PDP: Ex-Party Officers Warn Ayu Over His Position As Chairman

• National officers who served as deputies in the immediate past National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party have warned the newly inaugurated National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, to be wary of powerful forces in the party.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that they averred that strong party leaders who saw to his emergence could also remove him from office.

Ayu, a former Senate President, and other newly elected national officers, were sworn in on Friday. They took their oath of office at a ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

The chairman of the Deputies Forum and former deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Diran Odeyemi, gave the advice in his valedictory speech at a session held during the week to mark the end of tenure of the former NWC.

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He said, “Advice for incoming national chairman: please be just, fair and seek God’s guidance on issues that come to your table. The system that enthroned you can remove you at any time. It is our style in the PDP; (They chorus) Hosanna today, Crucify him tomorrow. In whatever position we find ourselves, let us be reminded that there will be tomorrow.”

Odeyemi recalled how they (deputies) were unfairly treated, saying they all came into office with excitement and were determined to serve but ended up being “unused extra tyres, redundant and useless.”

He said regardless of how they were sidelined, they complemented the efforts of their bosses where requested, adding that the embattled former chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, didn’t carry them along.

He added, “I want to place on record that as deputies, we met officially with the former Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, only three times. He was never ready to meet with us. Our complaints for engagement were rebuffed, hopes to serve were dashed and we were rendered inconsequential.

“We had to rely on rumours and hearsay for information about our dear party. We had to lobby for engagements and assignments. Of course, our position as deputies did not come with any monetary allowance and so we were not given. Even when there were social outings, we were never taken along. It was that bad.”

Odeyemi expressed the forum’s call for a review of the party’s constitution to either scrap the position of deputies or give them roles.

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