Dipo Olowookere
By Dipo Olowookere
General Secretary of a Civil Society Organisation, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Mr Goodluck Obi, has been expelled over issues relating to alleged lack of integrity, selfishness, and participation in partisan politics.
In a statement released by the group at the end of an emergency meeting held by its National Executive Council (NEC), the group vowed that it will not sit back and watch its age-long collective reputation, integrity and democratic struggles be rubbished on the altar of personal interest, selfishness and be subjected to the whims and caprice of Mr Goodluck Obi.
While NEC insists that CD is not a partisan organization, and anyone that contradicts this principle and philosophy will be sanctioned accordingly, they also noted that “the activities of Mr Obi Goodluck has been generating a lot of heated debate within and among the elites, fans and sympathizers of CD, which, has drawn serious attention of the media, culminating into unpleasant and fouls tasting complements and questions, as, when did CD become a political party?”
Recall that Obi was recently attributed to a phone conversation that leaked in the media tagged “Civil Society Contractor Reveals Money ‘eating’ Plan amongst several other questionable activities including another one that flooded the media with Obi wearing Buhari’s T-Shirt with megaphone in his hand calling the unsuspicious members of the public and civil society to queue in to his anti-union’s deal and support for Buhari’s second term.
CD disclosed that the imperative decisive expulsion of Mr Goodluck Obi has followed his refusal to acknowledge and respond to all queries issued to him, as well as, failure to appear before the 3-man disciplinary panel headed by the CD National Publicity and Publications Secretary, Comrade Lanre Ogunyinka.
However, Mr Obi has discredited his expulsion from the group, saying he remains a qualified member of CD.
In a sturdy press release made available to the media on Monday in Lagos, Prince Obi said that “to expose the illegality and unconstitutionality of the so called NEC and its purported expulsion, according to Section 10 of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) constitution on the issue of discipline of any officer or member, “The National Executive Council shall appoint on an ad-hoc basis 5 members to the disciplinary committee”. Therefore, we want to ask, from which section of the CD constitution did the setting up of a 3 member disciplinary committee emanate by the so called NEC?”
Mr Obi further reiterated by saying “that the Campaign for Democracy (CD), being the foremost civil society organization in Nigeria remains irrevocably committed to its ideals for a better society and will not be distracted by the illegal and unconstitutional activities of some misguided elements who will face appropriate disciplinary actions for bringing the name of our esteemed organization to disrepute.”
