National Confab: Elechi's comment undemocratic - Presidency, PDP

Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi

The Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party have said that all the states governed by the party must participate in the national conference slated for next year, stating that participation at the conference is beyond any governor’s approval.

The assertion was in reaction to comments by Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi that he will not participate in the national conference being planned by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Elechi had on Friday in his native Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State dismissed the planned conference as “a big joke, waste of time, and a distraction to Goodluck Jonathan.”

Elechi, a PDP member long known for his ardent devotion to Jonathan, said he would distance himself from the dialogue if his people insisted on participating, in what is seen as a sign of crack within the rank of the president’s supporters.

The governor spoke when some political elders in the state, who had paid him Christmas homage, wanted to know the modalities for the selection of the state’s representatives to the national dialogue.

But in the absence an enabling law on the national dialogue, it is hard to see how the Presidency or the ruling party can compel the participation of states in the proposed talks.

The Presidency slammed the Ebonyi State governor, describing his comments as undemocratic, dictatorial, and against the rights of citizens to freely participate in popular discussions.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of PDP Abubakar Jalo also said the national conference was a product of the PDP-controlled federal government and it was wrong for any PDP state to absent itself from the conference.

According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, “The issue of participation of the states of the federation in the national conference is beyond the approval of any state governor, let alone states under the control of the PDP-led federal government.”
Okupe claimed that Elechi might have been misquoted, saying that the participation of states at the national conference is a civic national duty of all citizens and no governor should stop the citizens’ participation.

“The national conference is a citizens’ civic responsibility. It is constitutional in the face of right of assembly for the citizens and, therefore, no governor can stop the citizens’ participation. To do that is undemocratic and dictatorial; for any governor to stop the citizens’ participation,” Okupe said.

He alleged that Elechi was misquoted because he remained one of Jonathan’s main allies in the South-east.

Jalo told THISDAY that it was unbelievable that Elechi, who is from the same state as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and PDP stalwart and former Ebonyi State governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, would make the statements credited to him about the national conference.

According to Jalo, “If there is any problem that made the governor to make such statement, that problem would be addressed within the PDP internal mechanism used in resolving crisis. But the issue of not participating is not fair, as all the PDP-controlled states will actively participate.

“The national conference is a product of the PDP-controlled federal government. The president is the leader of the party and the national conference is the initiative of the federal government. So, it would be out of place for any state not to participate.”

Jonathan had in his Independence Day speech on October 1 announced a plan to summon a national dialogue, saying, “Our administration has taken cognizance of suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a national dialogue on the future of our beloved country. When there are issues that constantly stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss.”

Elechi, known for a long-standing political alliance with Jonathan, had in October applauded the proposed dialogue as an opportunity for Nigerians to discuss and address their grievances.

His U-turn on the question of the national dialogue has been interpreted as a possible sign of further crack in the PDP circle.

Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, also a PDP member, had in October said his state would not participate in the national conference, saying, “This proposed national dialogue is a flagrant abuse to democracy.”

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