A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Mrs. Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, has described the sacking of the chairman of the party in the state, Mr. Adetunji Shelle, as a premature exercise that will end in futility.
She, however, called for the resignation of the national leaders of the party.
In a statement sent to SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday, she said the Lagos chairman’s removal was at variance with the provisions of the PDP’s constitution.
“It cannot hold as the National Working Committee is the only platform that can entertain the recommendation of the State Working Committee and take a decision after he (Shelle) has been given a fair hearing,” Adebajo-Fraser stated.
According to the PDP chief, it is obvious that there is an ulterior motive behind the sudden drive to remove the chairman urgently.
She said, “I totally disagree with the fact that the call for (the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu) Mu’azu to resign could justify the unconstitutional attempt to remove the Lagos PDP chairman.
“One has nothing whatsoever to do with the other and is only an excuse for initiating a leadership change in the party. The change should be by the people when the next congresses will be held without imposition of candidates.
“The stakeholders should be given a chance to elect their representatives and leaders on a level playing field. Maybe the members are not interested in Bode George or Musiliu Obanikoro. Maybe they want a change. Maybe they want a new face. It is a season of change in Nigeria’s political landscape.”
Adebajo-Fraser urged PDP leaders to be patient, saying the Lagos chapter of the party needs to be united and all leaders ought to be carried along. She added that it was not a time to fight but a time for peace.
She said, “I believe all the parties involved in the national crisis should resign honourably, as there is no moral justification for their remaining in office if the stakeholders have no confidence in them.
“There must be a complete overhaul from the Board of Trustees level all the way down to the ward level, if we intend to re-invent the party and reposition it as an opposition party. We will require a different class of politicians who are strategists with the required political expediency and sagacity.”
Adebajo-Fraser also noted that the party’s new crop of leaders should work out a well defined ideology.
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