Stakeholders divided over NWC's endorsement of FEC's resolution. With the state of health of President Umaru Yar'Adua yet unclear and his date of return uncertain, there is now pressure on the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to summon the executive committee meeting of the party to take a decision on the way forward for the country.
The National Working Committee of the party had, last week, after its weekly meeting announced its endorsement of the resolution of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which declared the ailing president fit to rule. The national publicity secretary of the party, Rufai Alkali, had conveyed the decision of the party, but some prominent members are said to have disagreed with the declaration and are pressing for a formal meeting of the executive committee of the party to arrive at a conclusion.
Sources claimed on Tuesday that since the statement of Alkali, last week, there had been disagreement among members of the party who felt the endorsement of FEC's resolution was the decision of a few members of the working committee.
A source said "there is disquiet in the party over the handling of the medical situation of the president and we need to know what is happening. The leadership has to call a meeting of the party's NEC to take a decision".
A PDP state chairman in a telephone interview complained that many members were in the dark and said "we don't know the true situation of the health of the president. Our members have been coming to me for explanation and I don't know what to tell them since I don't have facts about what is happening". The state chairman from one of the South West states said in confidence that "the party has to summon executive meeting to afford the leadership the opportunity to brief us of the situation. Honestly, we need to know as party members who have stakes in the party and you know 2011 is just by the corner".
Sources also disclosed that the leadership of the party is presently at loggerheads over the handling of the health of the president and already there is a division within the party. It was learnt that many of those supporting the continued stay of President Umaru Yar'Adua in power despite his failing health were doing so for fear of being branded working against the president in case he returns to his duty post.
No official of the party would comment at the party's national secretariat in Wadata House, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja, with everybody keeping sealed lips but awaiting the final decision of the party on the matter.
Source: PDP under pressure to summon NEC meeting over Yar'Adua (http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8092:pdp-under-pressure-to-summon-nec-meeting-over-yaradua-&catid=85:national&Itemid=340)