PDP USA Chapter reaches a peace accord
ACHO ORABUCHI
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
The peace that has eluded the PDP USA Chapter since its inception is finally within reach. A peaceful settlement of the dispute that has halted the progress of the chapter was made possible by a high-powered delegation from Abuja in a closed-door meeting.
In
a marathon peace parley that started at about 7:30 pm. On Thursday, November 4,
2004 at Embassy Suites in Washington, DC and lasted into the wee hours of 4:00
a.m. the following day, a delegation led by a member of PDP Board of trustees,
General Samuel Ogbomudia (rtd.), tried to broker peace between factions
respectively led by Mrs. Felicia Hadjesmaili and Mr. Tex Wariboko.
Members of the delegation were the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations, H. E. Ambassador Aminu Bashir Wali, Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, H. E. Ambassador George A. Obiozor, PDP National Secretary, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, and Dr. Samuel Ogbomudia.
Sources close to the deliberation disclosed that the delegation and both factions agreed that the chapter should return to the “status quo ante bellum” as per New Jersey elections in 2003. This will in effect make all branches inaugurated during the squabbles by either side, null and void; dissolve all committees created and nullify elections in various branches sanctioned by Mr. Wariboko.
The delegation notated the communication gap between the national chapter and branches, including the misunderstanding of their roles. It therefore clarified that the Chapter Working Committee (CWC), comprising of a few elected officers, runs the day-to-day operation of the party, but must report to the Chapter Executive Committee (CEC), comprising of all the elected officers and branch chairmen; the CEC is the supreme body that makes the decision and sets the goal for the Chapter while the CWC carries out the implementation process.
The delegation reaffirmed the following as branch chairpersons: Chief Ide Victor Okoye, Boston; Chief Caroline Nwosu, Washington, D.C.; and Chief Emeka Ibekwe, Chicago.
All suspensions executed by both factions were nullified for the interest peace and unity. In the same token, all charges and counter charges were discharged to let bygone be bygone.
While Obiozor reminded the party members of the three Cs in politics: conflict, cooperation, and compromise, Wali urged that we should be honest to ourselves and take everything in good faith.
Also, they agreed to convene a reconciliation meeting within 30 days in Washington, D.C. to be chaired by H. E. Ambassador George A. Obiozor.
Recalling a communiqué emanating from a CEC meeting presided by Hadjesmaili on June 26, 2004 in New Jersey, signed and released by Publicity Secretary, Sir. Ike Ginigeme, some the contending issues were raised. The communiqué contained the following:
“Resolved to nullify all decisions and pronouncement following an unconstitutional summon/quorum formation for meeting on June 19, 2004, in Atlanta, after which more than 2/3 CEC members had already called for a meeting in New Jersey PA on June 26, 2004.”
“Resolved to nullify all unconstitutional decision and pronouncement in the Houston CWC AND CEC meeting to include but not limited to call for branch elections, dissolution of branch executives establishment of parallel governance in braches, illegally constituted committees which had put PDP-USA into turmoil.”
“Resolved that effective immediately, PDP-USA shall return to “status quo ante bellum” as per the 14 branches constituted and inaugurated during the Boston and New Jersey congresses along with the Chairmen that led those branches to the New-Jersey congress.”
“Resolved that we welcome the creation of new branches. However, such new branch meeting the required criteria must only be created and approved by the CEC as required by the constitution, and not through other illegal means. And that any new branch not following the constitutional provisions for creation of new branches, does so at its own risk.”
Efforts were made to reach the leaders of the warring factions, Mrs. Felicia Hadjesmaili and Mr. Tex Wariboko, for comments, but to no avail.