The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Mr Tony Anenih, has resigned.
Mr Anenih submitted his resignation to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on Wednesday, hours after the National Chairman of the party resigned on health grounds.
The NWC said it had received Mr Anenih’s resignation letter and had accepted it. It said Mr Anenih’s resignation was on personal grounds.
In a statement by the National Secretary of the party, Professor Adewale Oladipo, the NWC noted the outstanding contributions of Chief Anenih in the party over the years especially in his capacity as the BoT Chairman.
“As one of the founding fathers of the PDP, the NWC appreciates Chief Anenih’s guiding role in the party in the last 16 years and wish him well in his future endeavours,” the statement read.
In a one-page letter President Goodluck Jonathan, the leader of the party, Mr. Anenih said his decision to quit would enable the president to effectively assume the chairmanship of the BoT.
The letter dated May 20, 2015 and titled: “Notice of my decision to step down as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the People’s Democratic Party.”
President Jonathan leaves office on May 29 following his defeat by his All Progressives Congress challenger, Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28 presidential election.
The letter reads: “Your Excellency will recall that in a conversation I had with you a few weeks ago, I had offered to step down from the office of the Chairman of our party’s Board of Trustees and proposed to hand over to you as its new Chairman in a ceremony that would have taken place on the 23rd of May, 2015. I had also repeated this position in our subsequent meetings.
“As a follow up to the above proposal and in view of the current state of affairs in our party, I have decided to formally put my offer in writing to enable you effectively assume the Chairmanship of Board of Trustees or approve a process that will enable any other member of the BoT who is considered competent, to assume the position.
“Kindly accept therefore, this letter as notice of my decision to step down from the position of Chairman of the BoT of our party with effect from today, the 20th of May, 2015.
“I am happy to inform you that, I remain a loyal foundation member of our great party and will continue to pray for the prosperity of Nigeria, our party, and for you and your family.
“Your Excellency, kindly accept the expression of my highest regards,” the letter said.
Mr. Anenih’s resignation followed a similar decision by the party’s chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, who also stepped down on Wednesday as the ruling party faces its gravest crisis in its 16-year history.
The NWC, however, said the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Senator Walid Jibrin, would hold forth pending the election of a new BoT Chairman.
The National Chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, had earlier tendered his resignation to the NWC on health grounds.
Leave a Reply