Ripples over S/West PDP's endorsement of Jonathan

CONTROVERSY is currently trailing the outcome of the South-West
chapter ofthe Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] leaders' meeting in
Lagos, during which delegates reportedly endorsedPresident Goodluck
Jonathan for a second term in office in 2015. Feelers indicated on
Wednesday that a number of the leaders were kicking against what they
described as the smuggling of the issue of the presidential race into
the communiqué of the meeting by somedesperate delegates. The meeting
came on the heels of a similar endorsement by PDP leaders from the
Middle Belt and the South-South at separate meetings.
Some notable PDP members, including former governors of the party from
the zone, were absent at the South-West PDP leaders' Lagos meeting.
Some of those present, who craved anonymity while speaking with
Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday,blamed the current furore on the
communiqué on "some overzealous elements and fifth columnists, who
were bent on jumping the gun since the president said Nigerians should
wait till next year for him to state his position on the 2015
presidency.
They explained that the contentious matter was neither listed in
advertisements placed in some dailies as notice on the meeting, nor
was it reflected on the agenda announced at the venue of the meeting
on Tuesday. Shedding light on proceedings at the meeting, a major
stakeholder in PDP in the zone said the main programme had indeedbeen
rounded off when one of the loyalists of a factional leader of PDP
inOgun State briskly took the microphone on the high table and sought
the endorsement.
By that time, according to the sources,most of the leaders had already
left the hall, adding that some of them were attracted to the event,
following a "disturbing noise" that accompanied the action of the
initiator of the 'motion.' Another leader said he was about entering
his car when some concerned party faithful rushed in protest against
the action of the alleged 'interloper.'
Meanwhile, some of the leaders are claiming that the controversial
action was capable of creating further confusion and chaos in the
South-West PDP which has been battling to put its house in order after
losing its control of the zone to the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN]
in the recent past. It was learnt that some of the leaders were
threatening a showdown in case those behind the whole drama decided to
use the list of the delegates in possible advertisements on the
outcome of the meeting. Each state had a separate list for the
delegates to put down their names and append their signatures. Another
source stated, "It was so embarrassing because the matter was not
discussed at all.
In short, it was not part of the business of the day. I can tell you
that people have been bombarding with calls over the matter. Many of
us are unhappy about the development. "We hope the list of delegates
compiled at the meeting will not be used as advertisements on the
outcome of the meeting, otherwise many of us will not take it
lightly."