WHY NWODO WAS SACKED -JONATHAN
President Goodluck Jonathan has said the resignation of Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo as National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was a good development that would move the party forward. The President who spoke with aviation correspondents yesterday at the Lagos Airport on arrival from Abuja said the party was working very hard to move forward and part of the necessary 'rituals' was the 'sacrifice' of the PDP National Chairman who had to resign his appointment.
His words: 'The party chairman resigned. In every society, there are certain norms and when you observe certain aberrations, you must adjust the system. Every human system operates that way. Just like any society, we have encountered problems and we're adjusting and there is nothing odd about it. Nwodo is still a senior member of the PDP but because of certain circumstances, we feel there are too many multiple litigations and the party is tired of these multiple litigations and the party does not want to be dragged into these litigations.
That is why he has to step aside so that the party can manage its affairs. Note that at this critical period that we're to submit names of candidates to INEC that we have to be dragged into multiple litigations. We have a lot of respect for him and we always will so that the he can do his work as a senior member of the party,' president Jonathan stated.
On the controversies surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter's registration exercise which many said began on a very shaky note, the President acknowledged there were problems with the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines but said that INEC was looking into it.
'I don't think the registration is slow. The turnout is good. A lot of Nigerians are undergoing registration and a lot of people are enthusiastic about it.
But we have problems with the machines and INEC is looking at it. I don't want to speak for them. They're an independent body. We have given them maximum freedom to do what is right. They had problems with some of the machine and they're fixing it. By the grace of God, they'll get over it,'he explained.
Prior to the arrival of the President, cultural troupes from all the ethnic groups in Nigeria, serving Military Chiefs, top politicians and other stakeholders of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) were among the crowd that stormed the Presidential Lounge of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos to receive him.
The visit was the first since he clinched the party's ticket during last week's primaries.
As early as 7.30am, scores of mobile policemen and other security operatives had arrived the lounge to ensure safety and security of the entire premises.
Also on ground were dance troupes from various ethnic groups.
Those who came to welcome the President include; PDP governorship aspirant in Lagos, Ade Dosunmu, Chairman Board of Directors of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Chief Ebitimi Banigo, Lagos State Police Commissioner, Marvel Akpoyibo, among other dignitaries.