By Bitrus Kozah, Abuja
The Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nigeria has called for the immediate constitution of the Board of Trustees (BoT) to strengthen internal checks and promote transparent, collective leadership within the party.
The call was made by the Chairman of the SDP State Chairmen’s Forum, Mr. Femi Olaniyi, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Mr. Olaniyi stated that the Forum has also requested the distribution of “the White Paper on the disciplinary actions and findings concerning Shehu Gabam and others” to all State Chairmen for proper record and awareness.
He said that “the 37 SDP State Chairmen, unanimously and fully supported the suspension of the former National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, and others involved in financial malpractices and other gross infractions of the SDP Constitution.”
The forum noted that “the Disciplinary Committee headed by Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadia Liman, mni, has fairly and carefully completed the process and submitted its report to the NWC.”
The chairman also said they “unequivocally and unanimously support the decisions reached by the NWC and the sanctions meted out to both Shehu Gabam, the former National Chairman of the SDP, and Ogbonna Uchechukwu, the former National Youth Speaker.”
“These decisive, yet fair and just sanctions of removal from office, immediate and final dismissal from the SDP, and expulsion from the Social Democratic Party membership have been long overdue, and we appreciate the leadership’s efforts in this regard.”
He noted that the Forum of SDP State Chairmen decision “is not based on hearsay but from direct information arising from our full representation on the Disciplinary Committee by our chosen nominee, Mr Kingsley Agbo, the Ebonyi State Chairman.”
Mr. Olaniyi said that the “matter must be taken to all relevant investigative authorities, such as the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and the Nigerian Police, for further investigation and to recover the funds embezzled by the former National Chairman.”
“As you all know, 75% of the embezzled funds, nearly a billion Naira, belong to the states, as stipulated by our constitution,” he added.
“We need our money back and cannot forgo it; otherwise, we may be compelled to take legal action to recover our funds,” he said
They added that they have “unreserved support for the NWC as led by the new Acting National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, and the indefatigable National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye.”
The forum also confirmed their “vote of confidence in the entire National Working Committee of our great party, SDP.”