Following the call by the South east caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party for the resignation of Dr.Okwesilieze Nwodo,the national chairman of the party and the allegation of abuse of office during the just concluded primaries of the party especially in the south east states of Anambara and Enugu states.the allegation of bribery by the billionaire senatorial candidates from Anambara state that led to the party presenting a bunch of uneducated candidates in two key senatorial districts in Anambara state,namely Anambara south and Anambara central senatorial districts.
First, I believe the south-east caucus of the PDP made its case on the facts. I was persuaded by what I saw, read, and heard that the chairman deliberately lied that the injunction had been vacated by Justice Okonkwo of Awka high court(not confirmed if he is a relation of senator Annie Okonkwo who it is alleged,arranged the so called judgment).I was also persuaded by the fact that he encouraged others to lie,according to a statement by his media aide,Mr.Ike Abonyi suggesting the injunction by the Enugu high court had been vacated. In reaching these conclusions, it was important to me that the NWC of the PDP is not bound to a specific constitutional or statutory standard in judging the evidence; instead, each member is left to his or her own experience and conscience. That is both the political and judicial nature of the removal process prescribed by the party Constitution.
However, reaching this conclusion about the facts does not trigger automatic conviction and removal of the chairman Mr.Okwesilieze Nwodo.The party must still resolve two questions: whether the acts committed were the kind of `high crimes and misdemeanors' warranting removal from office, and whether the interests of the party are served by removal.
More to the point, the argument in this particular case that diminishes the seriousness of the President and the ruling party to provide leadership for this great country is that it is coming barely a few days after the murder case against the senate leader.Teslim Folarin was withdrawn in questionable circumstances: perhaps,Dr.Nwodo's motive behind the obstruction of justice is the fact that he knows that the president got his back.
The Framers of the Constitution believed that governments are established in the first place to protect the rights of the governed. It follows that the most serious breach of duty in public office--the most serious threat to the order of society itself--is for the enforcers of the law to break the law. How much more grave that breach becomes when it is committed by the one individual in the nation who personifies the ruling party,in this case the PDP: the presidents party. How much more abhorrent it is when, in covering up his crimes, the President decides to exploit his position.
This brings me to the final question: whether the public interest will be served by the removal of Dr.Okwesilieze Nwodo from office.I will let you decide for yourselves.
But I would submit that if a generation of young people are taught by our actions in this case that a lie carries no consequences, then the nation is at risk. If Nigerians conclude that lawlessness in the highest office is acceptable, that their elected representatives are complicit in that corruption, and that nothing can be done to stop it, then the nation is at risk.if the Executive Office of the chairman of the ruling party is occupied by someone who can be compromised for cash considerations,the country is at risk.
Some have suggested that removing this Chairman from office would put the President's re-election bid at risk. That is false argument and something no one should fear. Instead, we should place our faith in the Constitution of the party and the wisdom of its Framers, who provided a road-map for a peaceful, swift, and orderly transition of power to the deputy chairman. That transition poses no threat to the party.
If we were in a church, the the priest would admonish us from the pulpit to hate the sin and forgive the sinner. But we're not in a church.
For all these reasons, I believe the removal of Dr.Okwesilieze Nwodo,national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party from office is an appropriate response, a necessary response, a constitutionally-compelled response.
Dr,Okwesilieze Nwodo,National chairman,Peoples Democratic Party.
