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Ahead of the
congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State,
Okwesilieze Nwodo, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), on Tuesday, wrote to the Inspector General of Police,
Hafiz Ringim, asking that he provide security for participants during
the exercise.

The chairman’s letter followed the conflicting court orders in respect of the state chapter of the party.

In the letter
titled: ‘Security for the conduct of PDP Congresses in Anambra State’,
Mr Nwodo explained that “following conflicting Court Orders in respect
of the Anambra State Chapter of the PDP, our National Working Committee
(NWC) has directed the Zonal Working Committee of the Party led by
Chief Olisa Metuh, National Vice Chairman (south-east) to conduct fresh
Congresses at ward and local government levels in the state for
purposes of producing our candidates for the forthcoming Local
Government Elections in Anambra State”. The chairman also appealed to
the IG to accord Mr Metuh his maximum corporation to enable him
discharge the assignment.

Mr Nwodo, who said
that the congress may take place in the next two weeks, added that “the
Zonal Working Committee shall remain the only legitimate authority with
whom the Nigeria Police may relate with for this purpose.”

An FCT High Court
had last week dissolved the Anambra State Congress Committee, but the
NWC immediately filed an appeal. The NWC also asked the committee to go
ahead with the exercise since an earlier order of the High Court of
Anambra State directed the PDP to hold Congresses in the state which it
said was still subsisting.

Support for democracy

The candidates for the forthcoming ward and local government elections in the state are expected to emerge during the congress.

Mr Nwodo also
yesterday apologised to world leaders who were in Nigeria during 50th
independence anniversary celebration, over the bomb attacks. He made
the apology while receiving the President of Saharawi Arab Democratic
Republic (SADR) Mohammed Adbulaziz in his office.

He assured that the
PDP will do everything it can to help the growth of democracy in
Africa, and insisted that African nations owe it as a duty to allow its
citizens determine who governs them.

The party boss said
that Nigeria’s position in supporting self determination for the people
of Saharawi stems from the belief that the power to select rulers
should rest with the people.

Mr Nwodo expressed
regret that SADR is being colonised by a fellow African nation and
urged Morocco to ensure that the will of the people of the troubled
region prevailed.

He said that the
PDP will liaise with the African National Congress (ANC) of South
Africa and other ruling parties on the continent to persuade Morocco to
have a rethink.

SADR is the only African country yet to gain independence.

Aides sack

In another development, Mr Nwodo has sacked two of his aides.

Those sacked,
according to a statement by his spokesman, Ike Abonyi, are Ogbene-aga
Orugbo, Special Assistant (Special Duties) and Frank Igwebuike, Special
assistant (National Assembly Matters).

Although no reason
was given for their sack, the national chairman was quoted as saying
that there is a lot of work to be done and that a system under his
watch would not tolerate any shortfall.

The statement also
said that Mr Nwodo has appointed Buhari Bala, a 52-year-old former
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, as his political adviser while
Godson Nnaka, a 47-year-old lawyer from Imo State, was named Special
Assistant, Special Duties.

The PDP boss
reiterated his determination to raise the image of the party by
ensuring very high moral standing among the staff and members of the
party. He also charged the two new appointees to strive to make their
impact felt in the drive to reform the party.