Muideen Olaniyi
18 June 2008
Proposals of the national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve crisis in its Edo State chapter were yesterday rejected by the state governor's camp.
Chief Tony Anenih's group however expressed willingness to accept the decision of NWC in the interest of peace.
Governor Oserheimen Osunbor's group openly expressed dissatisfaction with the arrangements made by Prince Vincent Ogbulafor led National Working Committee (NWC) to resolve the crisis in the state.
Addressing the two groups, the National Chairman said it was difficult to arrive at the decision reached by the NWC members.
Ogbulafor called on the Deputy National Chairman,Dr Bello Haliru Muhammed to read the resolutions of the NWC members.
Dr Muhammed, presenting the decision of the members, said the issues in contention in Edo congresses were Local government and state congresses.
In the list read by Dr Muhammed, Anenih group was given the following positions: State Chairman, State Treasurer, State Publicity Secretary, State Financial Secretary, State Woman Leader, State Vice Chairman (South), State Vice Chairman (North) , one Assistant State Secretary, ( C ), State Assistant Publicity Secretary, one State Assistant Organizing Secretary ( C ), one State Assistant Organizing Secretary (S), and two elected members , one of whom shall be a woman.
Positions allocated to Governor Osunbor's group included Deputy Chairman, State Secretary, State Organizing Secretary, State Youth Leader, State Auditor, State Legal Adviser, State Vice Chairman (Central) , two Assistant State Secretaries (S/N) , State Assistant Financial Secretary , one State Assistant Organizing Secretary (N), State Assistant Legal Adviser, and two elected members, one of whom shall be a woman.
On Local Government Congress, the party decided that both camps should share equally the chairmanship positions of eigthteen councils in the state.
Nine local governments allocated to Anenih's group were Esan North East, Esan Central, Esan South East , Etsako West, Owan West , Akoko Edo, Oredo, Orhiomwon and Ikpoba Okha.
Esan West, Igueben, Owan East, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Egor, Uhunmwode, Ovia North East and Ovia South West were given to Osunbor's group.
In his reaction after the meeting, Rear Admiral Mike Akhigbe who said that he was neutral appealed to the two factions to settle the issue amicably at home.
General Samuel Ogbemudia who spoke on behalf of Governor Osunbor's camp rejected the decision of the NWC.
"We have just seen and heard the script which we have heard many many times before now. In Benin City, if you phone somebody now, he will read to you that very thing that have been kept as secret for a very long time.In any case, we want to tell you Mr Chairman that we totally reject every thing that has been said there.If you want to do election or contest, come and meet us in Benin City."
Ogu Vincent, a representative of Anenih's group stressed the need for peace while rejecting the views of Akhigbe and Ogbemudia.
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