BoT chair: North’s interest tears PDP apart

THE jostle for the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has split the organ with most members insisting on the zoning tradition of the party by allowing the North to produce the new leader.
Thirteen candidates have applied for the seat, including a former Chairman of the BOT, Chief Tony Anenih; a former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali; ex-President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani; Chief Harry Akande and Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
It was however learnt that some influential members of the PDP are mounting pressure on a former Vice-President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme to lead the BOT.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo vacated the seat in April.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh confirmed the number of interested candidates to our correspondent on telephone yesterday.
Metuh, however, could not give the names of all the candidates off hand, saying he was speaking from his village in Anambra and as such could not lay his hands on the file at the time.
“So far we have about 13 candidates on the list. I don’t have the file with me so I cannot recall all the names off hand. As a matter of fact I am speaking with you from my village in Anambra”, Metuh said.
A high-ranking member of the party yesterday said Ekwueme has not formally applied for the office.
But there were strong indications that more candidates might emerge following what a top member of the BOT as the “continuous search for an ideal candidate.”
Also, contrary to speculations, President Goodluck Jonathan has decided not to back any candidate.
Jonathan wants to leave the post open to BOT members to decide.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there is a split among members of the BOT with most of them insisting on the zoning tradition of the party.
A reliable top BOT member, who spoke in strict confidence yesterday, said: “Some of our leaders might have applied but it appears that we may need more leaders to signify their interest.
“I can say that the BOT is still searching for the ideal candidate because there are some variables which we still have to put into consideration.
“The position of most members is that the party must take its zoning tradition into consideration in choosing a new BOT chairman or else we may slip into a deeper crisis in the party.
“We have a tradition that anytime the North produces the President, the BOT chairman will come from the South.
“This is the zoning tradition we have adhered to since 1999. The last holder of the BOT chairmanship, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo came from the South-West, what will be the rationale for choosing or electing a new one from the South again.
“So, you can see that we have a major zoning hurdle to cross in electing the new chairman of the BOT. The appropriate thing is for the North to produce the next BOT chairman.
“If Jonathan allows the party to abandon this tradition, we will assume that zoning is dead and this may affect the primaries for 2015 poll.”
Asked why the North will push for BOT chairman when the secretary of the board, Alhaji Wali Jibrin is from the North-Central, the source added: “Wali came in as an interim secretary. When we meet, the North will have the option to either serve as chairman or secretary.
“If the North opts for the chairman of BOT, Wali has to automatically step down.”
On the alleged intent of Ekwueme, the source said: “Some leaders of our party are pressurizing Ekwueme to lead this vital organ of the party.
“With age not on his side again, Ekwueme is actually not keen on the job. But our leaders won’t allow him to rest because of what he did to reconcile aggrieved members of the party some years ago.
Concerning the alleged anointing of one of the candidates by the President, the source said: “I am in a position to know, Jonathan has confided in some leaders of the party that he would allow democratic process to run its full course on BOT.
“The President is not backing any candidate but it is convenient for some people to drop names.”
But another source said: “You should also take note of the fact that the National Chairman of PDP is from the North-East. Do you want the North to produce the chairman of the BOT again?
“The situation is dicey. We have a tradition but this is a party that believes in equity too. I know at the right time, BOT members will iron out issues and move forward.
“I am aware that we also have a group within the BOT calling for a younger element to lead this organ of the party. I am talking of a leader who is between 60 and 65 years.”
Article 12.77 of the PDP reads in part: “The BOT shall elect a chairman and secretary from members of the Board. The chairman and secretary shall also be members of the National Executive Committee.
“Without prejudice to the provision of this Constitution, ensure that the person to be elected chairman and secretary respectively are of proven integrity and have contributed immensely to the growth of the party.