Governmental Organisation and that they are yet to reveal their real agenda.

Adegbuyi said: "As a group, we have achieved our aims and set objectives, which are (organising) a Sovereign National Conference and fashioning a constitution. Towards that, we all arrived at 29 resolutions, which were adopted. The resolutions have been made into a draft constitution but some elements want democratisation of PRONACO as a condition for adoption of the draft constitution at a plenary."

He explained that the major challenge to PRONACO now is to get the resolutions implemented and not removing somebody or democratising PRONACO.

By the action, the claims and the counter-claims, it is obvious that the cracks observed very early in the life of the organisation which was put together to show how Nigerians would want the country to be run is far from over. Two broad groups emerged last year when Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti raised queries about the running of the organisation and its finances. Dr ransome-Kuti expressed worries that there was neither accountability nor transparency in an organisation that had been complaining about how the Nigerian state was being run.

It took the intervention of the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka to douse the tension thus generated and get the organisation on the track again. But, in the current phase of the crisis, Professor Soyinka has broken his silence and taken pot shots at the Enahoro leadership, describing the 83-year old man as the problem with PRONACO.

Ambassador Otunla's outbursts are indications that the bad moments are not yet over. If nothing is done to bring the two groups together, PRONACO as an idea may go the way the progressives had managed earlier initiatives were floundered and died as the reformists dithered.

Those with Ambassador Otunla at the briefing were Dr. Wale Balogun, Bright Ezeocha, leader of the Igbo youths, Ms Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, Bolaji Rosiji and Agba Justin Jalingo of the Nigerian Renaissance Movement.