By Henry Umoru
ABUJA—THERE was a mild drama at the ongoing venue of the Special National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, when the embattled National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, stopped his deputy, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, midway in his speech to address the delegates.

Mohammed, who had prepared his speech in the acting capacity status climbed the rostrum at 5.49 p.m. to address members of his party against the backdrop that an Enugu High Court had on Wednesday restrained Nwodo from parading himself as the Chairman of the party, but soon after he rounded off the protocol, what looked like an emergency National Working Committee, NWC, was held and the National Chairman immediately collected the microphone and took charge of affairs.

Nwodo laments death of internal democracy
Nwodo who came up at 5.58 p.m. to speak, warned members of the party that Nigerians have reposed on them that challenge of leadership and that must not be misplaced as the PDP decides who becomes the party’s flagbearer for the 2011 Presidential election.

The National Chairman who lamented the death of internal democracy in the nation’s political parties, stressed that internal democracy, provision of a level playing ground, justice, equity and fairness are the foundations on which an endearing democratic culture can be built, adding: “It is this culture, anchored on the people, that the true leadership of the people can emerge, leadership that governs with confidence knowing that it derives its mandate from the people.

“A leadership that the people give its unalloyed support as it springs from their free and collective mandate. This enviable culture has eluded us for sometime now. We have no choice today but to make a consensus effort to re-establish and re-enact this culture in our body politic.

There is no other way by which we can choose men and women of sterling qualities that can pilot the affairs of our great nation in the path of peace and development.”

Nwodo who disclosed that the party had tried to re-establish the core values that the founding fathers of the party left for them, stressed: “These core values of justice, fairness, equity, rule of law and good governance must be the hallmark of a PDP  government at all levels.

“We have faced daunting challenges in bringing back these values and internal democracy. As it is usually said, bad habits are difficult to give up. As we stand on the thresh hold of history today, we are proud to say that the PDP has boldly started its monumental journey back to its root. Our rank and file have been hungry for these changes. The people of Nigeria are hungry for these positive changes. Changes that they will impact positively on their lives, as individuals and as a great nation.”

The National Chairman urged delegates to perform the voting exercise with decorum, dignity and a high sense of patriotism to the party and the nation.

There was confusion in the PDP when the Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, resurfaced at 7.18 p.m. to again declare the convention open after Nwodo had earlier declared it opened, just as Mrs Sarah Jubril and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have unfolded to the people what they have for PDP members and the country.