The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said there could be a misconception of roles in the party, but there is no crisis.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, said the National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has no power to summon any meetings as his functions were limited to administrative and taking directive from the National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun.

Ologunagba, who was reacting to two letters written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Damagum and Anyanwu, explained that the constitution of the party makes it clear that, “there shall be a National Secretary, who shall be the chief Administrative and Accounting officer, two roles, and they’re specified, whose functions are to supervise the day to day activities of the party. So, if there is no diesel in the office, he should take care of that.

“If the parking spaces are not organized, he would say ‘hey, this place is dirty go and make sure it is painted’.”

Ologunagba added that Anyanwu is saddled with the responsibility of the correspondences, “that is paperwork, correspondences of the party and course to be issued, notices of meetings. So the chairman will say, I’m summoning this meeting, go and issue the notice.

“The secretary cannot call a meeting. He cannot summon a meeting and until we understand that, we continue to wallow in this level of ignorance or deliberate falsehood, that is not there. So that is his job, keep or course to be kept all records of proceedings, that is minutes. I was a company secretary, legal advisor of a bank. I can’t call the meeting. The MD or the Chairman of the bank will say, come convey a meeting, that is summoning.”

Speaking on the misunderstanding within the National Working Committee, NWC, Ologunagba said, “When you don’t have it, you don’t have it. Ensure the implementation of the decision, this is important, ensure the implementation of the decisions and directives of the National Convention, NEC, National Caucus, National Working Committee and ensure that all units of the party carry out their duties promptly and efficiently.

“For instance, if the National Working Committee passes a resolution, and the National Public Secretary, for instance, is expected or directed to issue a resolution, issue a statement, it is the duty of the Secretary to ensure that those directives are carried out.

“So the Secretary cannot, and in any event, cannot summon and cannot even issue a press statement. He cannot. So I’m saying, when people have this inflated impression about their capacity to do certain things, again, it is for us to have a conversation and draw attention so that we don’t get confused by that.

“Secretary is the chief administrative officer? Yeah, he deals with correspondences, with day-to-day activities to ensure that the office is run well. If you need, like I said, stationeries, we go to him. He approves it. If there are correspondences, he ensures that is done. If there are directives of any of the organs of the party, as secretary, he ensures that those directives are carried out.

“So that explains the two letters you’re talking about. As to whether there’s crisis in the party, there’s none. There’s absolutely none. There could be a misconception of role. There could be a misconception of activity. But again, like I said earlier, when you are in a position of authority, what is expected is a level of caution and responsibility and so our party is fine. We’re good and there’s no issue when it comes to all that and that’s why I took my time to explain.” (Weekend Trust)

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