Calabar, Nigeria – Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State have said the suspended State Chairman Venatius Ikem must go.
They started this during a peaceful demonstration on Monday, November 25, in Calabar, the state capital, adding that if Vena doesn’t leave the party, they will resign and leave the party for him.
Converseer reports that the PDP members who demonstrated around Mary Slessor Avenue, terminating at the State Party Secretariat in Calabar, where carrying placards with the inscriptions: “Vena must go,” “We must take back our state,” “For a renewed and better PDP in Cross River, let Vena go,” and “The decision of SWC of CRS is for the best interest of the party.”
Others are “We stand by the decision of the State Working Committee,” “All ward/chapter excos reject Vena,” “Crooked Vena get out,” “Vena please leave us alone,” among others.
Addressing the leadership of the party at the State Party Secretariat, one of the protesters, Hon. Bassey Asuquo, PDP Chapter Chairman, Calabar Municipality, said, “Today, we’re embarking on this peaceful protest and were also passing this message, especially to the State Working Committee that if he [Vena] is not removed, he has failed us as a party, we’ll resign. May be, we’ll leave the party for him. We are very serious on this issue. Let him leave us alone so that we’ll move forward.”
Also speaking, Hon. Felix Offiong, PDP Chapter Chairman, Calabar South, said, “We’ve come to express our pains and frustrations as a result of the leadership of Venatius Ikem. We’ve come to tell you people that we no longer want Venatius Ikem. He must go! We’re here with one voice to tell you that we are done with Hon. Barr. Venatius Ikem, we no longer want him as the Chairman of the part in the State.”
Another demonstrator and member of the party, Imaobong Joseph, said, “We don’t want him again, we’re tired. He should give us our money before he leaves.”
Addressing the protesters, Hon. Denis Nkiri, State Deputy Chairman of PDP, said a Committee has been set on the matter, adding, “Luckily for us, Vena is already on a suspension – we are going to relate to you the result of the Committee.”
Chief Asuquo Ekpo, State Vice Chairman (South) of the PDP, commended the members who chose to demonstrate rather than leave the party.
Ekpo said, “It is because you love the party that’s why you’re coming out to protest on what is wrong. I want to tell you too that we’re equally concerned. We have listened to you, and I want to assure you that this matter will be handled the way it should.”
On her part, Florence Inyang, State Women’s Leader of the PDP, said, “I am also joining my voice with you to assure you that we have heard your plea. All of us are fighting for the soul of our party. PDP must rise again, PDP must take over again.
“If you don’t trust in us, you won’t still be in PDP and nobody can take that away from us. This party is our party, and no one party will hold the party to ransom.”
Also addressing the protesters, Comrade Brown Odey, State PDP Youth Leader, commended the protesters for being resilient, adding that, “For what I’ve seen here shows that we’re still together – it is because you have love for PDP. You’ve come out in your numbers to share your mind with us but I want to tell you that this will make us more stronger. A better time is coming and the decision that’ll be taken by the Committee would address our pleas.”
Chief Igwe Godwin Abeng, PDP Chapter Chairman, Obubra, and Chairman of Chairmen’s Forum, Cross River State, said the ward and chapter excos’ demonstration in support of the removal of the former Chairman is not out of place.
According to him, “Today, the resolution of the State Working Committee is for the former Chairman to be suspended, which he has been suspended, and we’ll await the report of our Committee that has been constituted, and we stand by you people – from Obanliku to Bakassi.”
Also on his part, Prince Michael Ojisi, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, said the party has given Barr. Ikem 30 days suspension, “Within this period, the disciplinary Committee is going to take action accordingly. We agree with your demands because we want our party to grow.”
Recall that on November 20, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP dismissed the suspension of Barr. Ikem.
According to a statement signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the NWC declared the said suspension as null and void, adding, “Not being consistent with provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of our great Party.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no State Working Committee has the power whatsoever to suspend a State Chairman without due recourse to the National Working Committee as provided by the Constitution of the PDP.
“The NWC states that Barr. Venatius Ikem remains the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter of the PDP and charges all leaders, critical stakeholders, members and supporters of our Party in Cross River State and the nation to disregard the purported suspension.”
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