Emeka Osondu
28 June 2009
(Page 2 of 2)
On the issue of order of arrest of Ogbulafor and others issued by the court, the PDP hierarchy has since described the development as an "embarrassment and surprise" since the judgment that the Obi-Okoye group was seeking to enforce is a nullity in law on the grounds that the suit from which the order emanates had been discontinued since December, 2007 just as it claimed that the court that issued the order lacked jurisdiction. Apart from that, the party filed an appeal against the contempt charge of the Court of Appeal in Enugu .
These were revealed by the National legal Adviser of PDP, Chief Olushola Oke who spoke to newsmen in Abuja after his meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondoakaa. Explaining that "Suit N0 HID/106/2004 had been discontinued since December 11, 2007 as stated in the affidavit by plaintiff to the suit, Chief Ogugua Nwosu, then Financial Secretary of the party, who said defendant to the suit is the campaign Director of the ANPP governorship candidate in the 2007 governorship election in the state"
Nevertheless, leader of PDP in the state, Chief Chris Uba at the stakeholders' meeting lamented the crisis that had rocked the party to its foundation over the years. He commended the decision of the PDP NWC to return the party on the part of peace and progress, just as he urged every well meaning member of the party to support the gesture.
Uba, also a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), urged every member and stakeholder of the PDP to join hands with the newly returned Uchenna Emodi led state executive of the party to build and reposition the party for greater efficiency. He equally assured that the new leadership would be open and transparent in its dealings with every member.
He explained that mechanisms had been put in place to check all excesses, especially as regard the conduct of party primaries for the on-coming 2010 governorship election.
Also in his speech, former Governor of the state, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinuju advised politicians, especially those in public offices to sustain the current democratic norms in the country by avoiding self-interests and rancour which breed disunity in the polity. He said that politics is all about people and development.
Mbadinuju noted that the persistent crisis in the state chapter of the party was occasioned by the inability of public office seekers and politicians to play the game according to the rule.
He noted that since the constitution and electoral law of the country clearly specified that nobody would be allowed to play politics without a political party platform, there was the need for politicians to do only those things that would harness and promote the party so that it can grow.
The former governor lamented a situation whereby the state chapter of PDP, which was a force to reckon with at the onset of democracy in 1999, had just been thorn apart by internal crisis despite the many successes it had recorded over-time as a result of in-fighting and jostling for positions among stakeholders.
He therefore urged every member of the party to renew his dedication to the party and work for the restoration of its lost glory, stressing that "your destiny is in your hand".
He reminded them that besides being a governor there are many other positions to be vied for. He said there was no need for fighting or blocking the door as against anybody, adding that the PDP lost the governorship chance because of a simple mistake. Mbadinuju expressed optimism that this time, "we are making a good beginning by re-grouping for a common front. And I believe, at the last count, we will show the world what we can do."
Other stakeholders who spoke at the forum agreed that the period of crisis in the state PDP should be over to enable the party reposition and consolidate on its electoral fortunes. They include two governorship aspirants: Dr. Alex Obiogbolu and Senator Emma Anosike, as well as a PDP stalwart, Valentine Ayika.
Dr. Alex Obiogbolu said these were
The state chairman of PDP, Mr. Uchenna Emodi, in his welcome address said his executive is working for reconciliation, progress and success, and pleaded with members to lend their support to him and his team for actualization of the objective of entrenching participatory democracy in the party which entails dialogue.
Emodi noted that, "The political terrain in Anambra State is on a threshold of an imminent escalation of political activities. We have already seen the beginning with many parties jostling with activities including possible candidates' endorsements, formal launching of parties and campaign offices. For our party we have decided to call all of you to be part of the deliberations towards repositioning the party for its role in the unfolding political atmosphere.
"It will be our mission to reclaim our rightful position in the state as the ruling party just like we dominated the State House of Assembly and National Assembly with PDP members. We should also be preparing for the local government chairmanship and councillorship elections which maybe called at anytime by the state government. We therefore request you to assist us in the State Executive as we discharge our mandate collectively in accordance with our avowed belief in total reconciliation and togetherness while we progress in the state," he stressed.
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