From Marcel Duru Owerri
Distinguished Senator Samuel Anyanwu was elected the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the Party’s National Convention. That was on December 9, 2021. In other words, he wasn’t appointed by the Party, but was elected for a four-year mandate. And in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Party. All these should have guided those bent on throwing him out of office. The Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Imo State Chief Sam Onwuemeodo has called on Chief Ude Okoye to allow Senator Samuel Anyanwu to complete his term; stating that it is unconstitutional, and undemocratically for some chieftains of the Party in the South East to come up one day and announce that, they had removed Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the Party. They equally went to the extent of getting his replacement in the person of one Chief Udeh Okoye. That was at the Zonal meeting of the Party in Enugu. They decided to announce the removal and replacement of a man that was elected at a national Convention, as the National Secretary of his Party, during their zonal meeting in Enugu State. Throwing caution to the wind. “Expectedly, Anyanwu proceeded to a Federal High Court and obtained an order against his removal. And the order had also restricted those behind the “zonal palace coup” from taking any other action that would tamper or harm the status quo. He added that those behind the removal tale went to the Appeal Court.
The Appeal Court gave them favourable Judgement against Anyanwu. In reaction, Anyanwu rushed to file an appeal at the Supreme Court, against the Appeal Court Judgement. He went further to get a stay of execution at the Appeal Court. Yet, some Chieftains of the Party in the South East, who should have known better, refused or failed to know that, at that stage, Anyanwu was on a higher ground. He’s on a higher frequency. On the sides of equity and justice. Ndigbo would say, “ofo na Ogu”. “More powerful than atomic bomb or submachine gun. The difference is that, you see atomic bomb and submachine when in action. But in the case of “ofo na Ogu”, you can’t see them when in action. Unseen dynamites. Those who know the weights Ofo na Ogu carry, are always conscious of their actions and inactions”Onwuemeodo further emphasized that Anyanwu’s appeal at the Supreme Court and the stay of execution at the Appeal Court, these Party Chieftains met again in Enugu recently and at the end of the meeting, they told their audience that Okoye remains their own National Secretary of the PDP. And the question is, on what ground? Stressing that Okoye was not elected at the National Convention of the Party or at any known zonal Convention of the Party in 2021.
Anyanwu was a product of the National Convention of the Party in 2021. And that speaks volumes. In order words, Anyanwu is the person who has a stake. The stake of protecting or safeguarding his mandate. Okoye has no existing mandate. Okoye has no stake. He’s on hydra-headed expedition. He stated that the only tool these people who have sworn to see Anyanwu out as the National Secretary of the PDP have at the moment is the Appeal Court Judgement in their favour. But the question is, the Appeal Court Judgement, having been appealed against at the Supreme Court by Anyanwu vis-a-viz the stay of execution, was it proper for these chieftains of the Party in the South East to continue to insist that Anyanwu must quit?. Must succumb to their whims and caprices?. I do not think so. And this is not how to pursue a man.”In taking their action, they could not remember that Anyanwu was not appointed by them. Anyanwu isn’t their appointee. But an elected officer of the Party at a Convention with Constitutionally provided tenure. And the tenure is still running.
His appeal at the Supreme Court against the Appeal Court Judgement still alive. The stay of execution is also alive. Where are we heading to, in this Country””If knowing the truth can set people free, it means, falsehood or not knowing the truth can hold people hostage or to ransom. Lies can imprison people””Unfortunately, big man like the former Senate President, His Excellency Adolf Wabara who should have provided the road map or who should have been the Counsellor or the Daniel that had come to judgement was part of this ugly campaign or move. And men and women who do not care about equity, fairplay and justice can’t build a nation. They can’t build institutions. They can’t build an egalitarian society. They can’t build champions. Reason being that, one does not give what he or she does not have””What if Anyanwu succumbs to their unwarranted pressure and surrenders his office to them and a month or two months after, the Supreme Court sees the wisdom in his appeal and grants it , what would his pursuers do?. How would they pay him back for the lost month or months since his tenure ends December this year””Why are these chieftains of the Party in the South East determined to see Anyanwu quit his office? Why are they very unwilling to wait for the position or decision of the Supreme Court on the matter? Why have they refused or failed to appreciate the man’s appeal at the Supreme Court and the stay of execution?.
Even beyond all these, why are they determined to see him leave before the expiration of his tenure in December this year? This is not how to pursue a man. And they have forgotten too that those who want or who desire to go to equity must do so with clean hands. It’s not negotiable””We had seen or witnessed elected governors and national Assembly Members removed by the Appeal Court, staying put until their respective appeals at the Supreme Court were decided. It didn’t matter who liked their faces or who didn’t like their faces. But a question of the right action or the right thing to do in the circumstance. Why would Anyanwu’s case be different”Oneuemeodo opined that the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Debo Ologunagba has not hidden his disdain against Anyanwu and in total neglect of what should be the rule of engagement or operation for a national Publicity Secretary of a Party like the PDP, for reason or reasons best known to him. The national legal adviser of the Party, Chief Kawaldeen Ajibade appears to have also believed that silence is golden on the issue. But that’s not true. Silence can’t be golden this time on the issue. Looking at the appeal at the Supreme Court and the stay of execution, he would have guided these chieftains of the Party from the South East. He has that responsibility.
“The PDP Chieftains from the South East holding tight the Appeal Court Judgement because it favours them means that, they believe in the Judiciary and what it can offer. Then, why are they pretending not to know that Anyanwu’s appeal at the Supreme Court and the stay of execution must be respected and should not be wished away. Must be considered in their actions.”Their reason for working tirelessly to stampede Anyanwu out of office could it be because of his relationship with Nyesom Wike?. Or because he’s from lmo?. Or, because he’s from lkeduru. Whichever or whatever might be their reason or reasons can’t diminish or invalidate the appeal at the Supreme Court and the stay of execution. They’re weighty””Even if ten members of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Party, like we had read, want Anyanwu to leave, it’s also neither here nor there, with the action at the Supreme Court and the stay of execution.
Anyanwu is at the giving end in this matter. His mandate is what’s being threatened. Okoye has no mandate. He has no mandate under any threat. Resolution isn’t an election. This must be understood. Anyanwu must continue to act to protect his mandate. He must act to avoid being thrown out of office by those who feel otherwise about him and his position, for any reason”He noted that Institutions must be allowed to function in this Country. This “pay-loading” style must be jettisoned. It does not allow development or growth or both. PDP isn’t the property of the few leaders of the Party in the South East who do not like Anyanwu. This is not how to pursue a man. “Those involved in this Anyanwu- must-go project or episode should exercise patience for the appeal at the Supreme Court to be decided. They should also appreciate the efficacy of the stay of execution order. Let’s also add that, they should pray that the Supreme Court validates the Appeal Court Judgement in their favour. Otherwise, they would have no option than to wait till December 2025, when Anyanwu’s tenure would elapse. What’s worth doing, is worth doing fine”.
