25 April 2009

It was quite an unfamiliar experience for the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, to hold its annual convention on a Monday. Another unusual nature of it was the pronounced absence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. His absence, probably, may not have rankled the top echelon of PDP. Reason is that the special convention which had stripped the party's Board of Trustees (BOT) of its executive powers, was generally seen to have Obasanjo in mind. This is in spite of several denials by party chairman Prince Vincent Ogbulafor.

For the umpteenth time, Ogbulafor at the Eagle Square convention venue, said the PDP constitution amendment was not aimed at the former president. Until last Monday, Obasanjo as BOT Chairman was both de facto and de jure leader of the party.

The pre-convention BOT chairman wielded enormous power and influence. Under the old constitution, only a former president or former national chairman of the party could aspire to be BOT chairman. All that however changed minutes after mid-day last Monday after delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had cast their votes. Shortly after, the votes were counted and the results were announced state by state, the BOT which Obasanjo heads ceased to be an executive organ of PDP as its role has become merely advisory.

Even before the convention, the decision to neutralize the BOT had not gone down well with the former president even if he has not said so publicly. It is within this context that many saw his absence at the convention as a display of his personal displeasure over the development. A source within the party said it would have been a thorough humiliation for him to sit down and watch the BOT castrated. It was even speculated that he was expected to resign as BOT Chairman that Monda.

Obasanjo

However, a top presidential aide said Obasanjo had travelled to South Africa on official assignment. Although South Africa general elections took place two days ago, it was not clear whether he had gone on behalf of the federal government or in his capacity as former president. Effectively, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, has since taken over as the leader of the party in his capacity as the president, same way governors are in their respective states.

This turn of event, it is believed is some quarters, may further deepen a seeming frosty relationship between Yar'Adua and Obasanjo. But a presidency source dismissed existence of a cold relationship between the two; describing such insinuation as mere rumour."

The only business thriving in this country after electricity business is rumour. The relationship between Obasanjo and Yar'Adua is as defined by the two of them, not as many people perceived it "he said. He said the fact that Obasanjo was not at the convention is not an indication of existence of tough relationship between them.

The process that led to the diminished influence of Obasanjo in the ruling party began at 10.30 a.m. with the national anthem. Before then, all the delegates were already seated, united by same purpose of effecting a change with a far reaching consequences in the party constitution. Even in states riddled with crises, members put aside their differences for a while perhaps, the only exception was Plateau where delegates exhibited the division at the venue. It took the intervention of party elders to prevent the situation from degenerating as members engaged one another in a physical confrontation.

Among the delegates who attended the special convention were PDP governors, PDP senators and their House of Representatives counterparts, ministers, special advisers, National Working Committee members, states executive members, state Houses of Assembly PDP leadership and commissioners. Other include top aides of governors, top party chieftains and some former public office holders etc. Those who arrived late had a hectic time getting to convention ground. Amid the festivities that usually characterise the occasion, the day's business went on as scheduled. PDP National Chairman set the tone when he explained the rationale for rationale for the party's constitution amendment.

According to him, the exercise is "is one of the steps being taken to re-engineer and re-position" the party. He added that "it is aimed at enhancing" its democratic disposition, "by strengthening internal democracy and assuring the teeming members of their place in the running of the party.

A strong democratic party can only system can only result in a viable democratic nation." Specifically, Ogbulafor emphasised that the exercise "is not targeted at anybody or group, rather, all leaders and members of the party will emerge from this process stronger" Before Chief Olusola Oke, National Legal Adviser of the party moved the motion for the constitution amendment, the party's national secretary in his address had expressed optimism over tomorrow's Ekiti governorship rerun poll.

His words, "the mandate you Ekiti people gave to our party in 2007 will not be betrayed. The mandate you freely gave to our party will not be foresaken you will retrieve your mandate. Ekiti was PDP yesterday, it is PDP today, it will be PDP tomorrow by the grace of God." Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State took the podium thereafter as the chief Electoral Officer. He briefly enjoined delegates to conduct themselves properly during voting. The party's national legal adviser came on his heels to move the motion for the amendment. The motion, titled "Motion.

For further Amendment of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party Pursuant to Article 26 (i), (ii), & (iii) of the party's constitution As Amended and S. 220 ( c), (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria" was subsequently moved. It was seconded by Senator Grace Folasade Bent, on behalf of the Senate.

The highlights of the amendments are:

*COMPOSITION OF CONGRESSES AND NATIONAL CONVENTION:

(a)Article 12.17(f): Reduce number of elected delegates from 25 to 3.

(b)Article 12.17(g)

(i)Reduce number of elected delegates from 25 to 3

(ii)nsert a new sub-paragraph x to accommodate:

a.former Local Government Party Chairmen and Secretaries who are still members of the party.

b.former Local Government Council Chairmen and Vice Chairmen produced by the party who are still members of the party.

c.former Leaders of Council (Speakers) produced by the party who are still members of the party

(c)Article 12.40(g)

(i)Reduce the number of elected delegates from '25' to '3'.

(ii)Insert new sub-paragraphs 6p% 6q' and V to accommodate:

(a)former members of State Working Committee who are still members of the party.

(b)former Governors and Deputy /Governors produced by the party who are still members of the party.

(c)former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the State House of Assembly produced by the party who are still members of the party.

(d)Article 12.57: Enlarge the provision of the Article by inserting immediately after the word "Committee" in line 2, the following words: "former members of the Zonal Working Committee who are still members of the party".

(e)Article 1271: Introduce a new sub-paragraph *u' to accommodate former Deputy National Chairmen, Chairmen and Secretaries of Board of Trustees who are still members of the party as members of National Executive Committee.

(f)Article 12.84: Insert a new sub-paragraphs r and s to accommodate former members of National Working Committee, former Deputy Presidents of the Senate and former Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives as delegates to the National Convention.

*BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT)

Articles 12.76, 12.77 and 12.80:

(a)Split Article 12.76 into two sub-paragraphs, then renumber and rearrange under "qualification" and "composition".

(b)Delete all provisions vesting the Board with Executive functions.

(c)Delete the provision limiting the qualification for chairmanship of the Board to only former Presidents or former National Chairmen and substitute therefor the requirement of "proven integrity and immense contributions into the party"

(d)Introduce provision for tenure for:

(i)The Chairman and Secretary of Board, a single term of five (5) years.

(ii)Members provided for in sub-paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of Article 12.76 (2) - a single term of five (5) years.

*ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

Article 18.2 (a): increase annual membership subscription from N200 to N600 and make same payable monthly at K50 per month.

Immediately after the delegates filed out to cast their votes.