A FEW hours after Dr. John Okwesilieze Nwodo took an inglorious exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chair, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday defended his removal.
Nwodo, who spent barely seven months in the office, according to the President, was asked to step down because of certain aberrations and the multiple litigations against him. He added that it was informed by the need for the party to avoid "unwarranted distractions" in an election year.
Jonathan, who spoke with journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) during a private visit to Lagos, declared that there was nothing wrong with the action because "every human system requires adjustment."
Amid drumming and dancing from PDP supporters, who came to the airport to receive him, the President said, "the multiple litigations" against Nwodo led to his ouster.
Jonathan said the PDP was tired of the litigations and does not want to be enmeshed in too many troubles at a time it is trying to submit names of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the April polls.
He also said the party played safe to avoid being encumbered in litigations, coupled with the need to "move the party forward.
"We don't want to encumber the party with so many litigations, that is why he (Nwodo) stepped aside so that the party can move forward without encumbrances but he is still a senior member of the party."
The President however paid tribute to Nwodo, describing him as a senior member of the PDP, adding that the party still respects him, and urged him "to continue to do his work as a very senior member of the party."
Jonathan, who arrived in the area at about 3 p.m. in his B737-800 Executive jet, walked to where his supporters were dancing and drumming to greet them.
The President debunked the claims that the turnout for the ongoing voters' registration is low and the citizens being disenchanted with the exercise. According to him, Nigerians are eager to register, adding that INEC was addressing the problems associated with the exercise.
Shortly after, he stopped to give attention to reporters, who had put some questions to him. The following dialogue ensued:
Your party's national chairman has just been removed, what is the implication for PDP?
When you observe certain aberrations, we must adjust the system, in every human system, just like in any factory that develops any machine problem, you adjust the system. Every human system operates that way so there is nothing odd about it. Nwodo is still a senior member of the PDP but because of certain circumstances, we feel that there are multiple litigations, and the party is tired about all these litigations and the party does not want to be dragged into the litigations. So we felt that instead of dragging the party into litigations and, even at this critical period when we are to submit names of candidates to INEC, we don't want to encumber the party with so many litigations, that is why he stepped aside so that the party can move forward without encumbrances but he is still a senior member of the party, we still respect him, he will continue to do his work as a very senior member of PDP.
The turnout for voters' registration is very discouraging and people are already becoming disenchanted with the whole exercise with low turnout.
The turnout is not slow, a lot of Nigerians are enthusiastic about the registration, but we have problems with the machines. INEC is looking at them, I don't want to speak on its behalf because it is an independent body. We have given them maximum support and equipment to do what is right, they may have problems with some of the machines, but they will get over it.
Why he had to go, by Jonathan (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35956:why-he-had-to-go-by-jonathan-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)